One of the most electric receivers in Eagles and NFL history is closing in on a return to the area in a different capacity.
According to an ESPN report, DeSean Jackson is finalizing an agreement to become the next head coach at Delaware State after doing an on-campus interview over the last week, and is about to bring reality to what the report said is a dream of Jackson’s to become a coach at a historically Black college or university.
D-Jax, now 38, officially retired as an Eagle in 2023 after 15 seasons with the Birds, Redskins, Bucs, Rams, Raiders, and Ravens. He was the first NFL player to earn a Pro Bowl nod as both a receiver and a return man and was a three-time Pro Bowler overall, and he has the most career NFL touchdowns of 60-plus yards and 80-plus yards.
Jackson was a second-round pick in 2008 and spent six seasons in Philly. Over 95 career games with the Eagles, he is third on the franchise list with 6,512 receiving yards, sixth in receptions with 379, and ninth in receiving touchdowns with 35. He is also second in total punt returns (132) and third in punt return yards (1,296), and is tied for the team's all-time lead with four punt return touchdowns.
He has just one year of coaching experience, as he spent this past season as the wide receivers coach and punt return specialist at Woodrow Wilson HS in his hometown of Long Beach, California, but looks poised to replace Lee Hull, who was let go by Norfolk State after going 1-11 in 2024.
If Jackson is hired, it will also bring one interesting game to the Hornets’ schedule: MEAC rival Norfolk State named Michael Vick as their new head coach last week, so the annual game between the two would see a pair of former Eagles teammates as opposing head coaches.