ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Kareem Jackson is back in Denver.
The veteran safety signed a one-year deal on Wednesday to return to the Broncos for the 2021 season.
"I'm excited to be back here to share the locker room and the field with these guys," Jackson told DenverBroncos.com. "[I'm] just looking forward to it."
Denver previously did not exercise Jackson's team option, but the Broncos and hard-hitting player were able to agree on a deal that will keep Denver's safety duo intact.
Jackson, who will enter his 12th season in the NFL, has started 29 games for the Broncos since joining the team in 2019. He's posted three interceptions, 14 passes defensed, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, 160 total tackles, five tackles for loss and a touchdown with Denver.
Jackson's best game as a Bronco came in 2019 against the Texans, as he earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for a performance that included two takeaways and a touchdown. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate following the 2019 season.
In 2020, Jackson continued to be a disruptive force to opposing offenses as he played nearly every defensive snap.
"My mindset is to be better than I was last year," Jackson said. "Each and every year, I just want to do more or be better than the previous year. [I had] a career-high 89 tackles — let's see if I can get 100 this year. For me, I want to try to get the ball more as well and also continue to be a leader, help the young guys, bring those guys along and give them any knowledge that I can to help them progress on and off the field."
Jackson will reunite with Justin Simmons on the back end of Denver's defense and will be a part of a secondary with plenty of potential. Free-agent additions Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller will likely join Jackson, Simmons and Bryce Callahan in the team's starting nickel defense.
The 20th-overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Jackson spent the first nine years of his career in Houston and has tallied 19 career interceptions, seven forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 719 tackles and four defensive touchdowns.
