The Minnesota Vikings will honor Khyree Jackson this season with “KJ” decals worn on their helmets. Additionally, coaches and staff will wear pins matching the design of the decal.
Jackson, the Vikings’ fourth-round pick out of Oregon, was one of three people killed in an automobile accident in Maryland two weeks ago. Also dying in the crash were Isaiah Hazel, who played at Maryland and UNC Charlotte, and Anthony “AJ” Lytton, who played his college ball at Florida State and Penn State.
In addition to the season-long tribute, the Vikings announced that they will pay Jackson’s full signing bonus to his family. According to Spotrac, Jackson would have been paid a $827,148 bonus as part of his contract. For the 2024 season, he was set to receive $206,787.
The #Vikings plan to pay out the remainder of Khyree Jackson’s signing bonus to his estate.
Players will wear helmet decals, and coaches will wear pins, with the initials ‘KJ’ throughout the season. Jackson’s number 31 will go unused.
— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) July 22, 2024
The Vikings will also pay “a significant portion” of the expenses for Jackson’s funeral, reports the Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Ben Goessling. The funeral will be held this coming Friday. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, head coach Kevin O’Connell, and assistant coaches Brian Flores, Matt Daniels and Daronte Jones are among team personnel who will attend.
Jackson, 24; Hazel, 23; and Lytton, 24 were teammates at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Prince George’s County, Maryland, winning multiple state championships.
The Dr. Henry A. Wise Athletic Department sends condolences to the families and mourns the loss of Khyree Jackson (State Champ 2016 c/o ’17) Anthony Lytton, Jr. (AJ) (State Champ 2015,16,17 c/o ’18) and Isaiah Hazel (State Champ 2015, 16, 17 c/o ’19). #OnceAPumaAlwaysAPuma pic.twitter.com/8SsQEgbR0G
— Wise Athletics (@WisePumaSports) July 6, 2024
Jackson’s football story is a compelling one. He originally committed to play at Arizona Western College, but quickly became homesick and returned to Maryland. Embarrassed over dropping out, Jackson quit football for two years and worked at a grocery store.
Eventually, Fort Scott Community College in Kansas recruited him back to football. He then moved on to play two seasons at Alabama before transferring to Oregon for the 2023 season. In 12 games for the Ducks, he compiled 34 tackles with three interceptions and two sacks.
The NFL family is deeply saddened and devasted by the passing of Vikings rookie Khyree Jackson.
Our thoughts and condolences are with his family, loved ones and everybody involved in this tragic accident. pic.twitter.com/Qj2rc4YgNv
— NFL (@NFL) July 6, 2024
After being drafted by the Vikings, Jackson made a favorable impression on coaches and observers during minicamp and OTAs, notably with his performance in press coverage. Adofo-Mensah praised him for his resilience.
“I am absolutely crushed by this news. Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him,” O’Connell said in a team statement released after the tragic news.
Jackson’s No. 31 will not be assigned to another player this season and his locker at the Vikings facility will remain unused in tribute.
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