Delaware

Eagles great DeSean Jackson explains why he is taking over as Delaware State head coach

Published

1 year ago

December 27, 2024

Eagles great DeSean Jackson explains why he is taking over as Delaware State head coach

Former Eagles star wide receiver DeSean Jackson is taking on a new challenge as Delaware State’s head football coach, the school announced Friday.

Jackson, who is 38, spent 15 seasons in the NFL. That included two stints with the Eagles from 2008-13 and 2019-20. Jackson was named to the Pro Bowl three times and is third in Eagles history with 6,512 receiving yards.

But Jackson was unceremoniously released by former Eagles head coach Chip Kelly in the spring of 2014, coming off Jackson’s best season in the NFL when he had 82 receptions for 1,332 yards. He was signed right away by Washington, and spent the next three seasons there. Jackson had some of his best games against the Eagles during that time.

Jackson is taking over for Lee Hull, who was fired after compiling a 2-21 record, 0-10 in the MEAC in his two seasons. Jackson, who finished his NFL playing career with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022, spent this past season as wide receivers coach and punt return specialist for Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California.

But Jackson said in a statement released by Delaware State that he wanted to get into coaching at an HBCU.

“HBCUs have much to be proud of in creating a more representative America,” Jackson said. “But that story is not simply a historical one. It continues to be written and includes the elevation of HBCU scholars and scholar athletes in every field of human endeavor.

“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. 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 joins a recent surge in former NFL stars beginning their coaching careers at HBCUs. That includes Jackson’s former quarterback with the Eagles in Michael Vick, who earlier this month became the head coach at fellow MEAC school Norfolk State.

For DSU, Jackson’s hire should excite a recruiting base in the Philadelphia-Delaware-Baltimore corridor while bringing a prominent name and attention to a Hornets program that has had just one winning season since a 10-2 record in 2007.

“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,” new DSU athletic director Tony Tucker said in a statement.

Jackson continues to hold the record for most 60-plus and 80-plus yard catches in NFL history. In addition to the Eagles, Ravens and Washington, Jackson also played for the Los Angeles Rams, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jackson is originally from the Los Angeles area, and he got a ringing endorsement from his uncle, who happens to be Delaware State star receiver John Taylor, who teamed with Jerry Rice and Joe Montana on the San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl dynasty in the 1980s.

“Having played football for many different coaches throughout my career, each one has added a unique dynamic to my game. I’m excited to see the new direction Coach Jackson will take the team. His vision and leadership are sure to bring fresh energy and opportunities for growth,” Taylor said in a statement.

Jackson also got an endorsement from former Eagles coach Andy Reid, who drafted Jackson in the second round of 2008 out of Cal-Berkeley.

“DeSean is like a son to me − a fierce competitor on the field, without rival, and a quality leader off of it,” said Reid, now the Kansas City Chiefs’ coach. “I could not be more supportive of his desire to coach Division I football and would stake my career on his success at Delaware State University.

“We are bound at the hip and are forever family. I cannot wait to see where he takes the university and where the university takes him. This is a win-win for everyone, particularly the young men that get to learn from him and the incredible staff he will assemble − many football aficionados who have been with him since the very beginning.”

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @MFranknfl.

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Delaware

Delaware County’s 250th events aim to boost local economy

Published

12 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Delaware County’s 250th events aim to boost local economy

DELAWARE COUNTY – Delaware County is gearing up for a year-long celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, bringing together community partners for a series of events and programs.

Delaware County’s plans for the semiquincentennial

The Delaware County America 250 Commission hosted a “We the People” party to unveil plans for the upcoming celebrations.

The events aim to educate and connect the local community while drawing visitors from outside Philadelphia to explore the area’s rich history.

What they’re saying:

“Delaware County is not just watching from the sidelines, we are proud to be an essential part of a massive regional and national celebration,” said Christine Reuther, Delaware County Council Vice Chair.

Andrea Silva, director of the Delaware County America 250 Commission, highlighted the diverse themes that will be showcased throughout the year.

Celebrating 250 years of history

The backstory:

Friday’s event celebrated Delaware County’s 250-year history, with different tables reflecting various themes.

Attendees included Colonial Farmstead, Penn’s Woods Winery, and Pathways to Freedom.

The programming will feature over 100 events, including the Battle for Independence: Amazing Race to Brandywine and the Irish America 250 Kick Off on Jan. 14.

The celebrations are expected to leave a lasting legacy, with hopes of boosting the local economy.

“We want to see real economic impact for our local businesses as visitors from around the world come to shop on our main streets and stay in our towns and eat in our restaurants,” said Reuther.

What’s next:

This year’s county event specifics can be found here.

The Source: Information from the Delaware County America 250 Commission.

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Delaware

Wilmington’s first homicide of 2026 claims life of 19-year-old

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Wilmington’s first homicide of 2026 claims life of 19-year-old

A 19-year-old man was shot dead in Wilmington’s Southbridge neighborhood in the early hours of Jan. 9, police said.

Wilmington officers arriving to the 200 block of S. Claymont St. about 3:30 a.m. found the teen there.

The teen, whom police have not named, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Anyone with information about this shooting should contact Wilmington Police Detective Derek Haines at (302) 576-3656. People can also provide information to Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333 or delawarecrimestoppers.com.

Violence by the numbers

This is the first homicide reported this year in Delaware, which last year saw a slight drop in all violent killings.

Delaware police reported 52 people being killed in violent crimes in 2025, a drop of nearly 12% when compared with 59 people killed in 2024, according to a Delaware Online/The News Journal database.

While the number of people killed in homicides statewide is down, the number of people killed by gunfire in Delaware was up in 2025 for the third year in a row.

According to the Delaware Online database, 47 were shot dead in Delaware last year. That was one more victim (46) than in 2024, three more (44) than in 2023 and nine more (38) than in 2022.

Despite the increase in gun-related deaths, there were fewer people shot last year in Delaware for the second year in a row.

Police reported 164 people being shot last year in Delaware. The previous year saw 195 people shot and police reported 210 people being shot in 2023.

This was the fewest people shot in Delaware since 2018, when police reported 146 people being shot statewide.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

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Delaware

MERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

MERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach

A dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach on Jan. 8, according to the nonprofit Marine Education Research and Rehabilitation Institute.

The juvenile male was first seen Jan. 6, floating at sea about 2 miles off the Indian River Inlet, a MERR Facebook post said. The bloated 30-foot whale ultimately beached near a private community in the early afternoon of Jan. 8, the post said.

MERR is attempting to coordinate with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to get equipment to move the whale out of the water and onto the beach to perform a necropsy, the post said. Right now, there isn’t enough information to determine a cause of death.

Delaware saw at least three dead whales last year, in the Indian River Bay, at Delaware Seashore State Park and at Pigeon Point. The first two were humpbacks, while the Pigeon Point whale was a fin whale.

A necropsy on the Delaware Seashore whale found blunt force trauma across its back, indicating it may have been struck by a ship, MERR Director Suzanne Thurman said.

Recently, on Jan. 4, a dead fin whale was found on the bow of a ship at the Gloucester Marine Terminal in New Jersey, which is located in the Port of Philadelphia on the Delaware River.

Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Facebook.

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