Former NFL star DeSean Jackson is facing a lawsuit from a former Delaware State player who claims the ex-Pro Bowl wide receiver helped create a violent culture inside the HBCU football program during his first season as head coach.
According to a complaint obtained by Fox News Digital, former player Malachi Biggs alleges he was attacked by ex-teammate Anthony Hebert in the team’s locker room on November 19, 2025. Biggs claims the assault knocked out at least a dozen teeth and left him unconscious.
The lawsuit accuses Jackson of overseeing an unsafe locker room environment and promoting what the complaint describes as a “tough guy” philosophy tied to “gang-associated slang and gang-associated mentality.” Biggs also alleges Jackson and staff members “encouraged crimes, assaults, harassment, hazing, altercations” within the Delaware State football program.
Jackson denied the allegations in a statement posted to Instagram, saying, “I have never fostered or encouraged hazing, bullying, or any violent environment, and that has never been the culture I have worked to build.”
He added that he takes “the safety, well-being, and development of every student-athlete” seriously, but said he would not comment further because of the pending litigation.
The allegations arrive during a major second act for Jackson, who became Delaware State’s head coach after a long NFL career built on speed, big plays, and highlight-reel moments.
He spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, made three Pro Bowls, led the NFL in yards per reception four times, and remains closely associated with his iconic walk-off punt return against the New York Giants in 2010.
Jackson’s move into coaching had already drawn attention because of his name recognition and Delaware State’s HBCU profile. He led the Hornets to an 8-4 record in his first season after previously working as offensive coordinator at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, California, near where he grew up.
The case also adds another complicated chapter to Jackson’s public image. In 2020, he apologized after sharing antisemitic material on Instagram, later meeting with Jewish leaders and a Holocaust survivor as part of his response.
