NFL News: Vikings Rookie Cornerback Passes Away In Car Accident By Grant Winsauer

According to a Minnesota Vikings fan page on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson passed away in a car accident last night at just 24. It was later confirmed by the Vikings’ social media pages.

According to ESPN.com, Jackson was drafted by the Vikings in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. According to sportsreference.com, Jackson played two years at Alabama before transferring to the University of Oregon for his senior season. He totaled 48 tackles, two sacks, and three interceptions in those three college years.

This is tragic because when he was drafted, I believed that Jackson had a great career ahead of him. It is too bad he never got to showcase his talent in the NFL because he would have gotten the chance to learn from some great defensive backs in Minnesota, like Byron Murphy Jr. and Harrison Smith.

This sudden death reminds me of another football player who was drafted but never got to showcase his great talent in the NFL. This player was Brandon Burlsworth, an All-American guard for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1995-1998. Burlsworth was going to block for the great Payton Manning but sadly passed away in a car accident when he was heading home to take his mother to church before the start of training camp with the Indianapolis Colts.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Jackson family during this time of sadness. We realize this was so sudden that they don’t understand why it happened, especially since their son had a bright future ahead of him in the NFL. However, that is why these things are called accidents; they aren’t supposed to happen. Still, there is not much they can do about it because the accident was not Jackson’s fault, and the Vikings community will miss your energy in the facility.