Heartfelt Dedication: Khyree Jackson's Season Cut Short

Cornerback Khyree Jackson was eagerly anticipating his first NFL training camp, set to start on Sunday. Tragically, instead of joining his Minnesota Vikings teammates, the former Alabama standout will be laid to rest on Friday.

Jackson, a fourth-round draft pick by the Vikings, lost his life in a traffic accident on July 6 in his hometown of Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

"It was 4 a.m. when the call came," Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell recounted during a Friday appearance on KFAN-FM. "As a head coach, it's the call you dread the most. I've spoken with other coaches about this, and we all fear that moment when your phone rings with bad news. This was the worst kind."

The Vikings' rookies will return to the TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota, on Sunday, with veteran players joining on Tuesday. The first full-team practice of training camp is slated for Wednesday.

Reflecting on the loss, Vikings safety Josh Metellus told KSTP-TV, "Our defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, reminded us as we left OTAs: 'Just make it back.' We’ve already lost one of our own. Now, we must lean on each other—that’s what brotherhood is for."

The Vikings' preseason begins on August 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders, with the regular season opener on September 8 against the New York Giants.

"I had just spoken to him a few days before," Metellus shared. "We had plans. To lose someone so dedicated and full of energy, who never got the chance to play with us, is heartbreaking. This season will be for him. I’m dedicating every game to his memory, playing for him and his family because that's what he would want."

Jackson’s football journey was marked by resilience. After high school, he briefly attended Arizona Western, then returned to Maryland, working at Harris Teeter. Determined to pursue football, he played wide receiver at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas, later switching to defensive back at East Mississippi Community College. This led to his tenure at Alabama and a standout season at Oregon, where he recorded three interceptions in 2023.

Coach O’Connell admired Jackson’s path. "His journey, from junior college to Alabama and then to Oregon, showed incredible resilience. He was poised to make a significant impact on our team this year and beyond. His teammates loved him. His loss is profoundly felt by all of us."

The accident occurred at 3:14 a.m. on July 6, according to the Maryland State Police. Jackson was a passenger in a Dodge Charger involved in a three-vehicle crash. An Infiniti Q50, driven by Cori Imani Clingman, struck the Charger and a Chevrolet Impala during a high-speed lane change, causing the Charger to leave the road and hit tree stumps.

While occupants of the other vehicles were unharmed, Jackson and his companions in the Charger, Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton Jr., did not survive. Hazel and Lytton were former teammates of Jackson’s at Dr. Henry Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro.

Alcohol may have played a role in the crash, though no charges have been filed yet. A spokesman for the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office indicated that the investigation is progressing swiftly.

Jackson's life will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday at First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Upper Marlboro.