Chad Jackson.
Remember him?
I don’t either.
But the Steelers had Jackson, a wide receiver, on their draft board in 2006. Until they didn’t.
In an interview with the Boston Globe, Jackson’s former agent, David Canter, said Jackson answered his phone in a meeting with Steelers head coach Bill Cowher. That ended that. Cowher took him off the Steelers draft board.
I’d be scared to death to answer my phone in a meeting with Cowher. His chin must’ve really been quivering after that.
“Chad Jackson answered his phone in a meeting with Bill Cowher, and Cowher took him off the #Steelers’ draft board,” Canter said. “They traded up and drafted Santonio Holmes [25th].”https://t.co/2AaYekii8a
— David Todd (@DavidMTodd) April 11, 2020
Coming off their 2005 Super Bowl Victory, the Steelers held the last pick in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. That is likely where Jackson once was on the Steelers board.
But the Steelers didn’t like No. 32, so they made a trade with the New York Giants to move up to No. 25. And with that pick, the Steelers selected Ohio State WR Santonio Holmes.
Just imagine for a minute how the history of the Steelers could’ve been re-written without Holmes. No spectacular toe-tap Super Bowl touchdown, no 2008 Super Bowl win, no One for the Thumb.
Had Jackson not answered his phone, the Steelers may have drafted him. Instead, he went to the New England Patriots at No. 36 where he proceeded to play on special teams. Jackson’s injury-riddled career lasted three seasons and 18 games.
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