SUPERSTAR, COMMUNITY LEADER, AND EMERGING ICON, Steven Jackson is redefining the modern day running back, one punishing carry at a time.
The dreadlocked superstar is shattering the stereotypes that come along with being a power back, providing a glimpse of what is possible from today's most captivating NFL ball carrier.
Imagine the blinding speed of Tony Dorsett, the bone-crushing power of Earl Campbell, the ankle-breaking vision and jukes of Barry Sanders, and the backfield pass-catching of Marshall Faulk -- all in one muscle-packed 6'2", 235-pound frame -- and you begin to get a picture of the St. Louis Rams' No. 39.
Despite such transcendent talent, fame and success, the face of the St. Louis Rams remains the same grounded, outspoken young man his parents raised near the bright lights of Las Vegas, not only achieving his own dreams, but helping others reach theirs.
VEGAS BABY
Born July 22, 1983, Steven spent his childhood in Las Vegas, Nevada.
His parents Steve and Brenda moved there in 1970 after Steve returned home from serving as a Marine in Vietnam. He became a porter and later a pit boss at Caesar's Palace, and Brenda worked 22 years as a blackjack dealer at the Hilton.
They raised their three children – Steven and his two older sisters, Rhonda and Yolanda – with solid values like work ethic and discipline, trying to steer them clear of the temptations they saw on a daily basis. None of the three children were allowed to sleep past 9 AM, and Steven was in church, as he put it to the Boston Globe in 2004, "From Sunday to Sunday."
An excellent student, Steven was more likely to be found with his books than on the playing field. But even his schoolwork showed he had a bigger dream in mind; playing in the NFL.
I Am
by Steven Jackson (age 10)
I am a NFL running back
I wonder if I will be great
I hear the crowd cheer
I see me scoring a touchdown
I want a Super Bowl ring
I pretend I'm a great running back
I feel like I'm a star
I touch the first place trophy
I worry we won't win
I cry if I fell
I am a NFL running back
I understand some will [be] greater
I say what I mean
I dream to be the greatest
I try to be the best
I hope I'll be remembered as one of the greatest
I am a NFL running back.
A sudden growth spurt gave Steven the brawn to match his brains, and he became one of the best high school runners in the country. At Eldorado High School in Las Vegas, he rushed for 6,396 yards and 81 touchdowns in his sensational career, earning a Sunset Regional MVP award.
A National Honor Society member and a 3.8 GPA prompted offers to play football for several Ivy League schools, including Dartmouth, but Steven decided instead to pursue his NFL dreams, and accepted an offer to play at Oregon State University.
BEAVER LEGEND
Steven's three-year career as a member of the Beavers was nothing short of spectacular.
As a sophomore, he finished eighth in the country in rushing and lead the Pac 10 with 1,690 yards rushing, averaging 130.0 yards per game. As a junior, he had the greatest offensive season in the history of Oregon State football: 1,545 yards rushing (tenth in the nation), 44 receptions for 470 yards, and 22 total touchdowns. His 2,015 all-purpose yards set a school record, and he had announced to the country he was a big-time NFL prospect.
With three years of college completed, SJax decided to forego his senior season (the first player in the history of the program to do so) and enter the NFL draft. He finished his Beavers career ranked second all time in all-purpose yards with 4,545, and third in points scored with 276.
He was touted as one of the best running back prospects in the draft, a player that could do all the things required of the position extremely well. His dream of the cusp of becoming reality, the only question now was where he would start his career.
THE NEWEST RAM
In the 2004 NFL draft, Steven was the first running back selected, going 24th overall to the St. Louis Rams. He was selected as the heir apparent to Rams great Marshall Faulk, and struggled early to accept his role as understudy. His outspoken nature caused some people to see him the wrong way, but as he told Sports Illustrated in 2007, it was just a matter of wanting to do his part.
"People thought it was the Keyshawn Johnson 'give me the damn ball' cliché, that I was demanding the same respect as a Hall of Famer," he said. "That wasn't it. I just wanted to contribute."
He finished his rookie season with 643 yards and 4 touchdowns, and 19 receptions for 189 yards. It had become clear that Faulk was nearing the end of his career, so just one month after the end of the season the Rams announced the second-year back would assume the starting role.
Steven was also making moves in another area of his life. He founded the Steven Jackson Foundation for Literacy and Education, an organization started to help give youngsters educational opportunities, and reduce the dropout rate in local high schools.
"We all have dreams and aspirations, but how many of us really have the opportunity to make them come true," he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "It's great to have them and to work toward them, but everybody needs a Plan B. That's why having an education is important."
A NEW BEGINNING
Steven registered his first thousand-yard season of his young career in 2005, totaling 1,046 yards, but he still felt as though he hadn't shown his true capabilities.
Part of that was due to the fact his coach, Mike Martz, utilized predominantly spread formations, leaving little blocking for a runner to do much between the tackles.
Martz left after the 2005 season, and the organization hired Vikings offensive coordinator Scott Linehan as his replacement. He had a reputation for building outstanding running attacks, including units that finished in the top five two out of his three years in Minnesota. Linehan stated from the beginning that Jackson would be the focal point of the offense, and would see his workload increase.
The result was a coming out party for the newest star in the NFL. SJax had a breakout season in 2006, rushing for 1,583 yards, and catching 90 balls for 806 yards, both franchise records. He had established himself as one of the premier backs in the game, and a fantasy owner's dream.
The league and his fellow teammates took notice, voting him an All-Pro, Pro Bowler, and Rams MVP.
"It means a lot because your peers picked you — your teammates," Jackson said of being named Rams MVP. "But it's kind of funny because without those guys, I couldn't have put the year together that I did put together. There's a lot of guys that are really deserving of the award."
The 2007 season saw SJ post his third-straight thousand-yard season, despite being limited to just 12 games due to injuries.
In 2008, he repeated the feat, again crossing the 1,000 yard mark to finish with 1,042 rushing yards and 379 touchdowns.
THE FUTURE
In the 2008 offseason, Steven signed a mutli-year contract to remain with the Rams, solidifying himself as one of the top backs in the league. He has returned to form, and is poised to remain of the premier players in the game for years to come.
Should he finish with his fifth straight consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season in 2009-10, he will break Eric Dickerson's streak with the Rams.
On and off the field, the future could not be brighter for Steven Jackson
