Aquinas Institute’s football team has found a new inspiration for why they work hard and train harder. 

“It’s very fun, you know, new environment, exciting. And just excited to get out there,” explained Lucas Leone, a junior at Aquinas. “He knows a lot about the game, so it gives us a different perspective on football.” 

What You Need To Know

  • Maurice Jackson was born and raised in Rochester

  • His love for football started when he was 8 years old, and too small to play 

  • Jackson went on to succeed, getting a scholarship to play at Syracuse University

  • Jackson also played for the Buffalo Bills for nearly two seasons, and continued his career in Canada
  • He wants to give back to the community by returning home to coach Aquinas Institute's varsity football team

The quarterback of their high school football team, Trent Buttles, agrees. 

“He’s got a lot of knowledge to share with us. He knows a lot and he’s out here making us better every day,” Buttles said. 

It’s the first impression of having a previous Buffalo Bill as the team's new varsity head coach. 

“I hear the whispers… you can feel that they trust you and you can feel that they’re out there looking to impress you and do everything right, so It feels really good,” said former Bills wide receiver Maurice Jackson.

After a successful college career at Syracuse University, nearly two years with the Buffalo Bills, and three more years playing football in Canada, Jackson said it was time to return to Rochester which he calls home. 

“I just felt like giving back to the community and I train a lot of the athletes in the area, a lot of football players and speedsters so I just felt like being here in Rochester is where I needed it to be based and get things going,” Jackson said.

According to Jackson, football is the sport that saved his life. 

“Oh man, football has taken me so far. If it wasn’t for the game of football, I literally don’t know where I would be right now," Jackson said. "Growing up in the city of Rochester, you have so many things that could help you fall through the cracks when you’re growing up in the area. But football took me away from all that.” 

He says it’s for reasons like this that he’s able to connect so well with his new players. 

“It’s a similar story for a lot of young guys that you know, grow up in the inner city or grew up in Rochester that want to make it to the next level," said Jackson.

This season will have many firsts for "Coach Moe”, as the kids call him, and the rest of the team. 

“This is my, my first season, so it’s really, really special,” Jackson explained. “We have a lot of young guys that are going to touch the field for the first time at the varsity level and executing in practice. It feels good.” 

Plus, Jackson will be Aquinas Institute’s first head varsity football coach of color. 

“Aquinas had been making the right decisions when it comes to their head coaches because of their winning history and the winning tradition of the school. And so, I would like to say they just made another good decision, whether it be, you know, no matter my skin color or not. But you know, for the culture, it feels good to be the first," said Jackson. 

Ultimately, it comes down to the team’s love for the game. 

“Football means everything to me. It’s my favorite thing to do,” Buttles said.

Jackson agrees.

“Football, it really opened my eyes to, the potential that I could reach,” he said.

Leone says it’s not just a sport, it’s a passion. 

“It’s been my life. I mean, as far as my life since I was little. So it just, it’s always fun to get out there," said Leone.

As for Jackson, he still has his eyes on the prize. 

“My main goal is to teach good football, play good football, and make sure the kids are having fun doing it. So that’s about it," said Jackson.