DeSean Jackson Set To Become Coach at Delaware State

Delaware State is planning to hire Eagles' great DeSean Jackson as their next head coach, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel: 

Desean Jackson and Delaware State are finalizing an agreement for him to take the head coaching job there, per ESPN sources. He did an on-campus interview in recent days and the sides are expected to come together in the near future. pic.twitter.com/KXO0AvGVbL

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 26, 2024

Per a source, it has always been a dream of Jackson's to coach at an HBCU. That dream could be a reality in the near future. First reported by @jlightsy7.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 26, 2024

Jackson was selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft out of Cal, and became one of the greatest deep threats in the history of the sport. Across parts of 15 NFL seasons, Jackson caught 641 passes for 11,263 yards and 58 touchdowns. Though he also spent time with the franchise now known as the Washington Commanders, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens, Jackson is most remembered for the eight seasons he played for the Eagles across two stints. 

Now 38, Jackson becomes the second former Eagle to land a coaching job at an HBCU this month, as his ex-teammate Michael Vick was hired to be the coach at Norfolk State University. 

Obviously, all of this follows the massive success that Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders has had as a coach, beginning originally at Jackson State, also an HBCU. Vick and Jackson were both electric players who had tons of fans at the heights of their respective careers. But it will be interesting to see how both do in comparison to Sanders, particularly as they try to relate to players that probably aren't old enough to remember their best moments. There's a strong argument to be made that the biggest reason for the success that Sanders — now the coach at the University of Colorado — has had is because he has a personality that people gravitate towards, not because he's one of the greatest athletes of all-time. It's going to be hard to recreate the formula that's worked for "Coach Prime," but clearly there are schools with interest in trying to do so.