Two Philadelphia Eagles legends are about to make history in a way nobody saw coming. Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson, who once terrorized NFL defenses as teammates, will stand on opposite sidelines as head coaches when Norfolk State meets Delaware State at Lincoln Financial Field. For Jason Kelce, watching his former teammates transform from game-changing players to program leaders represents everything beautiful about football’s endless cycle.
How Did Jason Kelce React to His Former Teammates’ Coaching Paths?
Football has always been considered a circle in many respects. When youngsters put on the pads for the first time, they often get indoctrinated into a culture that could see them start on the field as a player and work into a coaching role on the sideline. When two former Pro Bowl teammates meet as coaching adversaries, you never know what will occur during the game, especially two who appear as close as Jackson and Vick.
After Kelce retired, he became a media star, hosting a podcast and working as an analyst. However, people forget about the talent he played alongside in Philadelphia. Before the Philly Special, Vick and Jackson enthralled the crowd with highlight plays. The seven-time All-Pro stopped by the “Bussin with the Boys” podcast to discuss his former teammates.
The memories still hit Kelce hard. “I had never been starstruck until that moment. And he’s just such a freaking great dude, too. I’m blocking, and you could hear the spin he would put on the ball with this last little finger. I don’t know what it was, but it would sizzle past. It was wild.”
Vick became an Eagle after serving 23 months for felony dogfighting charges. Around the same timeframe, Kelce made the acquaintance of Jackson, a speedy but enigmatic wideout. The two made the Sunday highlight shows seemingly every week.
What Makes This Coaching Matchup So Special for Philadelphia?
In October, the two former teammates will stand on opposing sidelines as Vick’s Norfolk State Spartans face Jackson’s Delaware State Hornets. Kelce hyped their matchup as one he looks forward to watching unfold.
“Now talk about Mike at Norfolk. Jack is at Delaware State. Yeah. They will play a game in the Linc with both guys as the head coaches. It’s just wild.”
Jackson and Vick will see each other across the field at Lincoln Financial Field, where the Eagles play and the scene of many of their best moments as teammates. For two former standouts, they took over schools that needed something new. Each school is a full-fledged Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) member fighting for relevance in a changing landscape.
Over the last two seasons, the conference ultimately lost flagship programs like North Carolina A&T and Hampton to the Big South. The MEAC also lost Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M to the SWAC, Winston-Salem and Savannah State to Division II.
With the loss of strong HBCU programs, the MEAC needs Delaware State and Norfolk State football, along with the star power of their coaches, to stem the tide and draw interest back to the conference.
On October 30, with Kelce probably in attendance, the Spartans and Hornets will clash in Philadelphia to bolster the conference and raise the exposure for their individual schools. The game represents more than just a reunion between former teammates. It’s a chance for two programs to showcase what happens when NFL legends bring their championship mentality to the college level.
