Take a look back through Kareem Jackson's football career with photos from his days at Alabama through his time with the Texans.
Tennessee's Lucas Taylor (12) is tackled as he's defended by Kareem Jackson (3) during the first half of a NCAA college football game against Alabama on Oct. 25, 2008 in Knoxville, Tenn. Alabama won 29-9.(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson (25) runs by Dallas Cowboys' Alex Barron (71) and Felix Jones (28) on the way to a 64-yard interception return during the third quarter of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, in Houston. The Texans beat the Cowboys 23-7. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)
Houston Texans defenders Jason Allen (30), Kareem Jackson (25) and Mark Anderson (96) celebrate after breaking up a Denver Broncos pass during the second quarter an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/ Chris Schneider )
Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson (25) intercepts a pass intended for Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (84) in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)
Houston Texans' Kareem Jackson (25) reacts after returning an interception for a touchdown during an NFL Football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)
As Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus (59) looks on, cornerback Kareem Jackson (25) throws the ball into the stands after making an interception against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson (25) is introduced before an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson (25) is introduced before an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson (25) celebrates an interception against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans defensive back Kareem Jackson (25) enters the field during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018 in Houston. (NFL Photos via AP)
Houston Texans strong safety Kareem Jackson (25) celebrates his interception against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans safety Kareem Jackson (25) intercepts a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys receiver Tavon Austin (10) during a 2018 NFL week 5 regular season game, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018 in Houston. The Texans defeated the Cowboys in overtime, 19-16. (James D. Smith via AP)
Houston Texans strong safety Kareem Jackson (25) runs the football after an interception during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Houston. The Texans defeated the Cowboys in overtime, 19-16. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Houston Texans safety Kareem Jackson (25) celebrates his interception during a 2018 NFL week 5 regular season game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018 in Houston. The Texans defeated the Cowboys in overtime, 19-16. (James D. Smith via AP)
Houston Texans strong safety Kareem Jackson (25) in coverage during a week 12 NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans on Monday, Nov. 26, 2018 in Houston. Houston won 34-17. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Houston Texans strong safety Kareem Jackson (25) following an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Texans strong safety Kareem Jackson (25) recovers a fumble by Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles in front of running back T.J. Yeldon (24) and wide receiver Dede Westbrook (12) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Texans won 20-7. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Houston Texans strong safety Kareem Jackson (25) celebrates against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Houston Texans strong safety Kareem Jackson (25) poses for a portrait, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018 in Culver City, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson (25) celebrates a defensive stop during an NFL game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, Landover, MD. The Texans defeated the Redskins 23-21. (Al Tielemans via AP)
Houston Texans strong safety Kareem Jackson (25) breaks up a pass intended for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Dede Westbrook (12) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans defensive back Kareem Jackson (25) during pregame warmups before a regular season Week 13 NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Texans in Houston on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. The Texans beat the Browns 29-13. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Houston Texans defensive back Kareem Jackson (25) celebrates after a play during a regular season Week 15 NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday December 17, 2017 in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars beat the Texans 45-7 (Matt Patterson via AP)
Houston Texans defensive back Kareem Jackson (25) returns a Colts fumble during a Week 15 NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 20, 2015, in Indianapolis. The Texans beat the Colts 16-10. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Rod Streater, left, misses a pass as Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson, right, makes the tackle in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson (25) celebrates after intercepting a pass against the Miami Dolphins in the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson dances into the end zone for a touchdown after an interception during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, in Houston. The Texans won 38-14. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)
Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson (25) breaks up a pass to Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones (89) in the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
Houston Texans defensive back Kareem Jackson (25) celebrates with a fist in the air after a defensive stop during a Week 15 NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 20, 2015, in Indianapolis. The Texans beat the Colts 16-10. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Houston Texans defensive back Kareem Jackson (25) returns an interception during a Week 12 NFL game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015 in Houston. The Texans won the game 24-6. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Kareem Jackson returns an interception for a touchdown during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on Nov. 13, 2016 in Jacksonville, Fla. The Texans defeated the Jaguars 24-21. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson (25) reacts during an NFL divisional playoff football game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday January 13, 2013 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. New England won 41-28. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Houston Texans defensive back Kareem Jackson (25) during pregame warmups before a regular season Week 12 NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens, Monday November 27, 2017 in Baltimore. The Ravens beat the Texans 23-16 (Matt Patterson via AP)
Houston Texans defensive back Kareem Jackson (25) celebrates after a play during a regular season Week 15 NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday December 17, 2017 in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars beat the Texans 45-7 (Matt Patterson via AP)
Calling Kareem Jackson purely a safety or a cornerback is inaccurate. Over the course of his nine seasons with the Texans, the breadth of his work made him one of the NFL's most versatile defensive backs, capable of working in any spot in the secondary.
When he works at cornerback, he has the broad vision of a safety -- and with it the ability to quickly analyze the offensive alignment in front of him. When a coach aligns him at safety, he brings an elite cornerback's knack for distilling the superfluous moving parts down to his specific assignment.
He does both so well he admits that he doesn't have a specific preference.
"I actually enjoy kind of floating around, playing a little bit of everywhere," Jackson said. "I feel like that could be an advantage for us as a team game-planning-wise, just depending on what type of skill sets that the offense possesses in terms of the guys that they have."
Few defensive backs have this sort of Swiss-army knife adaptability. Fewer still can play so many spots -- and do so with solid-starter capability.
"It helps a lot with me being able to play the safety spot, just being able to see the entire field, and also preparing and knowing what the offenses are doing," Jackson said Friday as he met Denver-area media for the first time as a Bronco.
"Being able to see the entire field on both sides -- whether it's receiver splits, recognizing how deep the back is or just little things like that. It also helps me playing corner as well and one side of the field. You kind of have to get a feel for receiver splits [and] formations. Just little things like that can definitely help in your preparing and going into the games on Sundays."
The Broncos gained more flexibility in their use of Jackson after agreeing to terms with former Chicago Bears cornerback Bryce Callahan on Friday. In three-cornerback sub packages, Callahan can work in the slot, leaving Jackson to handle work on the outside.
Like Chris Harris Jr., Callahan can be used in two-cornerback sets, and the Broncos could use Callahan's arrival to create opportunities for Jackson to work as a safety -- both in the base defense or in some three-safety alignments.
"[Jackson] gives us a lot of options," Head Coach Vic Fangio said. "Just from week to week we might be able to line him up where we feel he best fits to defend the team we're playing. He's smart enough to learn all the different positions. He's proven it in games and on tape that he can execute the positions, not just know what do to do, but play them competitively and at a high level.
"It's a big advantage and it helps when you're looking at other players that you have guys that can move around."
Jackson's aggressiveness against the run and willingness to attack and not let others get tackles also pairs well with Harris, who is one of the league's most active cornerbacks in rushing containment.
"Throughout my career, I've just always been that type of guy -- [to] kind of get down in the line and be physical and tackle," Jackson said.
That makes him perfect for Fangio's defense. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Fangio called tackling a "non-negotiable" attribute in his evaluations of prospective Broncos. Jackson finished last year with 34 stops -- tackles that result in a "loss" for the opposing offense -- according to Pro Football Focus.
Jackson can do it all, and as he enters his 10th season, he's doing it better than he ever has before. That's why Fangio and President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway coveted him, and why he makes Denver's defense better just by walking into the building.
