PHILADELPHIA – The Pro Football Hall of Fame recently released the 25 modern-era player semifinalists for the 2024 Hall of Fame class with six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Eric Allen the headliner for most Philadelphia Eagles fans and Desean Jackson says the Hall of Fame isn’t out of reach for him.
When you review the list as a whole what stands out most is the glut of wide receivers on the cusp of Canton with seven of the 25 semifinalists playing the position (28 percent), a group that includes Anquan Boldin, Torry Holt, Andre Johnson, Steve Smith, Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne, and Devin Hester, although Hester’s inclusion is more about his return ability than his receiving play.
One day DeSean Jackson hopes to join that kind of group in making a serious run at a gold jacket.
The former Eagles star signed a one-day deal on Friday to retire as a member of the organization where he spent his most impactful seasons over a 15-year career.
Jackson’s numbers are significant – 641 receptions for 11,263 yards and 58 touchdowns, plus four more touchdowns from both running the football and on punt returns.
When it comes to his Canton case, Jackson’s strongest points are tied to his uniqueness as a player. There simply aren’t a lot of DeSean Jackson types in NFL history.
Jackson became the first player in league lore to earn Pro Bowl honors at two positions – kick returner and wide receiver. He tied the league record with eight touchdowns of 50-plus yards in a single season while his awe-inspiring 52.8 yards per score average during the 2009 season was the highest in league history among players with at least 10 touchdowns in a season.
He was also the second player in NFL history to score touchdowns via receiving, rushing, and punt return during each of his first three seasons, a testament to his versatility as a player.
In many ways, Jackson changed the game and forced decision-makers to consider smaller, faster players when it came to evaluating the receiver position.
SI.com’s Eagles Today asked Jackson if he believes he helped change the way the position is viewed.
“Absolutely,” he said. “… I think I really changed the game as a guy under 6 feet, less than 180 pounds the majority of my career, to really be able to play wide receiver and punt return, and play it at high level.
“Like I said before, there weren’t too many guys before me who did it at a high level … I think I definitely started a trend. I’m blessed to be able to change the game for guys that are undersized, that are not the typical 6-2, 6-3 big, buff, bulky wide receivers.”
When you tie Jackson’s impact on the sport as a whole with his production on the field, a gold jacket shouldn’t be deemed out of the question.
“Honestly, growing up, I think that was a goal for me,” Jackson said when asked about the Hall of Fame. “It was a vision, it was a dream. Realistically, I never envisioned nothing else but being in the Hall of Fame. So for me, I definitely feel like my body of work speaks for itself.
“… So Canton, Ohio, I know they have some memorabilia and some stuff in them rooms. I definitely think I’m deserving. That’s not for me to answer. That’s not for me to vote on. As far as the body of work, I think it’s there.”
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