For more than a decade, Jesse Jackson quietly carried a burden that few could see, even as the world continued to view him through the lens of his towering legacy. The voice that once roared through marches and movements was slowly being tested by progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a cruel neurological disease that erodes balance, speech, and the simple act of swallowing. In November, that long, private battle led to a hospital admission.

Jackson had revealed in 2017 that he was living with Parkinson’s disease, but for at least two years before making it public, he had already been receiving outpatient treatment at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. His family had been noticing the changes long before he was willing to accept it. While they urged him to see a doctor as his movements slowed and everyday tasks became harder, Jackson kept pushing forward. Only when the physical struggles grew impossible to ignore did he finally confront the truth. He received a diagnosis for the same disease that had once claimed his father. Parkinson’s.

So, Jackson made some lifestyle changes in order to slow the progression of the condition. But throughout these years, he also fought other ailments. In 2021, he underwent gallbladder surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. That same year, he and his wife, Jacqueline, were both hospitalized after they tested for COVID-19. And in 2025, he was admitted due to his progressive supranuclear palsy, which resulted in several infections. Unfortunately, the man who went through it all died on Tuesday morning at age 84.

His family mentioned in a statement: “Our father was a servant leader, not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world.

“We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”

The statement didn’t specify a cause of death. Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, who stood beside him in life and in struggle since their marriage in 1962, and by their six children.

Considering his contributions to civil rights, many renowned names from the football world penned tributes for him. Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson was one of them. He shared a throwback picture of himself shaking hands with Jesse Jackson.

“After a Super Bowl he was special..RIP,” he wrote, and in another comment, he mentioned, “RIP Jesse Jackson..he was an impressive individual.”

Not much is known about the relationship Johnson shared with Jackson. But their meeting was inevitable. After all, both had close ties to the world of football.

Before the world knew Jackson as a political force, he was a standout HBCU football star at North Carolina A&T State University. After a standout career at Sterling High School, he initially accepted a football scholarship to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. But he soon left the place after he wasn’t allowed to play quarterback because of his race. He transferred after one year to North Carolina A&T State University, where his journey took a transformative turn.

He first took the field for the Aggies in 1962, spending most of his time at defensive end while also seeing occasional action at fullback. But within a year, his influence on campus had grown. In May that year, he was elected president of the A&T College Student Government, and soon after became a central figure in a wave of demonstrations across campus. That summer, Jackson faced trial on an inciting-to-riot charge. However, the case was dismissed due to a lack of sufficient evidence.

In 1963, he started playing quarterback again. He would split time at the position with Cornell Gordon, who went on to play defensive back in the AFL and NFL. His impressive performance during his tenure led to his induction into the university’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1984. After his playing days were over, he remained an avid Chicago Bears fan, regularly attending training camps and games at Soldier Field. 

So, it goes without saying that the NFL missed his presence. 

Roger Goodell and others react to Jesse Jackson’s passing

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was quick to share his thoughts.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jesse Jackson, one of America’s most distinguished civil rights leaders,” Goodell said on Tuesday via the league’s official website. 

“Reverend Jackson fought for equality and challenged the status quo to help build a stronger nation. As a quarterback for North Carolina A&T and a loyal Chicago Bears fan, Reverend Jackson also understood the power of football to bring people together and make meaningful change. The NFL extends our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the people he inspired.”

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Jarrett Payton, the son of former Bears running back Walter Payton, also shared his thoughts. He shared a picture on social media from the day Jackson baptized him as a baby. He touched upon their special bond over the years. Payton recounted how Jackson’s advice led him to take an important professional decision after his father’s memorial service. 

“This photo is from the day Rev. Jesse Jackson baptized me as a baby. Years later, on the day of my father’s memorial service, he asked me a question that changed my life forever,” Payton wrote in an X post. “As we got into the limo, he looked at me and said, ‘What are you going to do now?’ I told him I was going to take some time off. He paused, then asked, ‘What would your dad want you to do?’

“He reminded me that my dad would want me back in Miami, playing football, and continuing my journey. That moment changed the course of my life for the better. I’ll always be grateful for his mentorship, his wisdom, and the love he showed me.”

Jackson had devoted his life to politically organizing and uplifting African-American communities. Ultimately, he rose into a national force through his two campaigns for the White House, where his message of justice and equality reached millions. No wonder many social media users kept Jackson and his work in their thoughts:

• “May his soul rest in peace. Civil rights movement couldn’t have had the impact it had without the likes of Rev. Jesse Jackson.”
• “R.I.P. Rev. Jesse Jackson! Icon.”
• “May the soul of Rev, Jesse Jackson rest in peace.”

Jesse Jackson leaves behind a powerful legacy of unity and equality that will continue to inspire generations to come.