NFL rules prohibit teams from signing drafted players to contract extensions until the completion of their third seasons. When that deadline passed for safety Eddie Jackson, the Chicago Bears wasted no time making him the first player from the 2017 NFL Draft signed to a new deal.

Less than a week after the Bears’ season ended on Dec. 29, Jackson had a four-year, $58.4 million contract extension with the highest average annual value -- $14.6 million -- for a safety in NFL history.

In a conference call with reporters, Jackson thanked several people, including his coach at Alabama, Nick Saban.

“I’ve got to thank coach Saban,” Jackson said. “He taught us how to deal with adversity, overcoming those obstacles, things and different challenges in your life that you feel like want to set you back and stop you from getting to where you need to be. Just having that mindset installed has always worked -- always having that chip on my shoulder and just continue to get better and be the best version of me I can be.”

Jackson had to deal with adversity that affected his entry into the NFL. He missed the final seven games of his college career after suffering a broken left leg in an SEC contest against Texas A&M on Oct. 22, 2016. He wasn't drafted until the fourth round after Bears general manager Ryan Pace traded up five spots to take him with the 112th pick.

“It was one of those unreal moments, unsure moments that you didn’t know how things were going to go, how your career was going to be or whether you were even going to get an opportunity to be here,” Jackson said. “Right now, all those moments are just replaying in my head. I’m forever grateful. I’m forever thankful. It just shows you God is real.

“I have to thank Mr. Pace and the McCaskey family from the bottom of my heart just for even taking the opportunity to give me the chance after the injury.”

As a rookie, Jackson played all 1,055 of Chicago's defensive snaps in 2017.

On the one-year anniversary of his leg injury, Jackson became the first player in NFL history with more than one 75-yard defensive touchdown in one season by getting two in one game. In Chicago's 17-3 victory over the Carolina Panthers, Jackson returned a fumble recovery 75 yards and an interception 76 yards for touchdowns.

In his second season, Jackson earned first-team All-Pro recognition as he intercepted six passes, returned two for touchdowns and scored on a 65-yard fumble return.

Although he earned his second Pro Bowl invitation in 2019, Jackson did not have the splashy plays of his first two seasons, with two interceptions returned for 18 yards and one fumble returned for 3 yards.

One reason for that was how he was deployed by new defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano. Jackson said he did not spend as much time in 2019 "just roaming all the time" as a free safety.

“This year, I got to get in the box," Jackson said. "I really enjoy being in the box, making plays behind the line or on the line of scrimmage. It just overall made me more aggressive. You read run better with your keys and details, so hats off to coach Pagano for helping us become all-around players and playing out of our comfort zone.”

The Bears didn't note any downturn in Jackson's play.

“We’re very excited to get this deal done with Eddie to keep him in a Bears uniform long-term,” Pace said in a statement released by the team. “It’s rare to find a player in this league with talent like Eddie’s. He’s a rangy ball hawk with exceptional IQ, a great teammate and a natural leader. He is the anchor to the back end of our defense, and we are fortunate to have him.”

In Jackson's rookie season, the Bears won two more games than they did in 2016, but they were still only 5-11. In coach Matt Nagy's first season in 2018, Chicago won the NFC North with a 12-4 record. In 2019, the Bears stepped back to 8-8.

“There’s still a lot of unfinished business out there,” Jackson said. “The most important part is bringing that Super Bowl trophy back to Chicago. I’m not going to stop until I can’t go no more. That’s one thing they’ll get from me. They’re going to get my hardest until I can’t go no more.”

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

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