After a successful playing career, former Maryland star linebacker D’Qwell Jackson earned a promotion on Tuesday morning.
The Cleveland Browns announced that Jackson, 40, was promoted to a full-time pro scout in his second season with the franchise. Jackson joined the Browns’ front office in 2023 supporting player development as he now transitions into a bigger role in the next phase of his career with the franchise he spent the most time around.
“I’ve spent a little bit of time with D’Qwell over the years, got to spend some more time with him at the combine. I think the world of him, this building thinks the world of him,” Browns’ head coach Kevin Stefanski said about Jackson. “So he’s visiting with us this week, just having him meet with different people and spend some time with different people and impart some of that knowledge that he’s had over that career. And I think that’s totally invaluable for our young players. What ultimately it means for his future, I think that also remains to be seen, but it’s a visit and let him get to know different areas of our building.”
Jackson spent eight of his 11 years in the NFL with Cleveland before he was named into the Browns Legends program in 2021. After becoming a second-round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft – and coming off the board 28 picks after Vernon Davis – Jackson became an instant piece in Cleveland’s defense after starting 13 games as a rookie.
Jackson piled up 19.5 sacks, nine interceptions, 754 solo tackles, and 7 forced fumbles over his career, along with 100-plus tackles in five of his seven on-field seasons, finishing his career with 96 starts – in 97 games – with the franchise. Jackson spent the final three seasons of his career in Indianapolis where he started all 44 games he was available and posted 368 total tackles before retiring in 2016.
Before he made his mark in the pros, Jackson was a star in College Park where he led the team in tackles from 2003 to 2005 and ranks fourth all-time in school history with 447 career tackles. Jackson was named a first team All-ACC and All-American selection, along with drawing the ‘05 ACC Defensive Player of the Year after leading the conference with 123 tackles. Jackson became the seventh player at the time to record over 400 tackles in his career before moving onto the NFL.
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