When Grambling parted ways with Broderick Fobbs, the school needed to bring in a big name with solid coaching skills to replace him.
Well, they got their man.
In a press conference Friday morning, Grambling State formally introduced former Cleveland Browns head coach, Hue Jackson, as the Tigers’ new head football coach, their 14th in the program’s history.
Jackson began his coaching career at Pacific in 1987 as a graduate assistant. He moved on to other programs such as Arizona State, Cal and USC before moving to the pros with Washington in 2001 as the running backs coach.
During in NFL coaching career, he was an assistant coach for teams such as Bengals, Raiders, the aforementioned Washington Football Team, Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens. He got his first head coaching job with the then Oakland Raiders in 2011. That season the team went 8-8.
When he got to Cleveland in 2016, it was a messy job from the jump and so his time there, as expected, wasn’t as successful as both parties would have hoped.
The Browns went 1-15, 0-16 and 2-5-1 during Jackson’s tenure before he was fired.
He spent this past season with Eddie George at Tennessee State as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. In their first season together, the Tigers went 5-6.
At Grambling, Hue Jackson takes over another Tigers program that also finished the 2021 season with a losing record (4-7), but which included a win over his former employer, Tennesse State.
At today’s press conference, Jackson gave thanks to Grambling legends such as James “Shack” Harris and Doug Williams. He also thanked the staff at Tennessee State as well as others he worked with and befriended during his coaching career.
“Thank you,” said Jackson to those he worked with and coached. “What each of you gave me and shared with me will always be part of who I am.”
Jackson mentioned that he had roots in Louisiana, including family members and being named after a street a few miles away from the school.
He acknowledged the institution’s legacy and impact and that he was ready to meet the challenge of rebuilding the legendary program forged by Eddie Robinson.
“I am honored to be part of the Grambling family as the 14th head coach of the Grambling State Tigers football team” continued Jackson. “I am also excited to add a new and exciting chapter to this history, and to this great institution.”
Hue Jackson now adds more former NFL talent to HBCU programs, following in the footsteps of former players like Tyrone Wheatley at Morgan State, Deion Sanders at Jackson St. and Eddie George.
