Landon Jackson may have been one of the most well-recognized names in the 2025 NFL Draft pool, but he ended up falling to the third round to the Buffalo Bills.
Jackson has the ability to make an immediate impact for the Bills, but the former Arkansas Razorback also has bigger goals in terms of his impact off the field.
Jackson has alopecia - a disorder that causes someone suffering from it to lose their hair very quickly. It's a disorder that affects millions around the world, but few professional athletes do.
The edge rusher wants to use his spotlight and his platform to bring light to the condition and show millions around the world that they don't have to be ashamed of it.
"I want to be a role model with all those kids growing up with alopecia," Jackson shared during Bills rookie camp on the team's website. "For those kids, be able to give back to them as much as possible, because it seriously affects younger kids' mental health."
Jackson performed well during rookie minicamp, competing against eight other Buffalo draft picks and undrafted free agents vying for a roster spot. For him, it was the first time he was able to truly focus in on football.
"I know we don't even have pads on, but first time playing football since Senior Bowl," he said. "So get in the training room, get in cold tubs, get a little bit of recovery and everything, and then come back and do it again tomorrow."
Alopecia has multiple ways of manifesting itself, and there have been a few celebrities who have suffered from it. One of the most well-known cases is former NBA forward Charlie Villanueva, who is a spokesperson for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.
NASCAR driver Joey Logano and obstacle athlete Kevin Bull have also been diagnosed with alopecia aerata.
Jackson's role on the team as a rookie has yet to be seen, but the Bills feel confident he can quickly become a contributor. Jackson tallied 6.5 sacks in back-to-back collegiate seasons, including a 49 tackle, 10 tackle-for-loss senior campaign.