Delaware State is joining the trend of HBCU football teams hiring former NFL players.

TThe school announced Friday that it has hired former wide receiver DeSean Jackson as its next head coach. Jackson, 38, last appeared in an NFL game during the 2022 season.

Jackson’s hiring came days after Norfolk State hired Michael Vick as head coach. Jackson replaces Lee Hull after Hull coached the team for two seasons.

Delaware State went 1-11 in 2024. The only win came against Sacred Heart on August 31, and the team lost its final 10 games of the season. All but two of the Hornets’ losses were by double digits. The program went 1-10 in 2023, following a 5-6 season in 2022. Given the depth of the last two seasons, one can understand why the school would look to take a chance on someone like Jackson and his name recognition.

Jackson played 15 seasons in the NFL for six different franchises. He was a second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2008 NFL Draft, playing the first eight seasons of his career for the team and reaching three Pro Bowls. Jackson was one of the best deep threats for much of his time in the NFL, averaging over 17 yards per catch over the course of his career.

His best season was 2013, when he had 82 grabs for 1,332 yards and nine scores. Jackson arrived in Washington before the 2014 season and had 1,169 yards on just 56 catches.

After three seasons with the Commanders, Jackson played two years for the Buccaneers, returned to the Eagles for two seasons, and then spent time with the Rams, Raiders and Ravens in the final two seasons of his career.

Jackson spent the 2024 season as an assistant coach at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. He and Vick – Eagles teammates – would also compete against each other in the 2025 season. Both Delaware State and Norfolk State are members of the MEAC. Norfolk State defeated Delaware State 38-19 on November 16th of this season.