When pro-footballer Eddie Jackson became a star on the Food Network, he won the hearts of fans around the country. Eddie’s first career as a pro-footballer started back in 2004, after he committed to the University of Arkansas. Over the next few years, Eddie played for a number of professional teams like the Carolina Panthers, the Miami Dolphins, and the Washington Redskins.

In 2008, after retiring from the game, Eddie became a personal trainer, but his father also encouraged him to pursue his other dream: cooking. Before he was even on the Food Network, Eddie owned and operated his own Caribbean grill-inspired food truck in Texas.

The former cornerback rose to culinary fame on the Food Network in 2015, after beating out a group of talented chefs on the Food Network Star. Eddie then went on to host a number of shows for the Food Network before landing the hosting gig on Christmas Cookie Challenge.