DeSean Jackson is stepping into his first season as head coach at Delaware State. He’s all set to begin this new chapter in his life. His vision goes far beyond just wins and losses; he wants to get more people taking note of HBCU programs. Following in the footsteps of Deion Sanders’ transformative run at Jackson State, the former RB is going full steam ahead to create a highlight of his season. But he’s not doing it alone. Jackson is teaming up with Norfolk State’s Michael Vick to create an important moment for HBCU football.

The two coaches are former teammates, they’ve played 5 seasons together with the Eagles. Jackson began his Philadelphia career one season before Vick, who returned to the league after serving time. And for those 5 years, Jackson and Vick became a formidable duo in the Eagles’ offense. Now, they’re both at a new phase in their life, tasked with making the best out of their struggling programs. The Hornets and the Spartans do not sit at the top of the college football hierarchy. Which is why these two former NFL stars are working to create a memorable feat in their seasons.

In a May 28 episode of the Up & Adams Show, host Kay Adams asked Jackson in an interview about which game she should come watch. The RB only had one name for an answer: Michael Vick. However, he also revealed that the face-off scheduled for November 1 can stand a chance to be held at the iconic Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The $512 million-worthy venue is, after all, both Vick and Jackson’s former home. The RB calls this future matchup “Michael Vick and D-Jack at the Linc.”

“We’re trying to get it at the Linc. I don’t know if I was supposed to spill that yet, but we’re trying […] We’re trying to work on a date,” the RB revealed. “We close. We’re real close.” Jackson previously shared his wish about this important matchup being held at the legendary stadium. Back then, his Eagles security chief, Big Dom, was involved in talks about getting this to happen. It’s not just two former Eagles players coaching their first CFB teams. It’s about getting more done for HBCU football. As of now, the game is still scheduled to be held in DSU’s home ground, the Alumni Stadium.

Lincoln Financial is a high-stakes venue. It’s an elite ground; seen the best of the best players play on its field. This is where Michael Vick made his glorious comeback, and Jackson built a name for himself. With both these premium NFL stars as HCs of lesser-known programs, they stand with the privilege of generating wider media attention for DSU and NSU and give them a bigger stage to play and make their mark. The goal is to make both these programs of the highest possible calibre, maybe even contend for All-American honors this season.

But at its core, the agenda is to push forward HBCU football to a bigger, widely recognised stage, where more people can engage in these programs.

DeSean Jackson is championing the cause of spotlighting HBCU football

“HBCU, man, is back,” Jackson said about the state of the special group of programs. “A lot of schools are doing great things right now.” With the arrival of these two new HCs, HBCU programs are set to witness a new era. The duo brings a lot of visibility and stronger recruiting potential to their new homes. That means new and better sponsorship opportunities are soon to open up at Delaware State and Norfolk. The two also hope for more retired NFLers to take up coaching jobs at HBCU programs. Both are also representing their local teams, which becomes an X factor, as they seek better contracts.

Jackson admits that he was hesitant to take up his current role. “I was enjoying high school coaching,” he said on his podcast, The 25 10 Show. But he also knew the advantages the program would get if he were associated with it. “[When] I thought about the chance to rally an entire community and create a legacy, I couldn’t pass it up. I knew once my name went across the ESPN ticker, the attention and support would follow.” Jackson also spoke about the role DSU staffer Tesan Starr played in convincing him to take up the job. “[He] made sure I understood how much of an impact this could have, not just for the program but for the community.”

Impact. That’s the goal that Vick and Jackson want to achieve by hosting their matchup at a grand venue, like the Lincoln. It won’t be just long-time friends facing off each other. The Spartans vs. Hornets game will be a major milestone in HBCU football, hopefully ushering in a better time for its development.