DeSean Jackson: Chip Kelly Ruined the Eagles
DeSean Jackson. (Jeff Fusco)
After staying quiet when Chip Kelly was initially fired by the Eagles, DeSean Jackson opened up a bit to The MMQB’s Robert Klemko about the fate of his former head coach.
“I’m a firm believer that bad karma comes back on you,” Jackson said. “When you ruin a team like that, you do things to peoples’ families, you release people, you trade people, you get rid of good players who build something with the community, with the fans, with the kids—to have a guy come in and change up the team like that, I just believe in karma.
“I don’t have any bad words to say about him as far as what he feels he needs on his roster. But the guys that were on that roster created something special, from Jeremy Maclin to LeSean McCoy to Trent Cole to Todd Herremans and myself and Brandon Boykin; it goes on and on and on. When we were there we were a brotherhood. So for everyone to go their separate ways and to see how it all ended up, it’s a very sad thing.”
The former Eagles Pro Bowler also talked about playing in the NFC Championship game as a rookie in Philadelphia.
“Being a young guy and being put in that situation, I think I had great guys to look up to,” Jackson said. “Brian Westbrook, Donovan McNabb, Brian Dawkins, guys of that nature who allowed me to develop into what I needed to develop into. They talked a lot about not taking anything for granted.
“So I think early on in my career in Philly, having a great game in the NFC Championship, I think I figured out what it took to be successful—and those guys mentally got me ready for what was at stake. A few other times we went to the playoffs and it was one-and-done. I think no one has any idea what’s going to happen in this league.
“So I’ve tried to take advantage of every opportunity and really try to set the bar at a high level in terms of the big plays and the energy I bring to my team. I’m not the talkative, motivational guy. My leadership is on the field by playing and showing what I can do. I’m a firm believer that God has a plan for everybody and its already set in stone, so I’m just trying to follow on that path.”
The Eagles unceremoniously released Jackson in March of 2014, which the wide receiver says helped him grow.
“It made me a lot more mature,” Jackson said. “I got released coming off what I felt was the best year of my career. I had over 1,100 yards and I still got released? I’m asking myself, What was it that I did wrong? But it wasn’t about my skills. It was about off the field. But I was never a bad guy. I just needed to tighten up on my end, be more of a professional and know that there was more to it than how you performed.”