Oregon Footballer’s Cancer Battling Mother Gets Final Wish Granted By Dan Lanning & Co. Before Surgery

“I’m officially a momma duck,” CJ Jackson had shared on social media as her son, Devon Jackson, signed with the Oregon Ducks. But it wasn’t just the player who was about to start a new life. “We did commit to the University as a family,” the mother had proudly admitted. Endearingly, and even through personal struggles, CJ has stayed true to her word ever since. She connects with fellow parents of other Ducks’ players after games, shares snapshots of fanfare she spots at the airport, and fills her feed with retweets of team updates. In fact, such is the mother’s spirit that even a cancer diagnosis couldn’t bring her down. 

 In July, CJ Jackson learned she had breast cancer. But instead of stepping back to focus solely on her health, she stayed true to the role she had claimed with Oregon. Just four days before undergoing major surgery, CJ is seemingly about to suit up for green and yellow as the Ducks enter Week 2 as 27.5 favorites over Oklahoma State.

Taking to her X account (that, safe to say, seems like a Ducks fanpage), she put that determination into words: “In July, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. One thing I wanted before starting down the road of major surgery, treatment, and recovery was to see #26 play in person at Autzen Stadium. So here I am, 4 days pre-op, to cheer on the Ducks and our son💚💚 ScoDucks💚💚💚.” Her son, touted as one of the faster linebacker prospects of his recruiting class, is ready to deliver the kind of performance that makes a mom proud— and head coach Dan Lanning has confirmed as much.

“He’s growing every single day,” coach Dan Lanning had said. “It’s hard when he’s been limited, it’s tough to be the guy that’s telling everybody what to do when you’re not the guy that’s in the dirt with them and in the action. So seeing him out there on the practice field has been really good for us so far in fall camp. He’s one of those guys where his play does the talk.”

Even though an injury kept him from being at full strength through much of the first half of fall camp, Jackson stayed committed to his routine and preparation. On August 16, the fourth-year player and longest-tenured Ducks inside linebacker was already back at full capacity, taking part in Oregon’s second team scrimmage. And when you look at his 2024 performance, it does show what makes him special.

The redshirt sophomore appeared in all 14 games for Oregon, ending the season with 47 total tackles, including 26 solo, and 1.5 sacks–production that framed his move into 2025 with high expectations. And he’s already started.

The Ducks opened their season with a 59–13 win over Montana State at Autzen in which the linebacker contributed with 2 tackles, setting the stage for a tougher test this weekend under a national TV spotlight. All of that serves as a backdrop to a simpler picture: a linebacker determined to make his presence felt, and a mom in the stands taking the one thing she asked for into surgery week— time with her son’s game.