BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – The Bills play the Seahawks on Sunday. You may remember Seattle is where Bills legend Fred Jackson went after his time with the Bills ended, playing one season there before retiring.
Jackson now visits Western New York on a regular basis, proving you don’t need to be a current player to give back to the community.
He credited a visit with the Texas Rangers at his school while he was growing up in Fort Worth, Texas as a catalyst of him wanting to be involved in the community as an athlete.
“I remember how much that impacted me as a young kid,” Jackson said at a Bills “Play 60” event in Lackawanna this week. “When I had the opportunity to play for Buffalo and get out and be in the community and do events like this with kids, it was something that I wanted to do and still love doing.”
Jackson has not played for the Bills in a decade, but he still admires the community and wants to help.
“I think one of the things we can do as professional athletes and then afterwards is continue to use our platforms for things like this,” Jackson said. “As long as I keep getting the phone call to be a part of things like this, I’ll be here.”
He also wants to use his experience as a former player to help current players in charitable efforts.
“I think when you get some tutelage when you’re here, the best think you can do it pass it on,” Jackson said. “And they have some great guys here.”
Scott Patterson is a co-anchor on News 4 Wake Up! He joined the News 4 team in 2024. See more of his work here.