Minnesota Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson tragically died in a car accident on Saturday morning.
“We are devastated by the news of Khyree Jackson’s passing following an overnight car accident,” said the Vikings. “Our thoughts are with Khyree’s family, friends, teammates, and coaches, as well as all the victims of this tragic accident.”
Jackson, who joined the Vikings in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on April 27 from Oregon after playing two seasons at Alabama, was remembered by his former college. “Alabama mourns the loss of former student-athlete Khyree Jackson,” the Crimson Tide football program said on its official Twitter account. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
According to a Maryland State Police report, Jackson was a passenger in a Dodge Charger involved in a three-vehicle crash in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. State Troopers responded to the scene at 3:14 a.m. EDT Saturday. The preliminary investigation indicates that the driver of an Infiniti, attempting to change lanes at high speed, struck the Charger and a Chevrolet Impala. The Charger was forced off the road, hitting several tree stumps before coming to a stop, the report stated.
While occupants of the other two vehicles were uninjured, the three people in the Charger, including driver Isaiah Hazel and passenger Anthony Lytton Jr., were killed. Lytton and Hazel had been Jackson’s teammates at Dr. Henry Wise Jr. High School, as reported by James Crepea of the Oregonian. Investigators suspect alcohol may have been a factor in the crash, with charges pending, according to Maryland State Police.
“I am absolutely crushed by this news,” said Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell. “Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him. In our short time together, it was evident Khyree was going to develop into a tremendous professional football player, but what was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him. I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Khyree’s family, friends, teammates, and coaches.”
Jackson had recently signed his first professional contract and participated in the Vikings’ offseason program. He was on summer break at the time of his death at age 24 and was scheduled to report to his first NFL training camp on July 21 with the rest of Minnesota’s rookies.
“I am heartbroken by the loss of Khyree,” said Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. “As we got to know him throughout the pre-draft process, it was clear the goals Khyree wanted to accomplish both professionally and personally. His story was one of resilience. He was taking steps to become the best version of himself not just for him, but for those who cared about and looked up to him. Khyree’s personality captured every room he was in. I’m devastated that his life and everything he had in front of him has been cut short. My thoughts are with Khyree’s family and friends, those who played with and coached him in college, and his teammates and coaches here at the Vikings.”
After high school, Jackson attended Arizona Western but never played there. He returned to Maryland, got a job at Harris Teeter, but continued to pursue football, eventually playing wide receiver at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas and then switching to defensive back at East Mississippi Community College. This led to 21 games and one start at Alabama before he transferred to Oregon, where he recorded three interceptions in his only season with the Ducks.
“We are deeply saddened by the news of Khyree’s passing,” said Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf. “Khyree had an extremely bright future ahead of him as a player, and it was clear he was dedicated to being a tremendous person who made a positive difference in people’s lives. We are thinking about Khyree’s family and friends and all members of the Minnesota Vikings following this devastating loss.”