Tragedy has hit the NFL and Minnesota Vikings. Khyree Jackson, the NFL North team’s fourth-round picked died in an auto accident in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Jackson, 24, was the 108th pick in the 2024 NFL draft out of Oregon. He was a cornerback.
According to Maryland State police, Khyree Jackson was a passenger in a car that was struck by another that was traveling at a high rate of speed. He was one of three people that died in the accident. Investigators believe alcohol may be a factor. Charges pending. pic.twitter.com/B23jmGdFL4
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) July 6, 2024
The team posted on his death. His mother, Ebony Jackson, confirmed it to TMZ.
We are devastated by the news of Khyree Jackson’s death following an overnight car accident.
Our thoughts are with Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches, as well as all the victims of this tragic accident.
💔💔💔 pic.twitter.com/pkgC4kQtWi
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) July 6, 2024
Ducks coach Dan Lanning also posted on Twitter.
RIP Khyree… Love you @Real_Khyree at a loss for words. I will miss your smile. Great player better person.
— Dan Lanning (@CoachDanLanning) July 6, 2024
Jackson’s football path to the NFL:
2019 – Played CB at Fort Scott Community College
2020 – Transferred to East Mississippi Community College (#1 JUCO CB per 247)
2021 – Transferred to Alabama, got his first career start in the 2021 National Title Game against Georgia
2022 – 7 Tackles & 1 TFL in 9 games, before facing a suspension for unknown reasons, would announce he would transfer to Oregon that offseason
2023 – Started at Oregon, started immediately, earned First-Team All PAC-12 Honors 🏆
2024 – Drafted in 2024 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, in Round 4, Pick 108
The Dr. Henry A. Wise Athletic Department sends condolences to the families and mourns the loss of Khyree Jackson (State Champ 2016 c/o ’17) Anthony Lytton, Jr. (AJ) (State Champ 2015,16,17 c/o ’18) and Isaiah Hazel (State Champ 2015, 16, 17 c/o ’19). #OnceAPumaAlwaysAPuma pic.twitter.com/8SsQEgbR0G
— Wise Athletics (@WisePumaSports) July 6, 2024
Khyree Jackson turned his life around. He had a minor arrest in junior college that was later dropped, worked at a grocery store while gaming, got back into football and made the most of his last opportunity in college to be the top CB in the Pac-12 and made the NFL. Awful news.
— James Crepea (@JamesCrepea) July 6, 2024
This is the second time this decade a Vikings draft pick died in a car crash. Jeff Gladney, a 2020 first-round pick was killed at 25 in an auto accident in Texas. That took place in 2022.