Former Ohio State defensive back Malcolm Jenkins is coming back to New Orleans after signing a free-agent deal earlier this week. But that doesn’t mean he ever wanted to leave Philadelphia, a place where he won a Super Bowl and made the Pro Bowl on three occasions during his six years there.
In a letter featured in The Players’ Tribune, Jenkins gets raw with fans of both bases but especially lets the city of Philadelphia know that they left a lasting impression on him, one steeped in love and admiration. One in which he cares deeply about his legacy.
“… it’s no secret that I wanted a new deal — no secret that I felt like I deserved one,” writes Jenkins. “Not so I could be the highest-paid player at my position (even though I regard myself as being of that caliber), but so I could cement my legacy in Philadelphia forever. I wanted a deal that showed me that my sacrifices to the game have been recognized. I’m no idiot. I know money is tied to timing, market value, age, the draft, and so on. But legacy? That’s tied to the player, and to the name on the back of his jersey.”
“Unfortunately, for whatever reason, I wasn’t able to ensure that my name would end up on the back of an Eagles jersey this year. But hopefully the legacy that I leave behind will last in the most important way: over time. And maybe then, maybe one day in the future when I’ve hung up my cleats, I can be in the company of the Eagles greats. It would be a dream come true.”
Jenkins needed Eagles fans to know that he "never wanted to leave Philadelphia. Forget everything else you've heard, and just trust me on this: Money has NEVER been my motivator. For me, it's always been LEGACY that I value most." https://t.co/KKXQo0DlFk
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) March 22, 2020
And while leaving Philly is a disappointment for him, he is reuniting with a team in which the seeds of what he was built into were planted. Going to New Orleans means he also gets to join several former Ohio State players.
This team was the NFC’s #1 seed last year for a reason, trust me on that,” said Jenikins in the article “— and there are so many great players who I’m looking forward to sharing a locker room with. Also the roster is littered with players from my beloved alma mater, The Ohio State University, so I’m excited to join all my Buckeye brothers in Columbus South.
Sometimes moves can be joyous on both fronts, and sad on both at the same time. That’s what this appears to be for Jenkins. He’s an All-Pro and he’ll continue to try and carve out his NFL legacy in the Big Easy, all while never forgetting the city of Philadelphia.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.
We have a forum and message board now. Get in on the conversation about Ohio State athletics by joining the Buckeyes Wire Forum.