DeSean Jackson Now Regrets Wanting Out of LA, “I should have humbled myself”

Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20. Speedy wideout Desean Jackson signed with the Los Angeles Rams in the spring of 2021. By the beginning of November Jackson wanted out. The team obliged and then went on to win Super Bowl LVI.

Jackson went on to play for the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens before officially retiring in the winter of 2023.

DeSean Jackson Talks Time With The Rams

In a recent interview with Speak! on Fox Sports 1 with hosts Emmanuel Acho, James Jones, and Dave Helman, the 37-year-old laid out how his pride of being ‘the guy’ got in the way of remaining with the team for the long run and getting a chance to play on the biggest stage in the sport.

“I came to LA [and] Sean McVay brought me, you know, I was with him in Washington and he said, ‘I’m going to bring you in here. We just lost Brandon Cooks. We don’t have the deep threat. So I’m gonna bring you in to be the vertical guy.’ Right. They bring me in…””…and for me, it was like [what] the Rams presented almost didn’t hold up. You know what I’m saying? And you got Cooper Kupp, you know, he’s going down the field and catch a pass. And so it was like my role in LA almost wasn’t needed.”

To Jackson’s credit, his usage was very low and inconsistent. He was targeted just twice in his first game as a Rams and played just three snaps in the next game. He was targeted 15 times in seven games In most games as a Rams, he was only playing about 30 percent of the total snaps. Like most receivers, he just wanted the damn ball and more so to be used the way he had earlier in his career.

“I wasn’t used to not being that guy. You know what I’m saying? I was always that guy. So for me, I do regret it. Cause I could have humbled myself and say, you know what, let me, let me sit back. Let me play when they need me. You know what I’m saying? Whenever my role was called, whenever they call my number, be ready.”

Many are likely thinking that his regret is rooted in not getting a Super Bowl ring, but that isn’t the case the Rams awarded him one for his contributions in the first seven games of the season including an incredible game against the defending champs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jackson caught three passes for 120 yards and a 75-yard touchdown.

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