Nate Jackson

Nate Jackson (born June 4, 1979) is a writer and former American football tight end. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football at Menlo. His writing about the NFL has appeared in Slate, Deadspin, Buzzfeed, the Daily Beast, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He is at work on a book about his time in the NFL.

College career
A graduate of Pioneer High School in San Jose, California, Jackson played at Division III school Menlo College from 1999–2001, and was a key factor in helping the school get attention for its athletics programs. During those seasons he set many records as a wide receiver, and was named first-team All-American during every season he was enrolled, and won the NCAA D-III Offensive Player of the Year after his final senior year in 2001. Jackson was inducted into the Menlo College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

San Francisco 49ers
Jackson went undrafted in 2002 NFL Draft, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers on the advice of former 49ers coach Bill Walsh, whose son was the athletic director at Menlo. He spent the entire 2002 NFL season on the practice squad. He was then waived after the season.

Denver Broncos
Jackson was then signed by the Denver Broncos for the 2003 NFL season. He spent the 2003-2008 seasons with the Broncos. He was converted from a wide receiver to a tight end before the 2005 NFL season.

Cleveland Browns
Jackson was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad before the 2009 NFL season. He was released before the season began.

Las Vegas Locomotives
Jackson then signed with the UFL team Las Vegas Locomotives but never played for the team