Transcript: Cornerback Adoree’ Jackson

Cornerback Adoree’ Jackson

September 2, 2024

Q: Can you take us through from your perspective on how all of this started? In terms of talks with the Giants, re-talks with the Giants, and how it got to this point?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: It was a bunch of back and forth from my agent and to them. Then later on down, I think this past week and a half, being able to talk to (Senior Vice President and General Manager) Joe (Schoen) on the phone, talk to (Head Coach Brian Daboll) Dabs. That's pretty much how it ended up going, ended up starting and asked me come out here. Got on the flight and handled some business.

Q: You're young to me, believe me. But if you were a much younger player, maybe it wouldn’t be a little more of a process. But do you feel like you can jump right in? Can you just get right in there, even with the new defense and everything else?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: I think being able to know (Defensive Coordinator) Shane (Bowen) and some of the things that he did when I was in Tennessee with him. Understanding some of the verbiage may have changed. But easy for me to wire my mind on how to compartmentalize what these defenses may be and some of the calls. So, I think that's helpful. Then being able to stay in the shape that I have been in. Then getting here, getting ramped up to get ready to go play. I know it's going to be a difference. Just trying to see where I am at. Whereas when I put these pads on, I've been out there in just shorts and cleats running around, doing what I've been doing to stay ready. So, putting the pads on with a helmet, it's going to be a little different, but excited for the opportunity.

Q: Did you think this door was closed at some point? Did you think my next team isn't going to be the Giants at some point this offseason?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: No, I didn't think the door was closed. No, I didn't think that.

Q: When I saw you at the Super Bowl, you said it was kind of like a break period for you guys. Were there any hurt feelings on either side you guys had to get by? Like, ‘hey, why didn't you want me in March’? Or ‘hey, why didn't you want us as a team in March’? Any kind of stuff you had to get through to get to this point?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: No animosity, no feelings, no ill intentions on my end. When I came in and saw everybody, it was like being at a family reunion. Like, ‘I (haven’t) seen you in a minute. Where you been? How you been? What you been up to?’ So, I didn't have any vibes of anything being bad. When they hit me up or they call me or text me. It wasn't like I didn't want to reach out or I didn't want to pick up the phone. I've been knowing them for two years. We’ve had relationships and talk before. I understand that things (are) a business and I don't ever want to put business with anything personal. That's just how life goes. In-Tune with who I am as a person and with my faith. So, I wasn't really worried about too much and knew when something was right, it would be right, and it would happen. And here I am.

Q: What were you doing? Did you have a personal trainer? Were you on your local football field? What were you doing these last five months?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: I really was back with my old high school track coach who does the lifting and speed work with me that we've been doing, and then doing position work frequently. For me, I think just having a set schedule, doing what I know, what my coaches know that I'm used to, working out-wise, getting the position work in that I need to get in. I think one of the other cool things is as a vet or someone that's older, knowing what I need and knowing what it takes to be ready and stay in shape, understanding my body, being able to take care of my body and do the right thing. So, I think that whole process for me was just that. No personal trainer, just back with everybody that I've been with from when I moved out to California. It was good to always see him, get to work out, flashback on memories, create some new ones. I was actually enjoying this offseason.

Q: They didn't bring you in as a coach. They brought you in as a player. But you are a veteran in the room now. In a room that's pretty young. Obviously, (Green Bay Packers safety Xavier) McKinney's not there anymore. So, the defensive backs, the safeties are young. What can a veteran do to a very young group that can help?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: It's very cliche but pretty much lead by example. You can go out there and say a lot of different things, this and that. Obviously, they will retain to it from listening. But being able to see it and seeing how you work, seeing how you go about your business. I think just that aspect and letting them be them. I don't want to come here and try to change what they already know, what they already do. My coaches used to tell me – (Former Titans Defensive Backs Coach) Deshea Townsend, ‘do what got you here.’ Him and (Former Titans Defensive Coordinator) Dick LeBeau. So, whatever it is that got you here, just keep doing that. I'm just going to be here along the way to help any way possible. I think that's the process for me.

Q: How do you assess the way you played last year? You played last year and then you were a free agent. Did you have a lot of interest around the league? What do you think your film last year showed?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: I had some interest around the league. I don't think I played to my best. I'm always critiquing myself. But I had interest around the league, but I didn't play to my best.

Q: Why do you think that was the case?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: Oh man, if I could tell you, I would. If I could tell you why I wasn’t, I don't think the play would have been how it was. I really couldn't tell you why that was.

Q: Based on the training that you have done up to this point, how ready would you say you are to jump in there this week? Or do you need to take care of the playbook? You were in Tennessee, and I know Shane was in the D.C. back then. But I'm sure some of the philosophies were the same when you were down there.

ADOREE’ JACKSON: Yeah, I think mentally. I think obviously, physically I've been doing what I need to do to stay in shape. And I know football shape is going to be a lot different from what I've been doing. But I always kept my mind set, focused on being ready to go Week 1. That was just how I mentally prepared myself. Mentally I know if the situation was to come and I had to go out there and play, just who I am as a person – I like to compete. It's just what I do. Whether it's when I was in 7-on-7 in high school and (Former Panthers Wide Receiver) Keyshawn Johnson had a team. He just told me to throw on some cleats, just went out there and played. Or whatever it may be. So mentally, always being mentally ready and physically doing what I need to do to stay in shape. But coming out here, getting in football shape, getting ramped up, and we're going to see how it goes from there.

Q: I know you're a competitor. I know you don't make excuses. But you were also banged up a lot last year, especially towards the end. How much of that do you think may be factored into your play and your mindset? Did you ever at some point say, ‘I don't know if I want to go through this again’?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: Injuries, we learn at, I don't want to say young age, but you learn soon that it's a part of the game. If you're out there, you're out there. You've got to deal with it. Like you said, I'm not going to use that as a reason of play being the way it was. But I never in my thought process said I didn't want to go through this again. That's what I'm saying. Maybe the time off was much needed for me, my body, mentally, a good reset. I'm just excited to be back and get ready to work.

Q: Did you seek any kind of assurance that you would start at corner to re-sign with a team like this?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: I wouldn't say seek any reassurance, but I know I seek in being wanted back. When you've got that aspect of being wanted, you're able to go out there and just do what you can to help the team, whatever it may be. So whatever role they give me, they say go out there and be the vise for (wide receiver) Gunner (Olszewski), why don't you take a punt return back, I can do that. ‘Go out there and make a tackle on a punt returner.’ At gunner, I can do that. So, whatever may be needed, play corner, inside, whatever it may be, any way to help this team and to be able to just help the guys in general.

Q: Did they talk to you about possibly returning punts? Or did they talk to you about the roles you just mentioned, like kind of complementing Gunner, but not actually taking that job?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: I'm always in the mindset that I'm a returner. I've always been one at heart, regardless of what may happen. As you all have seen, I go back there and it's just second nature, just like you get up, walk out of bed, go wash your face, brush your teeth. I get up, go back there, punt return, catch it and figure out what's going to happen next.

Q: Are you physically capable of playing 60 snaps on Sunday if you start at outside corner and play the whole game? I mean in football shape right now, are you in the shape to play a full game at outside corner on Sunday?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: I can play – 60 snaps, I don't know 60, I might be gassed, you know. So, I wouldn't put a number of snaps how I can play right now. We're going to see this week being getting ramped up and working on my condition and seeing what I need. Obviously, doing stuff on the side for myself. I know my body as well. And obviously having the performance coaches and the trainers here to be able to guide me and assess me in what I may need and just go from there.

Q: You said you had some interest around the league. Did you visit any other teams, or did you talk seriously with any other teams about this kind of signing? Or did nothing get close to as serious as this?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: My agent did most of the talking. But, no, I did not do any visits. The only one I came to was out here.

Q: Did you get your old number back and did you have to get a new locker?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: No, I didn't get my old number back. It's funny, (cornerback) Dru (Phillips) had asked me did I want it back, and I'm like, ‘no, you can keep it.’ I’ve seen him making some plays in it, so I'm like, ‘you got it, you look good in it, so you got it.’ And no, I didn't get my old locker back, but I'm like two lockers over, so it's not too crazy. I'm still right by the guys – (defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II) Dex and (inside linebacker) Bobby Okereke and (outside linebacker Kayvon) Thibodeaux. So, it's cool. I'm still with some familiar faces.

Q: You didn't get your old number, so what number are you wearing?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: We're going to find out today.

Q: Still a secret?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: We're going to find out today.

Q: Is this a surreal situation for you? Because you haven't been in a locker room since the one you left back in January. Yet it's not the same locker room. There are some similarities, but the DC is different. We know, the head coach and the GM are the same. You have some familiarity, but it's also different. What's it like walking into that locker room today, knowing that it's not the same, but it has similarities?

ADOREE’ JACKSON: Love. I think that's my way of describing it. It's always going to be love, you know, actually having those familiar faces. I think from player-to-player recognition, you respect other players that got to this point in this league. (inaudible). They always say (it’s not how) you got here, it’s what you do when you get here. So being able to respect these guys and see them and say what's up, introduce myself, just be respectable because I'm someone new to them. But to be able to see some of my old teammates, some of the old coaches, like I said earlier, it's kind of like a family reunion. That's always good to be surrounded by love. It makes you feel good to come to work.

Q: You're the veteran coming into a locker room that a team's kind of been built here, getting ready to go. Do you appreciate the role you're in now, knowing that you have a lot of eyes on you right now, seeing who this guy is going to be? A lot of people who don't know you for the reputation you've built in this league and in this locker room.

ADOREE’ JACKSON: I think it goes back to when I came in as a rookie. When I first got here, I always said I wanted to prove myself and earn my stripes. That was the first thing I was told about coming into New York, regardless of if you know who I am or don't. I think it's always about proving yourself, regardless of what it may be. Each day, each week, going out there trying to improve and get better. Because somebody's looking at you, regardless of if you know it or not. Maybe it might be someone on special teams or on offense, whatever it may be. Trying to see like, ‘how does he keep getting up?’ or ‘how does he keep doing this,’ or ‘why does he do this,’ ‘why does he do that?’ Just trying to prove myself every day. I think taking that role, that's always how I have been. My move from Illinois to California, just having to prove myself.