Former Pitt CB, WPIAL Product Returns to Original NFL Team

Former Pitt cornerback and Coraopolis, Pa. native Dane Jackson is returning to the team that originally drafted him into the National Football League.

On Friday, Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network reported that Jackson is signing a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills. There are no additional terms reported yet.

A reunion in Buffalo: CB Dane Jackson back to the #Bills on a one-year deal, source says. After a year with the #Panthers, Jackson is back with the team that drafted him in 2020. pic.twitter.com/H69gEajbWN

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 14, 2025

Jackson, 28, was selected in the seventh round with the 239th overall pick by Buffalo back in the 2020 NFL Draft. He would spend the first four years of his career in Buffalo, starting in 28 games.

He was recently cut by the Carolina Panthers, who signed him before the 2024 season to a 2-year, $14.5 million deal. He suffered a hamstring injury in training camp that forced him to miss the start of the season before returning to the lineup in October. He made three starts across nine appearances and compiled 23 tackles (15 solo), a tackle for loss and two pass breakups.

In 2023, Jackson appeared in 15 contests for Buffalo as he totaled 39 tackles (34 solo) and five passes defended. His best season came the year prior in 2022 when he played in 15 games recording 57 tackles (49 solo), 12 passes defended and two interceptions.

Jackson saw the most action of his career during the 2021 campaign when he started 14 of 15 games due to an injury-riddled Buffalo secondary. The 5-11, 180-pound corner totaled 41 tackles (33 solo) and six passes defended.

Prior to his NFL carer, Jackson spent five seasons at Pitt, starting in 41 games. After redshirting his freshman season, Jackson saw immediate playing time in 2016 with 12 appearances and three starts as he logged 18 tackles, four pass breakups and an interception.

As an every day starter in his final three seasons with the Panthers, Jackson accumulated 104 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions, 38 passes defended, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. In his final season with the Panthers, he was named to the All-ACC Second Team.

Jackson was a two-star recruit coming out of Cornell High School. He played football at Quaker Valley through a co-op program.