DeSean Jackson facts for kids
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Jackson with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019
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| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Delaware State |
| Conference | MEAC |
| Record | 0–0 |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | December 1, 1986 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley |
| Playing career | |
| 2005–2007 | California |
| 2008–2013 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 2014–2016 | Washington Redskins |
| 2017–2018 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 2019–2020 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 2021 | Los Angeles Rams |
| 2021 | Las Vegas Raiders |
| 2022 | Baltimore Ravens |
| Position(s) | Wide receiver |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2024 | Woodrow Wilson HS (CA) (OC) |
| 2025–present | Delaware State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 0–0 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
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DeSean William Jackson (born December 1, 1986) is an American college football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at Delaware State University. Jackson was known for his incredible speed. Many people consider him one of the best players at catching long passes in NFL history.
He played college football as a wide receiver for the California Golden Bears. There, he was named a first-team All-American twice, in 2006 and 2007. The Philadelphia Eagles picked him in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft. He also played for the Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams, and Baltimore Ravens. Jackson was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times. He was the first player ever to be picked for the Pro Bowl in two different positions in the same year (2010). He was selected as both a wide receiver and a return specialist. After his playing career, Jackson started coaching. In late 2024, he became the head football coach at Delaware State.
Contents
- Early Life and High School Football
- College Football Career
- Professional Football Career
- Coaching Career
- Personal Life
- Images for kids
- See also
Early Life and High School Football
DeSean Jackson was born in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in the Crenshaw neighborhood. He went to Long Beach Polytechnic High School. This school is famous for having many future NFL players, including his Eagles teammate Winston Justice.
Jackson became one of the best wide receiver recruits in the country. Many college football teams wanted him to play for them. In 2004, the Los Angeles Times named him Southern California's player of the year. He also ran track and played baseball. Professional baseball teams like the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies even scouted him. In track, he ran the 100 meters in just 10.5 seconds.
During his senior year, Jackson caught 60 passes for 1,075 yards and 15 touchdowns. He helped his team win a championship. In the championship game, he also played defensive back and made two interceptions. One of these he returned 68 yards for a touchdown. This helped his team win 21–6.
To finish his high school career, Jackson was named the Most Valuable Player at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. This game features 80 of the best players in the nation. He caught seven passes for 141 yards and even threw a 45-yard touchdown pass. He helped the West team win 35–3. ESPN.com rated him as the number four wide receiver in the country. He decided to play college football at the University of California, Berkeley.
College Football Career
Jackson played for the California Golden Bears football team from 2005 to 2007. In his very first college game in 2005, he scored two touchdowns. One was a receiving touchdown, and the other was a 49-yard punt return. As a freshman, Jackson had 38 catches for 601 yards and seven touchdowns. He gained over 100 yards in three different games. He also had 130 yards and two touchdowns in the 2005 Las Vegas Bowl.
In his second year, Jackson continued to impress. He had 1,060 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He also returned four punts for touchdowns. He was named first-team All-Pac-10 as both a punt returner and a wide receiver. Jackson also received national recognition. He was named first-team All-America by several major sports groups. He even won the first-ever Randy Moss Award as the best returner in the nation.
Jackson started his junior year being considered for the Heisman Trophy. He began with a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown. He also had 11 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns against Oregon. This helped his team win their first game in Oregon since 1987. Jackson finished the 2007 season with 65 catches for 762 yards and six touchdowns. He was again named an All-American as a return specialist.
After the 2007 season, Jackson decided to enter the 2008 NFL Draft. He left Cal holding Pac-10 records for most punts returned for a touchdown in a season (four) and in a career (six). He ranks third all-time at California for receiving yards with 2,423. He is also third in receiving touchdowns with 22.
Professional Football Career
Before the 2008 NFL Draft, Jackson was considered one of the top wide receivers. His only concern was his smaller size. Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice said Jackson "has all the talent in the world." At the 2008 NFL Combine, Jackson ran a very fast 4.35-second 40-yard dash. He also showed great agility and quickness.
Philadelphia Eagles (First Time)
Starting Strong in 2008
The Philadelphia Eagles picked Jackson in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft. He was the 49th player chosen overall. He signed a four-year contract with the team. Jackson had a great preseason, including a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown. He became the starting punt returner and a second-string wide receiver.
Jackson was the first rookie to start for the Eagles on opening day under coach Andy Reid. In his first game, he had six catches for 106 yards. He also returned eight punts for 97 yards. He set a record for a rookie wide receiver with over 200 all-purpose yards. In a game against the Dallas Cowboys, Jackson almost scored his first NFL touchdown. He flipped the ball away before crossing the goal line, and the touchdown was taken back. This taught him a valuable lesson.
He scored his first official offensive touchdown against the Chicago Bears. The next week, he returned his first punt for a touchdown, a 68-yard run. Jackson finished his rookie season with 62 catches for 912 receiving yards. Both were records for an Eagles rookie wide receiver. He also led the NFL with 50 punt returns for 440 yards.
Big Plays and Pro Bowl in 2009
In 2009, Jackson continued to make big plays. He had an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown in Week 1. This was the second-longest in Eagles history. He caught a 71-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Kolb. He also had a 64-yard touchdown catch against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jackson caught a 57-yard touchdown pass from Donovan McNabb. This pass helped McNabb reach 200 career touchdowns. Jackson also scored a 67-yard rushing touchdown on a reverse play. He was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. In December, he had a career-best day against the New York Giants. He caught six passes for 178 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown. He also had a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown. This gave him eight touchdowns of over 50 yards in one season, tying an NFL record.
Jackson finished the season as the Eagles' top receiver with 1,167 yards. He was chosen for the 2010 Pro Bowl as both a wide receiver and a kick returner. This was the first time a player was picked for two different positions in the Pro Bowl.
The "Miracle at the New Meadowlands" in 2010
Jackson had another strong season in 2010. He had 135 receiving yards and a 45-yard touchdown against the Detroit Lions. He also caught a 61-yard touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars. On November 15, he caught a career-long 88-yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick. He broke this record on December 12 with a 91-yard touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys. He also had a personal best of 210 receiving yards in that game.
His most famous play came on December 19, 2010. In a game against the New York Giants, the Eagles were losing 31–10 with less than eight minutes left. They made an amazing comeback to tie the game at 31–31 with 14 seconds left. Jackson received the punt. He fumbled it at first, but then picked it up and ran 65 yards for a touchdown. He ran along the goal line to run out the clock, winning the game for the Eagles. This play is known as the "Miracle at the New Meadowlands." It was the first and only game-winning punt return on the final play in NFL history. Jackson finished 2010 as the team's leading receiver with 1,056 yards.
Contract and Injuries in 2011-2013
Jackson missed some training camp in 2011 because he wanted a new contract. He was fined for missing a special teams meeting during the season. He also received a fine for taunting an opponent after a big play. Despite some challenges, he ended the season as the Eagles' leading receiver with 961 yards.
In 2012, Jackson signed a new five-year contract worth up to $51 million. He had over 100 receiving yards in two games before breaking his ribs. He played in 11 games, catching 45 passes for 700 yards.
The 2013 season was statistically Jackson's best. He started with 104 yards against Washington. He then had a career-best nine catches for 193 yards against San Diego. He also had his first game with multiple receiving touchdowns. He set another career high with 10 catches for 195 yards against Minnesota. He led the team with 82 catches for 1,332 yards. This was the second-most receiving yards by an Eagle in a season. He was chosen for his third Pro Bowl. Despite his great season, the Eagles released him on March 28, 2014. He left the Eagles ranked fourth in franchise history for receiving yards (6,117).
Washington Redskins
Leading the League in 2014
On April 2, 2014, Jackson signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Washington Redskins. In his first game back in Philadelphia against his old team, he scored an 81-yard touchdown pass. The jersey he wore in that game was put in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He became only the third player in NFL history to score an 80-yard touchdown both for and against a team. Jackson had six games with over 100 receiving yards that season. He finished with 56 catches for 1,169 yards and six touchdowns. He also led the NFL for the second time in his career with 20.9 yards per catch.
Injuries and Comeback in 2015-2016
Jackson dealt with injuries in 2015, including a hamstring injury that kept him out for much of the season. He returned in November but played limited minutes. He had one game with over 100 yards, catching a 77-yard touchdown pass. He finished the season with 30 catches for 528 yards and 4 touchdowns.
In 2016, Jackson returned to form. He had 6 catches for 102 yards in the first game. He caught at least one pass in all 16 games. He had four games with over 100 yards late in the season. This included an 80-yard go-ahead touchdown against his former team, the Eagles. He and teammate Pierre Garçon both reached 1,000 receiving yards that season. This was the first time two Redskins players did this since 1999. Jackson finished the year with 56 catches for 1,005 yards and 4 touchdowns. He led the NFL for the third time with 17.9 yards per catch.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Continuing Big Plays in 2017-2018
On March 9, 2017, Jackson signed a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He caught his first touchdown as a Buccaneer on September 24. He also had five catches for 106 yards against the New England Patriots. In 2017, he recorded 50 catches for 668 yards and three touchdowns.
In 2018, Jackson started strong. He caught five passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the first game. His 58-yard touchdown catch was his 27th career touchdown over 50 yards. This tied him for third most in NFL history. He also had over 100 yards in Week 2 and Week 4. He was leading the NFL in yards-per-reception. Later in the season, an Achilles tendon injury limited his playing time. He scored a 60-yard touchdown in Week 8. This was his record-setting 24th NFL receiving touchdown of 60 yards or more. He broke the tie with Jerry Rice. Jackson also became the 47th NFL player to reach 10,000 receiving yards. He finished the 2018 season leading the league in yards-per-reception for the fourth time in his career.
Philadelphia Eagles (Second Time)
Return to Eagles in 2019-2020
On March 13, 2019, Jackson was traded back to the Eagles. In his first game back, he played against another former team, the Washington Redskins. He caught eight passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Both touchdowns were long plays. This put him at 31 career touchdown receptions over 50 yards, passing Randy Moss for second in NFL history. He later had surgery for a core muscle injury and was placed on injured reserve.
In 2020, Jackson caught 10 passes for 121 yards in the first three weeks. He then missed three games with a hamstring injury. He returned in Week 7 but got another lower body injury. He was placed on injured reserve again. In Week 16, he caught an 81-yard touchdown pass. This was his record-extending 25th touchdown of 60 or more yards. It was also his record-tying 5th touchdown of 80 or more yards. He finished the 2020 season with 14 catches for 236 yards and one touchdown in five games. The Eagles released him in February 2021.
Los Angeles Rams and Las Vegas Raiders
Jackson signed with the Los Angeles Rams on March 21, 2021. He scored his first touchdown with the Rams on a 75-yard pass. On November 2, he asked to be released by the Rams. The Rams went on to win Super Bowl LVI, and Jackson received a Super Bowl ring because he was on their team during the season.
On November 8, 2021, Jackson signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. In Week 12, he had three catches for 102 yards and a touchdown. In the 2021 season, Jackson had 20 catches for 454 yards and two touchdowns.
Baltimore Ravens and Retirement
On October 18, 2022, Jackson signed with the Baltimore Ravens. He became the oldest active receiver in the NFL. In Week 12, he caught a 62-yard pass that helped set up a game-winning touchdown. He was released on January 7, 2023.
On November 29, 2023, DeSean Jackson signed a special one-day contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. This allowed him to officially retire as a member of the Eagles, the team where he had many of his most memorable moments.
Coaching Career
High School Coaching
In 2024, Jackson started his coaching career. He was hired as the offensive coordinator for Woodrow Wilson Classical High School.
College Coaching
On December 27, 2024, DeSean Jackson was named the head football coach at Delaware State University.
Personal Life
DeSean Jackson lives in Moorestown, New Jersey. He was featured on the cover of the PlayStation 2 version of the video game NCAA Football 09. In 2011, he won a competition on the TV show Hole in the Wall. He also had a small part in the 2017 movie All Eyez on Me.
Images for kids
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Jackson receiving the 2005 Pete Dawkins MVP trophy after the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
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Jackson in 2006 matched against Washington State strong safety Eric Frampton
See also
In Spanish: DeSean Jackson para niños
