Fashion Jackson — Texans CB’s Crazy Closets, Diamond Cleats and Fly Line Reveal His Second Love: When Dressing Up is Its Own Game

Seven closets! Although his publicist threw out that surprising figure, Houston Texans cornerback and style master Kareem Jackson demures on the exact number of closets housing his expansive wardrobe saying only, with a sly grin, “I have clothes all over the house.”

We met up with the affable Jackson at the popular steakhouse B&B Butchers and Restaurant, a popular haunt of the protein-packing Texans. Although we were there to talk about his clothing line, he was wearing a chic Nike warm-up suit. What’s with the other brand, we asked?

“I’m a Nike athlete,” explains the fellow who wears Nike Vapor Untouchable Cleats when on the playing field.

Even as a young teen growing up in Macon, Georgia, Jackson was into fashion.

“I’ve just always been into it,” he says. “Thinking back, I’ve always been one of those guys that always wanted to have the nicest pair of shoes, the latest pair of Jordans, or whatever the trend was at that time. In high school it was all about having jerseys from NBA, NFL players, the throwback jerseys were real big back then.

“I’ve always been into fashion. Shoes, clothes. I’ve always been that guy.”

So it might have been no surprise to those who knew him well that when Jackson re-signed with the Texans in 2015 (a four-year $34 million deal), rather than buying a new house or a hot Ferrari as is the wont of most professional athletes, he tasked Miami’s AJ Jewelers to create a pair of diamond-encrusted miniature cleat charms resembling his work shoes —  talismans that he wears on a chain around his neck.

The year before that, K-Jack, as his teammates call him, bowed to his lifelong interest in stylin’ and launched his high-end lounge and streetwear line, Fly Guy.

The label began when Jackson had the opportunity to design caps for the Texans. He created a fitted and a snap back version and labeled them Fly Guy. He says that was the gateway to his clothing line which for the moment is limited to a high-style sweatsuit in cotton terry in three color ways. They are available online here.

“I wanted to have something that was comfortable but at the same time it looked nice,” he said. “So if I wanted to travel in it or if I wanted throw it on and go to the movies with the wife or hang out with the fellas, it would still be comfortable but it would look nice.” For production, he partnered with LA’s Johanna Alba, a house known for its sports and film star clientele.

Fashion Can Wait

With his Texans obligations, the upcoming birth of his second daughter with wife Amber, building a second home in Florida, and planning an over-the-top 30th birthday celebration in April, Jackson does not have a lot of time to devote to expanding his line.

“When I have the season, I try to stay focused on that,’ he says. “And then in off-season, I have so much other stuff I want to do. Fly Guy is on pause until I get an adequate amount of time to really put my heart and soul into developing that brand and developing the name and putting out different looks every season.”

But the time factor does not cut into Jackson’s quest for sartorial splendor. For our photo shoot, he chose a red and black plaid suit (bespoke from Devon Scott in New York) with a black turtleneck and Christian Louboutin lace-up dress shoes in brown. Accessories, added for the camera, included a rose gold Patek Philippe watch, a gold chain and serious diamond stud earrings.

“Maybe they’re a little big,” he replies when asked about the carat count. “I need to downgrade and get a little smaller.”

The cornerback peacock allows that he does not shop the malls, preferring to deal with custom tailors and special sales people in boutiques in Los Angeles and New York. His faves of the hour in ready-to-wear are the casual looks from Fear of God and jeans from Amiri. When selecting suits, his go-to guys are Frank Fleming, also in New York, and Scott. At 5-foot-11 tall and weighing 185, the broad shouldered, narrow waisted athlete is a dream for designers.

“I just have a natural passion for fashion, wearing different looks and patterns and fabrics and different shoes, just whatever it may be,” Jackson says. “I try to stay up to date with my fashion.”

And he stays up to date with college football, continuing to keep an eye on his alma mater, the University of Alabama. Jackson and his father were in the stands for the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship game rooting for Alabama, the winning team.

“It was a lot of fun, a lot of fun. To see those guys win another national championship,” he says. “It shows the kind of work that they put in and the coaching staff there, Coach Saban and the rest of those guys. It just shows the tradition.”

Amber Jackson, who just passed the Texas bar, is an LSU undergrad and her husband admits that they have had their college football feuds. (Few LSU grads have had any love for Nick Saban since he left the Tigers for the NFL and then moved to Alabama.) But now that LSU “sucks,” according to Jackson, and Amber has passed the Texas bar (while pregnant with their first child), all is good.

“It’s an exciting time for us right now . . . we are extremely happy as a family,” he says.

Still the overabundance of men’s clothing filling their house is a point of playful contention. “I have a ton of stuff in the house and my wife kinda gets on me,” he says. “But she’s not too shabby in that department either.”

In addition to fashion, football and family, the Jacksons share another interest — good food. “I’m a big time foodie guy,” he says, adding that he and Amber are serious Food Network fans. They take note of featured restaurants and make sure to visit them during their frequent travels, another thing they share a love of. All of which made B&B Butchers & Restaurant the perfect place for our interview and photo shoot.