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Vikings rookie CB Khyree Jackson dies in car accident
Khyree Jackson, a recently-drafted Minnesota Vikings cornerback, died early Saturday 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.
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
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.
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
“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.”
The Maryland State Police said in a statement the accident also claimed the lives of Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton, two of Jackson’s high school teammates. Hazel was the driver of the vehicle, per the statement.
Investigators believe the car carrying Jackson was struck by another vehicle that was attempting to change lanes while driving at a high rate of speed. They believe alcohol may have been a contributing circumstance in the crash, the statement reads.
“I am heartbroken by the loss of Khyree. 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,” Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in a statement. “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.”
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(Photo: John E. Moore III / Getty Images)