DeSean Jackson Reflects on Father's Death: NFL star says, "I Carry the Weight on my Shoulders"

DeSean Jackson seemed to be having a tough time not sharing his emotions when it came to his father's death. In the last episode of his hit BET show, DeSean Jackson: Home Team, the NFL star was asked when he last shed a tear about the death of his father, but he couldn't respond.

He took a long pause and said, "That's a good question, I can't even recall." He continued, "I don't know, it's been a minute, some years for sure."

Jackson claimed that when his dad died, he felt like he had to take on the responsibility of being the backbone of the Jackson family. "I carry the weight on my shoulders. I always have and I always will," the football player said.

Jackson claimed that he was okay, and that he still talks to his dad and the man upstairs.

His mother, Gayle Jackson, believed that her son hadn't let his emotions pour out, and that he wasn't in touch with his feelings.

"He's human so at one point of time he has to feel a little bit weak. When that time arrives, no matter when he needs me, no matter the time he needs me, where he needs me, I'm here," Gayle said.

During the difficult week, Jackson's pregnant girlfriend, Kayla Phillips, came to visit and went to another ultrasound that revealed the sex of their baby.

"I knew it was the anniversary of his dad's passing. On the phone he tried to be upbeat and not sound sad, but I could just hear it in his voice," Phillips said as she traveled into town to support her man.

"Losing a parent- you never really deal with that," Phillips said, "I can't imagine that."

When the couple previously found out that they were expecting a baby boy, it took all of DeSean's emotions of his father's death anniversary away.

Jackson was all smiles, showing off his bright teeth.

It's truly wonderful to see a precious moment help out during a sad time.

MStars News hopes Jackson will be able to open up emotionally about his father one day.

Jackson left the end of that very emotional episode with the following words:

"What does it mean to be a real man? It's not about what I do on the football field, it's about being a real son, a real brother, a real friend, a real lover and a real father. It's about being there, and being present just as my father was there for me," Jackson said.