Jacob Daniel Jackson Bio
Jacob Daniel Jackson (born April 25, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, he is recognized for his sharp shot-stopping ability, his calmness in high-pressure moments, and a career path that has taken him from youth academies in San Diego and Salt Lake City to Major League Soccer. As of 2025, he is on the books of FC Dallas, where his record-breaking substitute debut became one of the season’s most discussed performances.
After developing through the San Diego Surf and the Real Salt Lake Academy, Jackson went on to play college soccer at Loyola Marymount, where he earned back-to-back West Coast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Selected in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by the New England Revolution, he has since built a reputation as a hardworking, technically sound goalkeeper whose preparation and reflexes have marked him as a steady professional between the posts.
Early Life and Background
Jacob Daniel Jackson was born on April 25, 2000, in San Diego, California, in the United States. Growing up in a region with a deep youth soccer culture, he was introduced to the game at a young age and developed his early skills in the southern California competitive scene. San Diego’s year-round playing climate and strong club infrastructure gave him a foundation to refine the technical and tactical parts of his game before he reached his teenage years.
Jackson played his youth soccer with San Diego Surf, one of the prominent development clubs in the area, before joining the Real Salt Lake Academy. The academy system is well known across North America for producing professional-level talent, and his time there helped him adjust to the demands of elite-level training, including higher training volumes, more advanced tactical instruction, and exposure to national-level competition. These formative experiences shaped his approach as a goalkeeper and prepared him for the next step in his development.
Path to Soccer
Following his youth development with San Diego Surf and the Real Salt Lake Academy, Jackson moved into the college ranks, enrolling at Loyola Marymount University, where he played for the Loyola Marymount Lions men’s soccer program from 2019 to 2021. Across three college seasons, he made 42 appearances for the Lions, becoming a consistent starter and one of the top goalkeepers in the West Coast Conference.
His college trajectory was marked by individual recognition. In 2020 and again in 2021, Jackson was named the West Coast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, and he was also selected to the All-WCC First Team in both seasons. These honors signaled his readiness for the professional level and helped raise his profile ahead of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. On January 18, 2022, the New England Revolution selected him in the first round, 24th overall, marking a clear transition from standout college player to professional prospect.
Jacob Daniel Jackson Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
Jackson’s earliest professional minutes came in 2018, when he appeared for Real Monarchs, the then-affiliated development side of Real Salt Lake, gaining a first taste of senior-team soccer while still developing. He then committed to Loyola Marymount, where he balanced his education with a starting role for the Lions. His three college seasons produced a strong body of work, including 42 appearances and two conference Goalkeeper of the Year awards.
During this period, Jackson’s profile grew within the U.S. college soccer landscape. Coaches praised his command of the penalty area, his distribution, and his ability to organize a back line. By the end of his junior year, he had positioned himself as one of the top goalkeeping prospects entering the 2022 draft class.
New England Revolution and Affiliates (2022–2024)
After being drafted by the New England Revolution in January 2022, Jackson signed a professional contract on February 15, 2022, retaining his college jersey number 98. The club immediately loaned him to its MLS NEXT Pro affiliate, New England Revolution II, for the 2022 season, where he continued to accumulate senior minutes. In May 2022, his form earned him the MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Month award, a strong signal of his development at the professional level.
Jackson made his Major League Soccer debut on October 14, 2023, recording seven saves in a 3–2 loss to Nashville SC. One week later, on October 21, 2023, he made his home debut at Gillette Stadium and earned his first MLS win in a 2–1 victory over the Philadelphia Union in front of 41,355 fans. The Revolution waived him on April 23, 2024, and he was claimed off waivers by the San Jose Earthquakes on April 29, 2024. Following San Jose’s 2024 season, he was released and selected in the MLS Re-Entry Draft by San Diego FC ahead of its inaugural campaign. He was then loaned to The Town FC in 2024 as part of his developmental pathway.
FC Dallas Era (2025–Present)
On July 30, 2025, FC Dallas acquired Jackson from San Diego FC in exchange for a natural third-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft, with Jackson yet to make an appearance for San Diego FC at that point. He joined an FC Dallas goalkeeping group led by starter Michael Collodi, and his opportunity arrived quickly during the stretch run of the season.
On September 6, 2025, Jackson made his FC Dallas debut in unusual circumstances, entering as a substitute after Collodi was shown a red card in the 16th minute against St. Louis City SC. Despite conceding one goal and seeing Petar Musa equalize for the opposition, Jackson made 12 saves and helped the team secure a draw. The performance broke the MLS record for the most saves made by a substitute goalkeeper and tied Mark Dodd’s 1996 club record for most saves in a single match. He also became the first goalkeeper to register 12 saves in his first appearance for a club since Matt Napoleon in 1998, earning MLS Player of the Matchday honors for the effort. However, FC Dallas chose not to extend his contract following the season, making him available for MLS free agency.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jackson’s game is built on sharp reflexes, an ability to read shots early, and composure when facing high-volume chances. His 12-save debut for FC Dallas illustrated his shot-stopping range, his willingness to organize a back line under duress, and his conditioning to handle a long shift after entering as an early substitute. Coaches have noted his leadership traits and his continued growth in distribution from the back.
Notable Events and Milestones
Jackson’s signature moment came on September 6, 2025, when his substitute appearance for FC Dallas produced a league record for saves by a substitute goalkeeper. Earlier milestones include his 2022 first-round selection in the MLS SuperDraft, his 2020 and 2021 West Coast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year awards, and his first MLS win on October 21, 2023, against the Philadelphia Union at Gillette Stadium.
Jacob Daniel Jackson Career Wins
Across his professional career, Jacob Daniel Jackson has collected individual awards at the college, developmental, and Major League Soccer levels. His most prominent honors include two West Coast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year selections in 2020 and 2021, an MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Month award in May 2022, and the MLS Player of the Matchday recognition following his record-setting substitute debut in September 2025.
Major League Soccer Highlights
Jackson’s first MLS win came on October 21, 2023, when the New England Revolution defeated the Philadelphia Union 2–1 at Gillette Stadium. He has continued to add to his top-flight resume with FC Dallas, most notably through his record-breaking 12-save substitute appearance against St. Louis City SC on September 6, 2025, a performance that earned him Player of the Matchday honors.
Other Wins and Performances
During his time with New England Revolution II in 2022, Jackson established himself as a reliable starter in MLS NEXT Pro and was named Goalkeeper of the Month for May 2022. His college record at Loyola Marymount, including 42 appearances and two conference Goalkeeper of the Year awards, also stands as one of the strongest goalkeeping resumes in West Coast Conference history.
Jacob Daniel Jackson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Jacob Daniel Jackson’s family background is limited. He was born and raised in San Diego, California, and his development in southern California youth soccer, first with San Diego Surf and then with the Real Salt Lake Academy, reflects a strong regional soccer environment that supported his growth as a goalkeeper.
Personal Life
Jackson is known to keep his personal life largely private. There is no widely published public information about a spouse, partner, or children. Outside of soccer, he maintains an active presence on social media, including an Instagram account under the handle @jacob_jaxxsun.
2025 Season Performance
Jacob Daniel Jackson’s 2025 season was defined by transition and a single, dramatic breakout moment. After being acquired by FC Dallas on July 30, 2025, he spent the early weeks of his tenure as a backup behind Michael Collodi, waiting for an opportunity that arrived on September 6 against St. Louis City SC. Coming on as an early substitute, he produced a 12-save performance that set an MLS record for a substitute goalkeeper and earned him Player of the Matchday honors.
Despite the strong individual showing, FC Dallas did not extend his contract at season’s end, making him available for MLS free agency. The performance, however, reinforced his value as a high-upside goalkeeper with proven ability to handle large workloads under pressure. His next chapter is expected to attract significant interest across Major League Soccer, and his 2025 campaign leaves him well positioned to compete for a starting role heading into the following preseason.