Photo: Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald


JC Jackson was named to his first Pro Bowl on Wednesday, a well deserved honor for the Patriots’ No. 1 cornerback.

Jackson has proven he can be an elite corner in this league and his ability to fill a role that Steph Gilmore’s absence left vacant has been enormous for this defense and probably one of the main reasons the team is currently fighting for a top seed in the AFC.

“It was a blessing man, just being able to be in my first Pro Bowl, it means a lot to me and everything I’ve dedicated, all the hard work I put in,” he said on Wednesday. “I’m looking forward to the Pro Bowl and to make many more Pro Bowls.”

Jackson has that confidence and swagger that almost every elite receiver or cornerback in the NFL has had and it’s helped him reach the upper echelon of defensive backs in the league. While Pro Bowls may have lost their luster over the years, Jackson is hoping this first time honor is just a small stepping stone towards an elite career.

“Yes sir,” Jackson said when asked if the Pro Bowl was always a goal of his. “It’s always been my goal since I entered the NFL. I want to meet all the goals. I want to be a Hall of Famer, Pro Bowl, All-Pro, that’s what you play for. You play to be the best, you play to compete.”

Jackson has been known to throw some pretty quick-witted responses out there and he had another one on Thursday when asked how he thought the matchup with Stefon Diggs went when the Pats played Buffalo a few weeks ago.

“We were pretty good, but I mean, we won the game, so that’s all that really matters.” Jackson said. When asked in a follow up question whether or not Adrian Phillips’ statement saying Dugger and Gilmore having the same mindset when it comes to not wanting any help in coverage was accurate or not, that swagger shined through again.

“If (Phillips) said it, he said it, he’s not going to make anything up,” Jackson said with a bit of a grin. “I’m a lockdown corner. I like to be on an island, that’s what I get paid to do.”

Of course with a statement like that, the immediate question is, “what’s the island called?” since Revis Island is really the only other DB island in history.

“I’m trying to create my own island, I haven’t come up with a name yet, but it’s coming,” he added.

Just four years into his NFL career (59 games, 36 starts), Jackson already has 24 picks, 50 passes defended, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and 121 solo tackles. Jackson is an elite corner worthy of elite corner money. Wednesday’s Pro Bowl accolade is a nice way to acknowledge that, but it should be just the first of many accolades coming No. 27’s way.

Jackson’s career is shaping up to be a stellar one, but his story is even better. From an undrafted free agent to now being considered one of the best in the league at what he does, that’s pretty damn impressive.

“Just being undrafted tells you, you’ve got to go harder,” Jackson said when talking about the journey he’s been on. “I want to thank the team for taking a chance on me. I made the most of my opportunities just grinding day in and day out believing in myself.”