NFL stars reuniting with their original teams: J.C. Jackson joins Moss, Woodson, Tarkenton

The Los Angeles Chargers traded cornerback J.C. Jackson to the New England Patriots Wednesday. Jackson earned Pro Bowl honors with the Patriots in 2021 before subsequently signing with the Chargers in the 2022 off-season. He missed most of the 2022 season with a knee injury and was inactive for the Chargers' last game against the Raiders.

Now, he's back with the Patriots. New England had a need at the position after cornerback Christian Gonzalez' season-ending injury.

Jackson's return to the Patriots is unusual in NFL history. It's rare for a Pro Bowl-caliber player to return to the team where they broke out but even more rare for it to happen via trade. Much more often than not, the reunion comes through free agency. With that in mind, here's five more player-team reunions featuring All-Pro caliber players:

CB/S Charles Woodson, Oakland Raiders

The then-Oakland Raiders drafted Charles Woodson fourth overall out of Michigan in the 1998 NFL Draft. Woodson remains the only defensive player to win the Heisman trophy with his award in 1997.

Woodson earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors with the Raiders and made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons. In 1999, he was a first-team All-Pro. After a falling out with Raiders coach Bill Callahan, he signed with the Green Bay Packers in 2006. He won Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 with the Packers and won a Super Bowl the next season.

In 2013 at age 37, he returned to the Raiders as a safety. He played in every game for the Raiders from 2013 to 2015 and made the Pro Bowl again in 2015. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

LB James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers

James Harrison went undrafted in 2002 and spent two seasons on the Steelers' practice squad. He played for the Baltimore Ravens and NFL Europe's Rhein Fire but returned to the Steelers in 2004.

Harrison earned Pro Bowl honors from 2007 through 2011 and was NFL Defense Player of the Year in 2008. In 2013, he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and notched two sacks, 31 tackles, and an interception.

The Bengals cut Harrison in 2014 and he briefly retired before returning for another four seasons, playing 46 total games for the Steelers.. He totaled 16.5 sacks, four fumbles, and two interceptions in that time.

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WR Randy Moss, Minnesota Vikings

Moss was an instant star for the Vikings in his rookie season, earning All-Pro, Pro Bowl, and Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1998. He made another four Pro Bowls before he was traded to the Raiders before the 2005 season and then the Patriots in 2007.

After three seasons there, the Patriots traded Moss back to the Vikings four games into the 2010 season. He spent four games there and managed 13 catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns before being waived in Week 8. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.

DE Charles Haley, San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers drafted Haley in the fourth round of the 1986 NFL Draft. He became a full-time starter by 1988 and recorded 11.5 sacks that season. After six seasons with the 49ers, he had two Super Bowl championships and 58.5 sacks under his belt.

He signed with the Dallas Cowboys, the 49ers' NFC rival at the time, in 1992. He'd win another three titles in five years with the Cowboys and retired after the 1996 season. One year later he came out of retirement to play two seasons with the 49ers, recording three sacks and playing in 16 games. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

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QB Fran Tarkenton, Minnesota Vikings

Tarkenton became the third draft pick in Vikings history when the team took him 29th overall in the 1961 NFL Draft. He'd go on to become one of the first dual-threat quarterbacks in league history and earned two Pro Bowl nods in his first six seasons.

He spent five years with the New York Giants before returning to Minnesota in 1972. His reunion with the Vikings saw the team make three Super Bowls, including his MVP season in 1975. Tarkenton was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL stars rejoining original teams: J.C. Jackson-Patriots join list