It’s official: former NFL All-Pro DeSean Jackson will be the head coach of Delaware State’s football program.
Jackson had an elite football career, including a 15-year NFL career and becoming an All-American wide receiver at the University of California, Berkeley from 2005 to 2007.
Delaware State plays in the FCS as a member of the MEAC, one of the two major Division I HBCU conferences. Since 1991, the Hornets have only won one conference title and have struggled heavily recently. The last three coaches have combined for a 22-84 record, and former coach Lee Hull was fired after two seasons of a 2-21 record. They expect him to come in and have the same impact as other former pros who chose to go the coaching route.
Jackson is just the latest NFL star to become a college football coach without any prior coaching experience. Former Virginia Tech, Falcons and Eagles star Michael Vick agreed last week to take over and become the coach at Norfolk State, which is only 30 minutes away from his hometown of Newport News, Virginia. Perhaps the most well-known hire to enter the collegiate ranks without prior coaching experience is Deion Sanders. Before taking over at Colorado, Sanders guided Jackson State to a 27-6 record in three seasons. In his fourth season, Tennessee State coach Eddie George guided his team to its first FCS playoff berth since 2013.
Jackson will be bringing a ton of football experience with him. Jackson was a dynamic wide receiver and return specialist known for using his speed to break down defenses. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft, and he quickly became one of the league’s most feared deep threats. A three-time Pro Bowl selection (2009, 2010 and 2013), Jackson holds the record for most career touchdowns of 60 yards or more, cementing him as one of the greatest deep threats the league has ever seen.
One of his most iconic moments came in 2010 during the “Miracle at the Meadowlands II,” where he returned a punt 65 yards for a game-winning touchdown as time expired against the New York Giants. Another one of his iconic performances was when he went off for a career-high 210 receiving yards against the Dallas Cowboys in 2010. Though he never won a Super Bowl, Jackson appeared in the playoffs multiple times with the Eagles, the team now called the Washington Commanders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jackson finished his career with over 11,000 career receiving yards and 58 receiving touchdowns.
