Willie Jackson was drafted No. 294 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1981 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State. No regular-season snaps on record.
- Overall pick
- #294
- Round
- 11
- Draft class
- 1981
The pick
How Willie Jackson came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Defensive back DB
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
No regular-season snaps on record.
No regular-season career on record yet.
Games, starts, and approximate value appear here once the season data lands.
See the rest of the 1981 classAround pick 294
Who came off the board on either side of Willie Jackson.
Pittsburgh
Boston College
Harvard
Arizona
Mississippi State in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DB picks from Mississippi State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Darius Slay
DB · DET · 2013
Mississippi State · 1× All-Pro · 6× Pro Bowl
#13
Walt Harris
DB · CHI · 1996
Mississippi State · 1× Pro Bowl
#45
Fred Smoot
DB · WAS · 2001
Mississippi State
#137
Kenny Johnson
DB · ATL · 1980
Mississippi State
#61
Eric Brown
DB · DEN · 1998
Mississippi State
#129
Kirby Jackson
DB · NYJ · 1987
Mississippi State
Other players named Willie Jackson
Different people who share this name in the draft archive.
Florida
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Willie Jackson in the 1981 NFL Draft
Willie Jackson is a Defensive back out of Mississippi State selected No. 294 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1981 NFL Draft. No regular-season snaps on record. Mississippi State has produced 113 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Willie Jackson drafted?
Willie Jackson was selected No. 294 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 11). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/willie-jackson.
What college did Willie Jackson play for?
Willie Jackson played college football at Mississippi State in the SEC. See every Mississippi State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/mississippi-state-bulldogs.
How did Willie Jackson's NFL career turn out?
No regular-season snaps on record. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/willie-jackson.