Ex-NFL star DeSean Jackson has been accused of pushing a ‘gang-associated mentality’ by one of his former players at Delaware State, who claims he was brutally assaulted in the team’s locker room.
Jackson, the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who became a college head coach last year, is being sued by Malachi Biggs over the ‘unsafe environment’ he allegedly oversaw in Delaware, according to Fox News.
Biggs alleges that he was assaulted by former teammate Anthony Hebert in the locker room on November 19, claiming the attack knocked out at least a dozen of his teeth and rendered him unconscious.
And according to the ex-Hornets safety, Jackson’s ‘tough guy’ philosophy that ‘relied heavily upon the use of gang-associated slang and gang-associated mentality’ played a part.
The head coach, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers amongst others in his 17-year NFL career, is also accused of other dangerous conduct, including failing to prevent hazing.
Biggs claims that Jackson, 39, and members of his staff even ‘encouraged crimes, assaults, harassment, hazing, altercations’ at Delaware State.
Ex-NFL star DeSean Jackson has been accused of pushing a ‘gang-associated mentality’ by one of his former players at Delaware State
Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowl receiver during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, recently wrapped up his first year in charge of Delaware State
The 39-year-old is being sued by the player, who claims he was attacked in the locker room
After the alleged attack, Jackson did not discipline Hebert and went as far as hiring him on the coaching staff, according to Biggs.
In a statement on Instagram, the Hornets coach has denied the allegations and claimed that he ‘never fostered or encouraged… any violent environment.’
‘I take the safety, well-being, and development of every student-athlete in the Delaware State University football program seriously,’ he stressed.
‘I have never fostered or encouraged hazing, bullying, or any violent environment, and that has never been the culture I have worked to build.
‘Because this matter is the subject to pending litigation, I will not comment further.
‘My focus has always been on creating a positive, respectful place for student athletes to train, compete, grow, and pursue their college dreams.’
Jackson went 8-4 with Delaware State in 2025, his first season at the helm. After retiring from the NFL in 2023, he worked as an offensive coordinator for Woodrow Wilson Classical High School before stepping up to take his first college head-coaching job.
In his playing career, the receiver led the NFL in yards per reception four times and enjoyed three Pro Bowl selections during his time with the Eagles.
