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The Minnesota Twins had their fire sale this week, getting various players off the payroll. One of those was Jhoan Duran, the club’s closer, who was sent to Philadelphia. One closer is gone, but the Vikings found one of those in practice.
The Vikings Found a New Closer
Sep 14, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Theo Jackson (25) intercepts a pass intended for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Friday afternoon, Kevin O’Connell had his usual media appearance, and he was asked about Theo Jackson evolving since stepping into a bigger role.
O’Connell replied: “Really, since we acquired him, he’s always been kind of an ascending player, but just with how deep that safety room was and has been, without opportunity. But then, when coaches identified having Theo in the game in some of those three and four-safety grouping defenses over the past couple years, we’ve had some real positive things happen. And as you guys have seen him, anytime he’s around the football in the deep part of the field or getting a key to break on something underneath, if he’s around it, he’s going to make the play.”
Jackson was buried on the depth chart behind top guys Harrison Smith, Cam Bynum, and Josh Metellus, so it was hard to crack the lineup for the 2022 acquisition. Because of Bynum’s departure this offseason, Jackson is primed for a starting role, or at least an increased snap count. He signed a relatively cheap contract extension prior to free agency, notching a three-year deal worth $12.615 million.
Nov 13, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell greets safety Theo Jackson (25) before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
O’Connell continued, “I always call Jonathan Greenard ‘the Closer,’ but when he made the play to end practice the other day, people came up to me saying that Theo actually had that nickname, so I got to find a new one for JG, I guess.”
Mind you, that was prior to Friday’s practice session. On Wednesday, he ended practice with a pick.
And guess who shined on Friday? It was Mr. Jackson, aka the Closer. He had a couple of more interceptions.
The Vikings wrote on the team website: “Just hours after Head Coach Kevin O’Connell touted Jackson as an ascending player, the 26-year-old safety lived up to his ballhawking reputation and awed with two picks in Friday’s training camp practice.”
Dec 22, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Theo Jackson (26, second from right) leads a dance with cornerback Shaquill Griffin (1), safety Camryn Bynum (24), safety Josh Metellus (44), defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (97) and cornerback Dwight McGlothern (29) following his interception against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Jackson closed last year’s contest against the Seattle Seahawks. Minutes after Sam Darnold tossed the go-ahead touchdown to Justin Jefferson (with one of the best passes you’ll ever see), Jackson ended Geno Smith’s comeback attempt by snatching a pass in the final minute of the game.
Jackson, a Tennessee native, attended the University of Tennessee and was drafted by the hometown Titans in 2022. When Lewis Cine suffered his season-ending injury in his debut season, the Vikings needed another depth safety and found rookie Jackson on Tennessee’s practice squad.
Since then, he has been a premier backup and earned a ton of praise from teammates and coaches, but he had to wait for his opportunity until now.
In April, legendary safety Smith opened up to the media about his new safety-mate: “He’s always making plays. Literally from the day he got here, I was like ‘How did the Titans let him go?’ And that’s not to knock the Titans. He’s a good player, and sometimes the numbers just don’t work out. Sometimes guys need to get cut to play better; I’m not saying that’s this instance.”
Sep 22, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Steven Sims (82) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings safety Theo Jackson (26) during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Jackson has played in 43 career games (all with the Vikings). He has logged 47 tackles and two interceptions on 222 defensive snaps and 875 on special teams.
More from Smith: “Everything I’ve seen from Theo is he’s got a lot of ability, he’s smart, he knows how to be a pro, which I think is very important, [considering] the length of a season, all the different roles you can play and whatever role he’s plugged into, special teams, starting role on defense or a few plays here or there on defense, he comes in, he does his job at a high level, he makes plays, he’s energetic. He’s big-time in my opinion.”
Jackson and Smith will share the field in the upcoming season.
About his Friday picks, Jackson said: “[Brian Flores] gives us a lot of freedom to, whatever we see, we can call and check things; he really gives us the reins. So when we get that, plus being in the system for a while, a lot of good things happen.”
Expect to see a ton from the 26-year-old in the upcoming season. The Vikings didn’t add any veteran in free agency or a young defender in the draft to take his spot, indicating the confidence the franchise has in him.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.