DeSean Jackson is a name that will forever live in Philadelphia Eagles history. He spent eight years with the team and was an electric playmaker, but the only reason his tenure in Philly wasn’t longer was because of one man: Chip Kelly. The Eagles’ former head coach released Jackson in 2014, but quickly regretted his decision after Jackson made it a point to get one over on his former coach.

In an interview with House of Action, Jackson talked about his disdain for Kelly and how he got revenge on his former coach. “Every time I played his a**, man, I was going to the sideline, and I must’ve been cussing him out and calling him all types of stuff every game. And I’m like, ‘That’s what you get for letting me go,’ and guess what happened? Every time I played them, I had the most yards of anybody on the Eagles…They couldn’t stand me, that’s why they came back and got me in 2018.”

After Jackson was cut, he faced the Eagles six more times before resigning with them in 2018, and it’s easy to see why they wanted to bring Jackson back, because they could not find a way to stop him.

DeSean Jackson’s success against Philadelphia

After Jackson was cut from the Eagles, he then signed with the Washington Commanders. He spent three seasons with Washington and played Philadelphia five times during that span, and it’s safe to say he was pretty dang good against his former team.

After his three-year tenure in Washington was over, Jackson signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He didn’t get to play the Eagles in 2017, but in 2018, the Bucs hosted the Eagles in Week 2, and he reminded them why they never should’ve let him go. Jackson went off for 129 yards and a touchdown on just four catches while no other Eagles wide receiver had over 88 yards in that game.

When players duke it out against their former teams, they usually play pretty well, but it’s incredible to see the level of consistency Jackson had against the Eagles. In six games against his former team, he went for 100+ yards four times. He showed Philly why they never should’ve cut him, and that’s why they signed him back in 2018.

No love lost between Kelly and Jackson

During his interview with House of Action, Jackson further discussed his dislike for Chip Kelly. He wouldn’t even say his name because he doesn’t like to give him credit.

“The Eagles were my everything, man,” said Jackson. “You couldn’t have told me I would’ve been cut or released from the Eagles. At that time, there was a lot of emotions weighing on me. I told myself, whatever I’ve got to do, I want to play against that man – I don’t like saying his name because I don’t like giving him credit – but I’m like ‘I want to play against that man twice a year.'”

Looking back on it, it’s pretty clear that Jackson came out the winner of this situation. The Eagles fired Kelly just two seasons after Jackson was released, and to make things even sweeter for him, Kelly was let go just three days after Jackson and the Commanders marched into Lincoln Financial Stadium and beat the brakes off the Eagles, 38-24, and eliminated them from playoff contention.

Kelly was quickly hired as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, but was fired just as quickly after going 2-14 in his lone season with San Fran. He then took the offensive coordinator job at UCLA, where he’d stay for six years before joining Ohio State in 2024.

After the Eagles released him, Jackson played nine more seasons in the NFL, including two more with Philly in 2019 and 2020. He went on to finish his career with 641 receptions for 11,263 yards and 58 touchdowns. He is considered one of the most explosive and dangerous wide receivers and punt returners of his generation, and is revered by Eagles fans.

I think it’s safe to say that Jackson got his revenge.