Four years after his Eagles release, DeSean Jackson still bears the scar from his rift with Chip Kelly. The veteran wide receiver won’t even mention his former head coach.
Other than to point out he’s a major crackpot.
TMZ Sports ambushed Jackson at an airport this week, where they conducted a wide-ranging interview in less than 60 seconds. Among the topics broached was Kelly’s new job as head coach at UCLA, but the three-time Pro Bowl selection wasn’t hearing it.
“Oh, no, we don’t even talk about that dude,” Jackson says, cutting the interviewer off. “He’s a weirdo. He’s a big-time weirdo.”
It wasn’t the first time Jackson declined to discuss the controversial coach. Whatever issues that existed between the two, he’s generally kept Kelly’s name out of his mouth since his Eagles departure.
Jackson doesn’t really need to comment. Since his release in 2014 – a move that was reportedly made at Kelly’s insistence – the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout has eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving twice, and signed two expensive contracts.
After pushing for Jackson’s release, Kelly amassed an 18-29 record, got fired from two jobs, and left the NFL with his tail between his legs, returning to college football.
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Jackson clearly came out of this feud on top, and he’s not the only former Eagle pushed out by Kelly who feels vindicated.
Never one to shy away from criticizing Kelly, running back LeSean McCoy – traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2015 – likely summed up the feelings of Jackson and several others back in January.
“I got a lot of love for Philadelphia now that the little short coach is with the kids where he belongs,” McCoy said on NFL Network, via ProFootballTalk.