With the recent retirement of Long Beach Poly alum DeSean Jackson at the conclusion of a 15-year NFL career, it’s worth taking a look back at Jackson’s historic career, which certainly puts him among the very best pro products every produced by 1600 Atlantic Ave. The school has produced more than 80 NFL alums, but Jackson stands at or near the top of the list.
Jackson retired with 15 years at receiver (only Marcedes Lewis has more seasons in the NFL from Poly), with 641 catches for 11,263 yards and 58 touchdowns. All three marks are highs for any Poly alum, and he also leads the school’s alums in total yardage and touchdowns.
There are only two Jackrabbits who played more games in the NFL than Jackson: Lewis and legend Willie McGinest, and only one, Jurrell Casey, with more than Jackson’s three Pro Bowl appearances.
In addition to his standing amongst local legends, Jackson had one of the best careers by any receiver in NFL history, and it begs the question: is DeSean Jackson a Hall of Famer?
First, let’s look at the numbers. He’s No. 38 all-time in the NFL in receiving yardage, No. 39 all-time in yards per catch, No. 75 in receptions, and No. 101 in receiving touchdowns.
Those numbers, along with three Pro Bowl nods, put him in the conversation. Sixteen of the 37 players ahead of him in receiving yardage are already in the Hall of Fame, and another eight aren’t yet eligible. Even better for Jackson, 22 players with fewer receiving yards are in Canton as well.
Even though some might be surprised by the names he’s already passed in terms of pure statistics, the true strength of Jackson’s candidacy is as a specialist. He can lay claim to being one of the best two or three deep threats in the history of the sport. Jackson has more 60+ yard touchdowns than any player in history, with 26, three more than Jerry Rice, and is at or near the top of the leaderboard in all advanced statistics regarding downfield passing. He owns the NFL’s record for long touchdown receptions in a single season with eight.
He’s also one of the best return men in NFL history, which bolsters that deep threat, home-run hitter image; he has 1,300 return yards and four touchdowns, which puts him at No. 21 all-time despite not being a full-time returner for very long. He also has one of the most memorable returns ever, a walk-off punt return for a touchdown against the Giants, and was the first player in NFL history to earn Pro Bowl honors at two positions–returner and receiver.
His candidacy will depend entirely on the willingness of the committee to consider him as a deep threat specialist.
The answer to the question at the top of the story? Jackson is a bubble Hall of Fame candidate with an intriguing case as a specialist that’s bolstered by great career numbers. The story of football is also very important to the voters in Canton, and it’s worth noting that while Poly has produced more NFL alums than any other high school in America, and several Pro Bowlers, there are no Jackrabbits in the Hall of Fame. Jackson is one of a handful of Poly alums (including McGinest and Lewis) who I think deserve consideration as the honor of the first Jackrabbit to don a gold jacket.
