Football history expert, Author, Podcast & Radio Host, Documentarian
Jackson is a committed sports author, podcast and radio host, and advocate for capturing the stories and recollections of football legends. He documents important moments in U.S. football history for future generations.
With several football books and a documentary under his belt, Jackson currently hosts two podcasts and The Game Before the Money Radio show on the Sportsmap Radio Network, which airs on Saturdays at 10AM CST on stations nationwide.
“Jackson Michael humbly asks, listens, and writes. His stated goal of delivering NFL history directly from the mouths of the men who made it is achieved with all the flair of a simple dive play that busts open for a forty-yard touchdown.”
– NFL All-Pro Defensive Tackle, Doug English
Jackson Michael is a football history expert with an encyclopedia-like recall for facts, stats, legendary stories, and iconic moments.
Growing up in Wisconsin, Jackson rooted for the Green Bay Packers, the Tom Landry-coached Dallas Cowboys, and the Dan Reeves/John Elway-led Denver Broncos. He recalls his earliest NFL football memory was age six, as he watched the Vikings return a blocked field goal against the Rams in the 1976 NFC Championship.
Following a fateful opportunity at a party that led to Jackson interviewing 40 former NFL legends, he committed to document football history and player stories, putting his then music career on hold, which later led to his book deal for The Game Before Money, published by the University of Nebraska Press, and other book opportunities.
As the founder of The Game Before the Money Oral History Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, Jackson is acting on a mission to preserve the life and career stories of former pro and college football players, in their own words.
Additionally, through his work, he gains insight into how the players’ personal stories and how they intersect with America’s cultural and socioeconomic history, contributing to the preservation of both football and American history.
