LB D’Marco Jackson is making the most of his starting opportunity with the Chicago Bears

By Canadian Press on December 17, 2025.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — D’Marco Jackson felt he just needed a chance to play.

He found that opportunity in Chicago.

Jackson was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday in another special moment for the third-year linebacker who stepped up when the Bears were hit hard by injuries at his position. He recorded his first career sack and interception in Sunday’s 31-3 win over Cleveland.

“He’s played well for us,” defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said. “So, I think it’s a credit to him, and I think it’s a credit to those assistant coaches who have been able to get those guys ready.”

Jackson, 27, was selected by New Orleans in the fifth round of the 2022 draft. He played mostly special teams for the Saints for two seasons before he was released in August.

He was claimed by Chicago the next day.

“I always thought I was going to be in New Orleans, so to finally come here and just to be a part of this organization, how they took me in and just built my confidence up,” Jackson said, “it was a huge honor, you know, to be here.”

Allen was the head coach for New Orleans when Jackson was drafted. He lobbied the Bears to pick him up after the Saints let him go.

“The thing that I knew about him, I knew what was inside his heart,” Allen said. “You know, in terms of the type of person he was, in terms of the type of worker he was, in terms of how he was going to fit into the locker room. There was no question about that.

“And so, and I think like with a lot of young players, you know, sometimes it takes some time to develop, but if you keep working at it and you’re smart, you’ll work at it, you got some athletic ability, you end up getting better.”

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Jay Cohen, The Associated Press