Tarvaris Jackson: Remembering his top 3 moments with Vikings
3. Breaking into the NFL in Minnesota in 2006
The first top moment of Tarvaris Jackson’s 10-year NFL career was when he initially broke into the league as a professional quarterback nearly 15 years ago.
Coming out of Alabama State, Jackson was viewed as a dual-threat quarterback who had a nice arm but could also stretch the field and change a look of an offense with his ability to use his speed and run the ball.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Jackson worked out for multiple teams leading up to the 2006 NFL Draft, including Minnesota, and was ultimately selected by the Vikings with the final pick of the second round of the draft. Minnesota traded two third-round draft picks to the Pittsburgh Steelers in order to move up to the No. 64 pick and pick Jackson.
During that 2006 campaign, Jackson’s rookie season, the quarterback served as the backup quarterback to then Minnesota starter Brad Johnson.
Under head coach Brad Childress, Jackson appeared in a total of four games for a Vikings team that finished 6-10 overall and wound up taking third in the NFC North standings.
The 23-year-old quarterback started two of those four contests, wrapping up his first year with 475 passing yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions, while also running for 77 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
The 2006 season wasn’t a groundbreaking or eyebrow-raising season for Jackson, but he was ultimately able to begin what would be a lengthy career in the NFL in 2006 while breaking into the league.