Skip to main content
Advertising

Chargers Official Site | Los Angeles Chargers - chargers.com

Why Donte Jackson Was Among PFF's Top Defensive Players in 2025

DonteJacksonPFF

The Chargers had a pair of players — Derwin James and Del'Shawn Phillips — who were named as All-Pro selections in 2025.

There's a good case to be made that Donte Jackson should have also been on that list.

The Chargers cornerback was both elite and consistent during his first season with the Bolts after joining the team in free agency last spring.

And while Jackson didn't garner any individual accolades in 2025, he was recently spotlighted by Zach Tantillo of Pro Football Focus as the Chargers secret superstar from last season.

Tantillo wrote:

Jackson thrived in the Chargers' zone-heavy scheme, earning a 79.9 zone PFF coverage grade that ranked 13th among cornerbacks. He tied for the league lead at the position in interceptions in zone (four). Jackson's 16.3 coverage snaps per reception allowed ranked as the 12th-best rate among NFL cornerbacks.

If we look at traditional stats, Jackson put together a strong season with a team-best 12 passes defensed while tying for the team lead with four interceptions along with Tony Jefferson.

On a deeper level, Jackson allowed just 24 receptions among cornerbacks with at least 400 coverage snaps in 2025, good for the second-fewest among players in that group.

He was also called for just one penalty on 73 targets.

Take a look at the best photos from the Chargers 2025 campaign through the lens of manager of photography, Ty Nowell, seasonal photographer, Joaquin Torre, seasonal photographer, Cassandra Serrano, gameday photographers Noel Vasquez, Joey Hortiz, Katie Albertson and Jared Thomas.

Jackson told Chargers.com in December that he felt like he had been playing some of the best football of his career.

"I always like to think of myself as a ball guy, a guy who can change the game just by going to find the ball," Jackson said.

"Just taking what I've always done and coming here in a different scheme, fine tuning it, fine tuning my coverage, my eyes and being able to know when I can go and take chances," Jackson continued. "Just playing with that confidence is allowing me to go make those plays for the team.

"When you can be in good coverage and do that consistently, at some point you're going to get a chance to go and make a play on the ball," Jackson added. "That's kind of how I see it, I like to be tight in coverage so when I do get that chance to go and make a play on the ball, it can find me."

Jackson has 23 career interceptions, which is tied for ninth-most among all active players.

Related Content

Advertising