Registering the first interception and sack of his NFL career last Sunday against the Browns has earned linebacker D'Marco Jackson NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Subbing for the injured Tremaine Edmunds, Jackson helped the Bears (10-4) win their fifth straight home game and leapfrog the Packers (9-4-1) into first place in the NFC North. He's the first NFL linebacker to produce an interception and a sack in the same game since Week 8.
Coach Ben Johnson described Jackson's third-quarter interception as a "turning point for us" in the game. The Bears were protecting a 14-3 lead midway through the third quarter when Jackson leaped to tip and then pick off a Shedeur Sanders pass at the Browns' 22. On the next play, Caleb Williams' touchdown pass to DJ Moore in the back of the end zone widened the margin to 21-3.
"That was the spark that kind of ignited us on offense," Johnson said. "Caleb came back and made an outstanding throw to DJ on the back line. To me, that's really where the game got broken open."
Jackson was selected by the Saints in the fifth round of the 2022 draft out of Appalachian State. After spending his rookie season on injured reserve, he appeared in 17 games in 2023 and 10 contests in 2024 with New Orleans, all as a reserve who contributed primarily on special teams.
Waived by the Saints Aug. 26 as part of final cuts, he was claimed by the Bears the next day and has emerged as a valuable replacement for injured linebackers Edmunds and T.J. Edwards. Jackson has played in all 13 games and made his first four NFL starts, recording 41 tackles, three pass breakups, one fumble recovery and two tackles-for-loss.
"Happy for him," said defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who served as Saints head coach when Jackson played for New Orleans. "He's played well for us. It's a credit to him and a credit to those assistant coaches who have been able to get those guys ready."
Jackson is the fourth Bears player to win a player of the week award this season, joining Williams (Week 3) and tight end Colston Loveland (Week 9) on offense and Josh Blackwell (Week 4) on special teams. In addition, Jackson is the first Bears player to be named NFC Defensive Player of the Week since cornerback Tyrique Stevenson after Week 1 of last season.
