NFL CAREER – Heflin has played in six career games with Green Bay (2021), the New York Giants (2022), and New Orleans (2023), making two assisted tackles. In 2023, he spent 17 weeks on the Saints practice squad, appearing in one contest and recording one assisted tackle. After playing three years for Northern Illinois, the Prophetstown, Ill. native played a graduate transfer campaign for Iowa in 2020. Heflin will again compete for a spot along the New Orleans defensive line rotation in the preseason.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed by the New Orleans Saints to a reserve/future contract, 1/8/24; Elevated to New Orleans active roster (standard), 12/9/23; Signed to Saints practice squad, 8/30/23; Waived by the Saints, 8/29/23; Signed by New Orleans Saints, 5/16/23; Giants practice squad contract terminated, 1/10/23; Elevated to Giants active roster (standard), 1/7/23; Signed to Giants practice squad, 1/6/23; Giants practice squad contract terminated, 1/3/23; Signed to New York Giants practice squad, 12/15/22; Practice squad contract terminated by Packers, 12/13/22; Signed to Packers practice squad, 8/31/22; Waived by Packers, 8/30/22; Re-signed by Packers, 1/27/22; Released by Packers, 1/21/22; Signed by Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent, 5/14/21.
2023 – Played in and recorded one assisted tackle vs Carolina, Dec. 10, spending the other 17 weeks on team's practice squad…An All-XFL selection for Houston Roughnecks, when he created 25 tackles, three stops for loss and a sack. 2022 – Played in regular season finale for Giants, at Philadelphia, 1/8/23 after being elevated from practice squad…Spent first three and a half months on Green Bay practice squad…Joined Giants practice squad, Dec. 15. 2021 – Played in four games for Green Bay as a reserve and logged one assisted tackle…Inactive for 12 contests and dressed but did not play in another…Made his NFL debut, playing four snaps on special teams at San Francisco, Sept. 26…Appeared on ten snaps and posted an assisted tackle at Kansas City, Nov. 7.
COLLEGE – Played his graduate season at Iowa (2020), starting all eight games at defensive tackle after spending three seasons at Northern Illinois (2017-19), where he appeared in 39 games with 29 starts…Recorded 21 tackles (13 solo), 3.5 tackles for a loss and a sack during lone season as a Hawkeye in 2020. Posted season-high seven tackles (four solo) and a half-stop for loss vs. Northwestern, Oct. 31. Brought down QB Will Levis for five-yard sack at Penn State, Nov. 21, his first as a Hawkeye…Started all 11 games he appeared in as a junior at Northern Illinois in 2019, earning first-team All-Mid-American Conference and honorable mention All-American recognition from Pro Football Focus. Received second-team All-MAC from league coaches. Selected as NIU's Defensive Player of the Year by the team's coaching staff. Served as one of the Huskies' four permanent team captains throughout the season. Posted 31 tackles (14 solo), leading team with a career-high 8.5 stops for loss and three sacks. Also forced three fumbles, good for No. 2 in the MAC and tied for No. 16 in the nation. Racked up five tackles (three solo), a stop for a loss and a four-yard strip-sack that stalled a second quarter drive vs. Ball State, Oct. 5…Played in 14 games with five starts as sophomore, earning third-team All-MAC honors (league coaches). Finished the season with a career-high 33 tackles (19 solo), eight tackles for a loss (No. 4 on team), a career-high six sacks (No. 3) and a blocked kick. All of his sacks and tackles for a loss came during a six-game stretch in the second half of the season. Made his first start of the season vs. Toledo, Nov. 7, and set career-highs with 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss, while matching his career-best of seven tackles (five solo)…Started all 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2018, recording eight tackles (six solo) and a tackles for a loss. Made his collegiate debut vs. Boston College, Sept. 1, starting at DT and logging an assisted tackle…Earned his degree in kinesiology.
PERSONAL – Received All-State honors from the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association as a senior attending Prophetstown (Ill.) HS…Earned first-team All-Western Illinois as an offensive and defensive lineman as a junior and senior…Finished his prep career with 249 tackles and eight forced fumbles…Competed for basketball team, earning first-team All-Area selections as a senior and a sophomore…Also played baseball and was a member of track and field team…Visited day cares and elementary schools and packaged meals at local food banks in college…Community work has carried over to the professional ranks as he participated in team's annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway at the Dryades YMCA…Worked for Pittsley Realty Group in DeKalb, Ill., while in college…Showed beef cattle for JETTTT Farms, his family's business, while growing up…His sister, Erin, played lacrosse at Cornell College (Iowa)…Given name Jackson Dean Heflin; born in Galesburg, Ill.
