Minnesota Vikings

Football World Mourns Tragic Death of Vikings Rookie Khyree Jackson

Nov 18, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Khyree Jackson (5) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium.

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

By Alex Schubert on July 6, 2024


The Minnesota Vikings and their fans are grieving on Saturday after the tragic loss of Khyree Jackson.

Khyree Jackson, the Minnesota Vikings’ fourth-round pick in 2024, passed away after a fatal multi-car crash in Maryland overnight on July 6. Jackson was in a car with two of his high school teammates, Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton Jr., at the time of the crash. Jackson and Hazel were pronounced dead at the scene, and Lytton was transported to the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

According to a statement by Maryland police, Hazel was driving a Dodge Charger, with Jackson in the passenger seat and Lytton in the backseat, when a silver Infiniti Q50 attempted to change lanes at a high speed. The Infiniti struck the Charger and a Chevy Impala, and the Charger ran off the right side of the road where it struck multiple tree stumps.

None of the occupants of the other vehicles were injured in the collision. Police also say that alcohol may have been a contributing factor to the Infiniti driver’s erratic driving. The crash is currently under investigation and charges are pending.

Jackson, who was 24 years old, had a long journey as a college football player. He spent one season at Arizona Western College before dropping out, then moved back to his home in Maryland, where he worked at a grocery store deli and pursued playing NBA 2K professionally.

Jackson got a second opportunity to play football at Fort Scott Community College in 2019, where he totaled 25 tackles and three interceptions. He then transferred to East Mississippi Community College for the 2020 season, though that season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Then came an opportunity to be a backup defensive back at Alabama, where Jackson totaled 14 tackles, two passes defended, and one sack in his two seasons with the Crimson Tide.

After spending two seasons at Alabama, where he was teammates with Vikings’ 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner, he transferred to Oregon. In his lone season with the Ducks, he accumulated 34 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions, seven passes defended, and was named to the First Team All-Pac-12.

Soon after news of Jackson’s passing broke, tributes poured in on Twitter.

Official statements from the Minnesota Vikings, owner Zygi Wilf, head coach Kevin O’Connell, and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can be read here.

Our thoughts are with the families of Jackson, Hazel, and Lytton, the Vikings’ organization, and everyone mourning for them.


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