Veteran cornerback Adoree’ Jackson returns to Giants

The New York Giants today signed cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, bringing the veteran back to the organization for the fourth consecutive season.

In a corresponding move, the Giants released tight end/fullback Jakob Johnson.

Jackson originally signed with the Giants during free agency prior to the 2021 campaign. Over the last three years, the 28-year-old has played 37 games with 36 starts and has totaled 176 tackles (136 solo), two interceptions, 23 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three tackles for loss. Jackson also started both postseason games during the 2022 season and recorded 14 tackles (11 solo) and one tackle for loss.

Prior to joining the Giants, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound corner spent his first four seasons with the Tennessee Titans. During that span, Jackson played in 46 games with 41 starts and registered 200 total tackles (176 solo), two interceptions, 33 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and six tackles for loss.

For three of those seasons in Tennessee, Jackson overlapped with Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, who served as the Titans’ outside linebackers coach from 2018-2020. Bowen was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2021, the year Jackson first signed with the Giants.

Through the Years: CB Adoree’ Jackson
View photos of veteran cornerback Adoree’ Jackson’s time spent with the New York Giants.

The Titans selected Jackson 18th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft following a successful collegiate career at USC where he played in 40 games with 37 starts across three seasons. Jackson spent time on all three sides of the ball with the Trojans. He recorded 139 tackles, 6 stops for loss, 29 passes defensed, 6 interceptions including one returned for a touchdown, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumble on defense while adding 39 receptions for 628 yards and six touchdowns, along with 15 carries for 92 yards, on offense.

As a return specialist, he averaged 27.1 yards on 79 kickoff returns with four touchdowns and 12.6 yards on 46 punt returns with an additional four scores. He finished his USC career with 15 touchdowns in four different ways: via reception (six), interception (one), kickoff return (four) and punt return (four). Jackson owns the USC career records for kickoff returns (79) and yardage (2,141 yards) and his 27.1-yard average is second in school history.

Jackson was named Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2014 and followed that up by being named first-team All-Pac-12 the following year. As a junior in 2016, Jackson’s accolades included the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back, the Jet Award as the nation’s top return specialist, consensus first-team All-American, first-team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.