While the Philadelphia Eagles are on a bye week, Lincoln Financial Field will still host a significant football clash this Thursday as two of the franchise’s most memorable alumni return to the sideline. Former teammates Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson, who spent five seasons together in Philadelphia, will face each other for the first time as head coaches in the stadium they once called home.
The prime-time showdown will feature Jackson’s Delaware State Hornets against Vick’s Norfolk State Spartans, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. The game marks a historic occasion as the first matchup between two Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs) to be played at Lincoln Financial Field.
Originally scheduled to be a home game for Delaware State in Dover, the venue was changed to Philadelphia after Jackson advocated for a larger stage. Given the coaches’ history with the Eagles, the team’s home stadium became a natural fit.
“To be on this platform right now, to be looking at the Linc, to be here where we practiced every day, we battled together, and now we get to go in there and we’ll have a night we’ll reflect on for years,” Vick said in August. “It comes full circle, and I couldn’t be more proud to be here with my brother right now.”
The game will be televised on ESPNU and will also be available to stream on ESPN+. Tickets are available on primary and resale markets, starting at approximately $36.
Vick and Jackson are the latest former NFL stars to take head coaching roles at HBCUs, a trend largely popularized by Deion Sanders. Sanders led Jackson State to two Southwestern Athletic Conference titles before moving to the University of Colorado. “Without Deion’s success, our success would not have been presented to us,” Jackson said earlier this year. Heisman Trophy winner and four-time Pro Bowl running back Eddie George also recently coached for four seasons at Tennessee State.
In their debut seasons, the two coaches have experienced contrasting results. Jackson has guided Delaware State to a 5-3 record (1-0 in conference play), a remarkable turnaround for a program that went 2-21 over the past two seasons and has not had a winning record since 2012. Meanwhile, Vick’s Norfolk State team holds a 1-7 record (0-1 MEAC).
On the field, Delaware State is led by quarterback Kaiden Bennett, who has passed for 945 yards and six touchdowns, while running back Marquis Gillis has been a force on the ground with 831 yards and seven scores. For Norfolk State, quarterback Otto Kuhns has thrown for 1,585 yards and 11 touchdowns, frequently targeting leading receiver Kam’Ryn Thomas, who has 33 catches for 512 yards.
The event will also celebrate the vibrant culture of HBCU football. Delaware State’s acclaimed marching band, the “Approaching Storm,” will perform its mix of classic and modern hits at halftime. A pregame experience is also planned, featuring a step show and performances from both school bands.
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