South Charlotte Today

When Mike Jackson was 18, he faced a significant decision regarding his citizenship. Born in Germany to American parents, LaShelle Jackson Spears and Michael Kerr, Jackson held dual nationality. As he transitioned into adulthood, he had to choose between the United States and Germany.

"I went off to college, I had to sign, basically, like sign the rights to give up my citizenship in Germany," Jackson recalled as the Panthers prepared for their game against the New York Giants in Germany.

Raised in Birmingham, Alabama after moving there as a toddler with his mother, Jackson's connection to Germany remained strong despite choosing U.S. citizenship. "It is a cool fact," he said about his German birthright.

"My first language was actually German," Jackson shared. The cultural blend of being born abroad but raised in the South gave him adaptability. He returned to Germany in 2022 with the Seattle Seahawks but has yet to visit Frankfurt again.

Upon joining the Panthers this offseason, Jackson found a German flag sticker on his helmet—an acknowledgment of his heritage by the equipment staff. "Like, for me, it's just something different, me being born from there," he noted.

Jackson pondered how life might have differed if he'd stayed longer in Germany. "I probably would have been playing soccer," he speculated.

Instead, Jackson pursued American football and now plays cornerback for the Panthers alongside Jaycee Horn. This season he's made 46 tackles and defended seven passes.

As he prepares for Sunday's game against Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton, returning to Germany offers him a moment of reflection on his unique background. "Even though I'm not actually in Frankfurt, I'm in Germany," Jackson reflected on his upcoming trip.