Former Eagles player DeSean Jackson named Delaware State University head football coach
Former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson is adding a new title to his stacked resume: college football coach. In an announcement Friday, Delaware State University named Jackson the school's new head football coach.
"We had great [candidate] choices, but it was very clear after we got DeSean here on campus. It was really clear. We all kind of turned and looked at each other once he left and said, 'That is our guy,'" said Tony Tucker, DSU's newest athletic director and senior associate vice president for Athletics and Wellness.
Tucker described Jackson as "the perfect fit" for the Dover HBCU.
"DeSean Jackson is a perfect fit for our institution - incredibly competitive, optimistic about the prospects for our collective future, and focused on the fundamentals of the institution: STUDENTS FIRST," he said.
Jackson played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2008 to 2013 and 2019 to 2020 and retired as an Eagle in December 2023. The three-time Pro Bowler holds the record for most 60+ and 80+ yard catches in all of NFL history.
"Everyone here in the Philadelphia area knows the energy and the intensity that he brings when he was on the field," Tucker said. "It's that same thing now that he's off the field. He just has a way of just making everyone feel good around him."
Sports Anchor Pat Gallen spoke with Tucker about the university's decision to hire Jackson and why he thinks he'll be a great fit at DSU. You can watch the entire interview in the video player above.
The former Eagle highlighted the role HBCUs have had in creating a better representative but emphasized that their legacy isn't just historical, but ongoing.
"The opportunity for me to help write another chapter here at DSU is a once-in-a-lifetime moment consistent with my journey as a young boy finding his way to manhood through mentorship, accountability, achievement, and discipline," Jackson said in the university's announcement. "If we build that kind of culture at Delaware State University, we will attract the right talent and radically change the trajectory of this program. I cannot wait to get started."
Delaware State is a historically Black land-grant research university in Dover. A Los Angeles native, Jackson played college football at the University of California, Berkeley, and went on to play 15 seasons in the NFL.
ESPN and Victory Formation Media first reported the move.
Delaware State will hold its first press conference with Jackson on campus on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Amazon Prime will also release a documentary about Jackson's life in the fall of 2025.