Michael Vick rehabbed his football career as a member of the Eagles from 2009 to ‘13, winning the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award in ‘10 after his 21-month sentence for his involvement in a dog fighting ring. Philadelphia great DeSean Jackson was among Vick’s favorite targets during his run with the Eagles. More than a decade later, the pair are following in the footsteps of Deion Sanders, entering the world of coaching by immediately taking over college head coaching jobs at FCS-level HBCU programs: Vick at Norfolk State and Jackson at Delaware State.
The two friends and former teammates are now rivals in the MEAC, and played their first game on Thursday night—the showdown was appropriately moved to the Eagles’ Lincoln Financial Field where 47,266 fans were in attendance. They were greeted by an exciting 27–20 win for the Hornets. Jackson was known for his big play ability and it was DSU that made the biggest plays in Thursday’s win, including a blocked punt recovered for a touchdown by Amir Anderson, a 76-yard touchdown run for James Jones and a 24-yard touchdown pass from Kaiden Bennett to Tahmir Ellis, which capped a 17-play, 97-yard touchdown drive.
