DeSean Jackson blasts Chip Kelly for cutting ex-Eagles WR over gang allegations: "Coward a*s move"

DeSean Jackson is one of the greatest players in Philadelphia Eagles history. Playing for eight seasons over two stints, he established himself as a very versatile scoring threat, whether it be catching passes from 60 yards or returning booming punts down the length of the field.

But his first stint in midnight green did not end well, as he clashed with Chip Kelly throughout the 2013 season. In a preview clip for a future episode on his podcast The 25/10 Show with former teammate LeSean McCoy, Jackson pointed to the head coach's racism as a major factor in why he was released despite the best performance of his career

In particular, he referred to the allegations of being associated with gangs:

"I didn't really understand the picture they painted on me and sitting back now it was like, 'Bro you really released me for allegations bro. And like that was a coward ass move bro. Like that was really like you were scared of a powerful young black man that you couldn't really relate to.'

"I really couldn't even look my own mother in our face during this time. I think that affected me my whole career bro. It's always affected me and still to this day... Yeah, I grew up and hung with certain individuals, but does that make me a bad person?"

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An overview of DeSean Jackson’s Eagles career

Drafted 49th overall out of California (Berkeley), DeSean Jackson played very well as a rookie, almost hitting 1,000 receiving yards on 62 catches while making a league-high 50 punt returns for over 400. He and the Eagles made the conference title game but lost at the Arizona Cardinals.

The next two campaigns would prove to be among the best of his career. He cracked 1,000 receiving yards, made the Pro Bowl (in fact becoming the first to be nominated at two positions at the same time), and delivered the Miracle at the New Meadowlands - a 65-yard punt return touchdown.

He was somewhat disappointing in 2011 and 2012, but 2013, the team’s first season with Chip Kelly, initially provided hope for resurgence. Jackson had a career-high 82 catches for 1,332 receiving yards and nine touchdowns as the Eagles won their division, but lost to the Saints. Then he was shockingly released.

He would have stints in Washington and Tampa Bay before landing back in Philadelphia, now led by Super Bowl winner Doug Pederson, via a 2019 trade. He lasted two seasons before being released.

After short stints with three more teams in 2021 and 2022, Jackson retired in 2023.