Philadelphia Eagles' legendary wide receiver DeSean Jackson officially announced his retirement from the NFL this Friday, marking the end of an illustrious 15-year career. The announcement was made at the Eagles' training facility, the NovaCare Complex, where Jackson took the opportunity to voice strong support for his quarterback, Jalen Hurts.
Regarded as one of the most formidable deep threats in the history of the league, Jackson extended his endorsement to Hurts, praising his skill and mindset. He recalled various instances when the 25-year-old quarterback had impressed him with his on-field prowess. "I definitely saw Jalen Hurts before what the world sees now," Jackson stated. "I feel like he's just starting. I feel like he's going to be here for a long time. He's going to have some special moments in Philadelphia."
Jackson has chosen to retire as an Eagle, the team that drafted him 49th overall in 2008. He signed a ceremonial one-day contract to retire with the franchise where he spent six seasons during his initial stint, earning three Pro Bowl selections and an All-Pro honor.
In his 95 career games with the Eagles, Jackson ranks third in receiving yards (6,512), sixth in receptions (379), and ninth in receiving touchdowns (35). As a punt returner, he holds the second position in punt returns (132) and third in punt return yards (1,296). Notably, he is tied with former running back and return specialist Darren Sproles for the team’s all-time lead in punt return touchdowns, each tallying four.
The Eagles will celebrate Jackson's career by having him serve as an honorary captain at Sunday's game at Lincoln Financial Field.
A Special Connection with Hurts
Jackson developed a rapport with Hurts during his second tenure with the Eagles between 2019 and 2020. His final reception for the franchise—an 81-yard touchdown pass from Hurts—came in Week 16 against the Dallas Cowboys and was a highlight of the challenging 2020 season, which also marked Doug Pederson's final year as coach in Philadelphia. At the time, Hurts was emerging as a cost-effective backup to the then-starting quarterback Carson Wentz.
"I think I was lobbying for Jalen Hurts back when we had Carson Wentz starting at that time," Jackson reminisced. "Everybody was like, 'Why would we pick Jalen Hurts in the second round?'"
Hurts chose to train with Jackson in Florida during the 2020 offseason, a decision that raised questions within the team as to why he wasn't training with the starting quarterback, Wentz. "It was actually, he made it convenient because I trained in Tampa and he came out there and trained with me," Jackson explained. "We trained for like a whole week. We were able to build. I had just seen that his mentality was different then."
Jackson described Hurts, who hails from Alabama, as having a mature mindset reminiscent of "an uncle or an old father." He noted that Hurts approached every game with a calm persona, leading Jackson to sense that "there's something special about him."
At the time, a significant obstacle to Hurts' ascension was the franchise tag and the $128 million extension signed by Wentz. However, Wentz's performance declined towards the end of the 2020 season, resulting in him being benched. This created tension and eventually led to Wentz forcing a move to the Indianapolis Colts, thereby paving the way for Hurts to step up as the starting quarterback.
Fast forward to 2023, and Jalen Hurts stands as one of the NFL's standout quarterbacks. He has led his team to victory in 27 of his past 29 starts, including a remarkable streak of 14 consecutive wins against teams with winning records—a record-setting achievement since at least 1950.
Jackson's retirement marks the end of an era for the Eagles, but his faith in Hurts suggests that the team's offensive legacy is in capable hands. As the Eagles prepare to honor Jackson's contribution to the franchise, they do so with the confidence that Hurts' trajectory is set to continue upward, building on the foundation laid by veterans like Jackson.