A pair of former Eagles teammates will find themselves standing on opposing sidelines later this fall during a college football matchup in Delaware. QB Michael Vick and WR DeSean Jackson teamed up for one of the most memorable plays in Monday Night Football history – a first-play, 88-yard touchdown strike that started a 59-28 beatdown over Washington in 2010. Fifteen years later, the former Philadelphia football stars will watch from the sidelines as the young athletes they instruct in college live out their gridiron dream in 2025.
Former Eagles teammates will square off on opposing sidelines
In December 2024, DeSean Jackson, 38, was named the head coach of the Delaware State Hornets. The college program is entering its 120th competition season and will open against Delaware on August 28. Jackson will coach against his former quarterback in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) battle on November 1 at Delaware State University’s Alumni Stadium. In a 15-year NFL career, Jackson totaled 11,263 yards and 58 touchdown receptions. Over half of those yards were collected in Philadelphia, with 6,512 yards and 35 touchdowns in 95 games.
Michael Vick, 44, was appointed head coach of the Norfolk State Spartans around the same time as Jackson. This is a homecoming for the NFL star, who grew up about half an hour away in Newport News, Virginia. In his 13-year NFL career, Vick appeared in 143 games for four different franchises – Atlanta, Philly, New York, and Pittsburgh. He threw for over 22,000 yards with 133 touchdowns and 88 interceptions. During his five seasons with the Eagles between 2009 and 2013, Vick was 20-20 with 9,984 yards, 57 touchdowns, and 33 interceptions.
While most of the Norfolk St. schedule has not been released, the meeting between the schools in early November is confirmed. Norfolk State leads the all-time series between the conference rivals, 8-7. The most recent contest was a blowout win for the Spartans, 38-19, last season at William “Dick” Price Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia.
It’s great to see two former Eagles teammates take the next step of their coaching careers…maybe one day we’ll see Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith doing the same!
Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
