Delaware State announces DeSean Jackson as head coach

It’s official.

Former NFL receiver DeSean Jackson is the new head coach at Delaware State. The school announced the hiring on Friday.

“The opportunity for me to help write another chapter here at DSU is a once-in-a-lifetime moment consistent with my journey as a young boy finding his way to manhood through mentorship, accountability, achievement, and discipline,” Jackson said in a statement, view ESPN.com. “If we build that kind of culture at Delaware State University, we will attract the right talent and radically change the trajectory of this program. I cannot wait to get started.”

Jackson will be introduced during a January 8 press conference.

“DeSean Jackson is a perfect fit for our institution — incredibly competitive, optimistic about the prospects for our collective future, and focused on the fundamentals of the institution: students first,” athletic director Tony Tucker said in a statement.

Delaware State went 1-11 in 2024. The school hasn’t finished abve .500 since 2012, when it compiled a 6-5 record.

Jackson continues a recent trend of high-profile former players becoming college head coaches, despite having no coaching experience.