Visitors to the National Shrine may know Mr. Jackson for his warm smile and friendly demeanor – for his faithful work as a security guard at America’s Catholic Church. But what many people don’t know is that Mr. Jackson was a groundbreaking professional football player in an era when racism pervaded the industry.
In 1962, LeRoy Jackson was drafted into the NFL by the Cleveland Browns before being traded to the Washington Redskins. At this time, the Redskins (now known as the Commanders) were the last NFL team to racially integrate, and Jackson was among their first Black players.
In this interview with the Knights of Columbus, Mr. Jackson shares about his experiences in the NFL, at the National Shrine, and more. We invite you to watch the video below!