20 Years On, Desean Jackson Makes Emotional Confession on Defying Late Father’s Wish to Instead Pursue NFL Career

DeSean Jackson was nine when his father, Bill Jackson, along with a four-man squad, began his training for his future athletic career. Grew up playing both football and baseball, but the love for that one sport grew manifold. It was the 2005 MLB draft, with Jackson already emerging as a first-round pick. Ahead of the draft, he had an individual workout with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Jackson’s father and coach, Bill, was beaming. The prep was on for the interview, which would finally kick off his professional career. “I’m prepared to give up football,” Jackson was pressed to say these words. A seven-figure amount was at stake, but Bill was crestfallen at what happened next.

The gridiron demands passion. It’s not a cake walk to enter the pro league. But Jackson could not give up the rugged