In 2022, the Minnesota Vikings found a hidden gem off the Tennessee Titans practice squad in safety Theo Jackson. The team desperately needed safety help after first-round prospect Lewis Cine went down with a season-ending injury. Since then, Jackson has proven he belongs on the active roster and entered the 2025 season as a starter on Brian Flores’ defense.
However, after starting the first eight games last season, the Vikings quietly benched Theo Jackson for third-year safety Jay Ward. Ward played well and raised questions about whether Jackson will have a role on the team in 2026.
The Vikings have three other safeties in addition to Jackson and Ward. Practice-squad prospect Kahlef Hailassie, special teams ace Tavierre Thomas, and Flores’ defensive staple Josh Metellus join Ward and Jackson in the safety room. Add in the Vikings drafted safety Jakobe Thomas out of the University of Miami in the third round and signed promising undrafted free agent Jacob Thomas from James Madison. With all of this in mind, Jackson’s path back to the top of the depth chart looks murky at best.
Jackson is a popular cut candidate this offseason. Still, Minnesota’s safety room is one of the biggest uncertainties on the roster heading into 2026. Therefore, Jackson has an opportunity to reclaim his role.
After earning Second-Team All-SEC honors at the University of Tennessee, Jackson declared for the 2022 draft. Draft experts highlighted versatility, and that has translated to the next level. Flores loves to use versatile players like Jackson all over the field, and he expects that trait especially in the safety room.
Flores has frequently used three-safety packages since taking over as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator. Typically, he opts to use an extra safety instead of a corner. The ultimate Swiss Army knife, Metellus will occupy one of those spots, but that still leaves two roles open.
Jackson should have an advantage over the competition because he has more experience in Flores’ defensive scheme. Jackson has seen action in 57 games over the past four seasons for the Vikings. Before becoming a starter last season, Jackson was a key rotational piece for Flores.
Finally, as a player, Jackson has been noted for his elite athletic ability, which helps him across various areas on the field. One is his playmaking ability on the back end of the defense, where he has two interceptions in the past four seasons. Another is using that ability on special teams. In 2024, Jackson led all players with 75.56% of special-teams snaps.
Looking at the bigger picture, Harrison Smith’s decision on whether to retire or not will have a huge effect on whether the Vikings decide to keep Jackson. Without Smith’s presence on the team, Minnesota will be looking for talent in the room and veteran leadership. Over the past few seasons, the Vikings have typically carried five safeties. Still only 27 years old, Jackson has room to grow and gain experience. Ward, meanwhile, is 26.
Theo Jackson is a valuable piece on Minnesota’s defense, even though he regressed as a starter last year. If this is truly the end of the Hitman in a Vikings uniform, then Minnesota would be taking a big risk cutting Jackson this preseason. Given the current players in the safety room, Jackson is most likely to make the roster and take advantage of an opportunity to continue his ascent in Minnesota.
