Coach Jackson: ‘We ​say ​it’s ​a ​new ​era ​at ​DSU’

Delaware State head football coach DeSean Jackson is determined to breathe new life into the program and the MEAC Conference.

With Jackson at Delaware State and Michael Vick at Norfolk State, the profile of the MEAC Conference has been elevated.

Jackson, who attended MEAC Media Day on Tuesday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, feels honored to be a part of the excitement surrounding the conference.

“What ​an ​honor, ​man, ​being ​in ​this ​position,” Jackson said. “​A ​lot ​of ​people, when ​I ​first ​got ​to ​position ​was ​like, ​’man, ​why ​would ​you ​hire ​DeSean ​Jackson?’ ​He ​doesn’t ​have ​experience ​at ​this ​level. ​But ​I ​think ​just ​my ​influence, ​being ​able ​to walk ​into ​a ​room ​full ​of ​young ​men ​, that ​they’re ​hungry… ​So ​I ​think ​for ​these ​guys, ​man, ​just ​really ​giving ​them ​that ​example. ​”

The 38-year-old Jackson played 15 seasons in the NFL; the three-time Pro Bowler spent most of his career with the Eagles(eight seasons) and spent time with Washington, Buccaneers,  Rams, Raiders, and Ravens. He officially retired from the NFL as an Eagle in 2023.

As he enters the coaching ranks, Jackson says he’ll take things from his coaches over the years, including Andy Reid and Sean McVay.

“I’m ​consistently ​learning,” Jackson explained. ​”I ​learned ​a ​lot ​from ​coaches ​that ​coach ​me ​in ​the ​past. ​Andy ​Reid ​for ​one. ​Sean McVay, ​Raheem ​Morris. ​So, ​you ​know, ​I ​just ​tried ​to ​sprinkle ​a ​little ​bit ​of ​everything ​from ​coaches ​whom ​I ​respected.”

Over the past two seasons, Delaware State went 2-22, including a 1-11 record last season. Also, the team is predicted to finish last in the MEAC this season. However, according to Jackson, things will be different with him at the helm.

“Right ​now, ​I ​can’t ​predict ​no ​win-loss,” Jackson said. “​But ​at ​the ​end ​of ​the day, we ​all ​know ​in ​the ​past ​two ​years ​it’s ​2 ​and ​22. ​So, ​that’s ​the ​elephant ​in ​the ​room, and ​we ​addressed ​that ​and ​we ​got ​that ​out ​of the ​way, ​but ​I ​will ​say ​it’s ​a ​new ​era. ​​We ​say ​it’s ​a ​new ​era ​at ​DSU. ​Coach ​Jack ​Era ​is ​different, ​the ​effect ​is ​different ​, and ​ ​just ​the aroma ​is ​different ​as ​well too​, so ​come ​out ​to ​DSU, ​man, ​to ​come ​witness ​it ​yourself.”

It’s an exciting time at Delaware State. Anything is possible, and Jackson, who was 5’10”, 175 pounds during his playing career, overcame a lot of odds to have a productive career, and if he overcame the odds while in the NFL, he can do it at Delaware State.