Khyree Jackson, a recently-drafted Minnesota Vikings cornerback, died overnight in a car crash at the age of 24. The team confirmed the news Saturday morning.
“I am absolutely crushed by this news,” coach Kevin O’Connell said in a statement. “Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him.”
Jackson was picked by the Vikings in the fourth round of April’s draft. He arrived in Minnesota by way of Oregon. But before playing for coach Dan Lanning, he had played stints at Arizona Western College, Fort Scott Community College and Alabama.
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
The day the Vikings drafted Jackson, he told a story about thinking he was finished with football after a freshman season at Arizona Western. He returned home to Upper Marlboro, Md., worked for Harris Teeter grocery and quit working out. Then, the football bug bit him again, and the 6-foot-4, 194-pounder transformed into a prospect Lannning described as the type of cornerback you’d want to create in Madden.
“Khyree had an extremely bright future ahead of him as a player,” Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf said, “and it was clear he was dedicated to being a tremendous person who made a positive difference in people’s lives.”
Statement from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Khyree Jackson’s tragic passing. pic.twitter.com/W7VFDtq2Z8
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) July 6, 2024
This story will be updated.
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(Photo: John E. Moore III / Getty Images)