The Los Angeles Police Department has never accused DeSean Jackson of being a gang member.
Jackson denied the claim in a statement on Friday.
Detectives in Los Angeles were interested in Jackson's ties to reputed members of the Crips when they investigated separate gang-related homicides in 2011 and 2012.
"It's kind of like 'Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon,' " LAPD Homicide Det. Chris Barling said.
"When people grow up in neighborhoods where you have gang involvement, you don't have to look too far before you find a connection to a connection," he said.
"Now, how sinister that connection is, our position is that's for others to judge."