Tyoka Jackson

Tyoka Jackson (born November 22, 1971, in Washington, D.C.) is a former professional American football player. He played 12 seasons in the NFL as a defensive lineman for the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, and Detroit Lions. He retired from football following the 2006 NFL season.

High school years
Jackson attended Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Maryland and was a student and a starting defensive lineman on the football team. As a senior football player, he garnered 12 quarterback sacks and more than 100 tackles, and earned All-Metro honors from The Washington Post.

College career
Jackson was a standout on defense at Penn State. As a sophomore, he posted a team-leading 9.5 sacks, and 25 tackles. His junior season, he won second team All-East honors and garnered three sacks and 25 tackles. As a senior, he was a Football News All-American honorable mention pick, and named first team All-Big Ten. He posted a team-leading eight sacks, in addition to 41 tackles.

In 1994, Jackson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Labor and Industrial Relations from Penn State University.

NFL
Undrafted in 1994, Jackson signed with the Miami Dolphins, shortly after the 1994 NFL Draft. He would forge a 12-year career in the NFL, spending his first season with Miami, followed by five each with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and St. Louis Rams. He would follow Rams head coach Mike Martz to the Detroit Lions for a final season in 2006. He retired following his release from Detroit on March 2, 2007.

After football
Jackson founded the Jackson Investment Company in 1995. The company specializes in the purchase and development of residential real estate for urban renewal projects. The company also was responsible for bringing the first (and only) IHOP franchise to Washington, D.C.