Objective Summary

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In the book Slow Getting Up: A Story of NFL Survival from the Bottom of the Pile, Nate Jackson, a former NFL wide receiver, tells the story of the journey into the league, and crucially staying in the league through the strife of making it past roster cuts and being on the practice squad. Nate starts his career by making it onto the San Francisco 49ers despite going to a DIII Menlo College. The author emphasizes the importance of hard work and perseverance. Nate worked hard, even though being at the bottom of the depth chart, and was abruptly traded due to his chronic shoulder injures. Nate went to the Broncos for a second chance. Nate works hard and makes an impression on the practice squad and takes on the NFL atmosphere (eat, grind, party, sleep, repeat). Nate goes the season watching the team he practices with on television, as they don't bring practice squad players on road trips. Nate gets an offer to join an NFL Europe team in the off season to develop his skills. He gladly accepts. Nate prospers in the NFL Europe but is stricken by injuries yet again. An MCL tear sits him out for two months but makes it back to the practice field. As the season closes they end with a losing 3-7 record, second to last in the league, but Nate feels solid in his receiver skills. Nate makes it back to Denver and starts to settle back into the real NFL. New players and coaches are picked up to overall improve the team as a whole. Coach Rod goes in depth in the daily film sessions and critiques everyones play. From the new players like Nate, to the more experienced players like Champ Bailey. Nate uses Rod's critiques to improve. Nate grinds through the pre season and survives the first rounds of cuts. The final preseason game determines who will make the last cut. Nate makes every special teams unit and scored a touchdown. Nate makes the team. At the fourth receiver spot, he rotates in when the other receivers get tired. Nate completes his first regular season NFL catch and completes two others also. Following the success, Nate is greeted by another injury, a broken tibia, which is season ending. The section ends in his team losing in the playoffs to Peyton and the Colts.

Nate Jackson (#89)