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Fans don’t mess around when it comes to the 49ers-Las Vegas Raiders rivalry, but family always comes first.
That was the case on Sunday for Dennis Jackson, a die-hard Raiders fan and the father of 49ers rookie Drake Jackson, as the two teams battled in an intense overtime clash at Allegiant Stadium.
Dennis still is a Raiders fan, rooting for the Silver and Black the entire game while wearing a No. 95 San Francisco jersey, Raiders sweats and a Raiders hat with a red logo.
But when the game came down to the wire in the fourth quarter, Dennis did something he has never done before: Cheer for the 49ers. That’s because Drake record his first-career interception after Kerry Hyder deflected Raiders quarterback Jarrett Stidham’s pass high into the air.
While Drake celebrated on the field, Dennis began running up and down the aisle of the stands, and his fandom, at that moment, simply didn’t matter anymore.
Fans sitting nearby Dennis grew puzzled with his celebration given he was rooting for the Raiders the entire game. His response to them was telling.
"Yeah, but that was my son that intercepted the ball!” he replied (h/t The Athletic's David Lombardi).
After the play, Drake was spotted on the bench re-enacting the pick and, well, it was just as priceless.
The feelings didn't go away the next day either. Drake was able to save the game ball and posted it to his Instagram story Monday.
When the 49ers selected Jackson with the No. 61 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, his dad maintained he still wouldn't wear those red and gold colors. Eight months later, it looks like he caved in.
“We’ve all been saying ‘Bang Bang Niner Gang,'” Drake said back in May 2022 (h/t Lombardi). “It’s the song by E-40, ‘Bang Bang Niner Gang.’ That’s [my dad’s] favorite song. He probably won’t switch over fully, but we got him.”
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If Drake keeps making plays as he did on Sunday, The Faithful might gain one more fan.
