DeSean Jackson Announces His Retirement In Honor Of The Eagles Sunday

DeSean Jackson, one of the most electrifying wide receivers in NFL history, will officially retire as an Eagle on Friday.

Jackson, one of only three players in NFL history with 11,000 receiving yards and 17 yards per catch, announced his retirement Wednesday after 15 seasons, three Pro Bowls and more 60-yard touchdowns than anyone else in the game has ever played.

The Eagles plan to honor Jackson during their game against the 49ers on Sunday at Linc. Jackson will serve as honorary captain.

Jackson, who spent eight years in two stints with the Eagles, caught 641 passes for 11,263 yards and 58 receiving touchdowns and added four punt return TDs and four more rushing.

“DeSean Jackson was a dynamic playmaker who captivated Eagles fans with his game-changing speed, unique skill set and explosive play,” Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “What really stood out for DeSean during his successful 15-year career was his ability to make miraculous plays look routine.”

“We all remember him picking up the football and heading into the end zone on that fateful evening in December 2010 in New York in what is now known as the Miracle in the New Meadowlands. We are thrilled to welcome DeSean back and look forward to celebrating his official retirement as an Eagle on Sunday when he serves as our honorary game captain.”

The Eagles selected Jackson in the second round of the 2008 draft and he made an immediate impact, rushing for 106 yards in his first career game and 110 in his second. His 106 yards against the Rams in the 2008 opener at Linc are the most in franchise history by a player in his first game, and his 110 yards a week later in Dallas made him the first player in NFL history to do so 100 yards each in his first two games (the Texans’ Will Fuller did it in 2016).

Jackson added 364 receiving yards in his postseason career, including 92 in the 2008 NFC Championship Game in Glendale, Arizona, where his 62-yard TD catch from Donovan McNabb with 10:45 left gave the Eagles a 25-24 lead in front of the cards. The Cards ultimately won 32-25.

Jackson spent his first six years with the Eagles, making all three of his Pro Bowls during that time and averaging 59 catches, 1,020 yards and 10 touchdowns per season.

He is the only wide receiver in Eagles history with six consecutive 700-yard seasons. Tight end Zach Ertz also did it.

Chip Kelly fired Jackson after his 2013 Pro Bowl season — his 1,332 yards receiving remains the third-most in Eagles history — and he had two more 1,000-yard seasons in Washington and then spent two years in Tampa. He returned to the Eagles in 2019 and 2020, but only played eight games due to injury. He finished his career with the Raiders and Rams in 2021 and with the Ravens last year. His final NFL game was on New Year’s Day in the Ravens’ loss to the Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Jackson’s career average of 17.6 is the sixth-highest in NFL history for a player with at least 500 receptions and the highest in the last 30 years.

Jackson’s 26 career touchdowns of 60 yards or more are the most in NFL history, three more than Jerry Rice’s 23, and his 210 yards in Dallas in 2010 are the third-most in Eagles history (and most ever in an away game). His eight 150-yard games are three more than any other Eagle. He had 10 in total.

Jackson led the NFL in yards per catch four times – for four different teams. His four punt return TDs are tied with Darren Sproles for the franchise record and are among the top 20 in NFL history.

In Eagles history, Jackson’s 6,512 receiving yards trails only Hall of Famers Harold Carmichael (8,878) and Pete Retzlaff (7,412). His 379 catches rank 6th (behind Carmichael, Ertz, Retzlaff, Brian Westbrook and Brent Celek) and his 35 touchdown catches rank 9th. His 17.2 average trails only Tommy McDonald (19.2), Ben Hawkins (18.3) and Mike Quick (17.8).

Jackson’s three 1,000-yard seasons are tied with Quick and Carmichael for the most in Eagles history. Only McDonald (5), Quick (5) and Carmichael (4) also made three Pro Bowls among the Eagles’ wideouts.

Jackson and Tyreek Hill are the only players in history with 50 receiving TDs, four punt return TDs and four rushing TDs.