The Minnesota Vikings will honor Khyree Jackson this season with “KJ” decals on their helmets. Additionally, coaches and staff will wear pins with the same decal design.
Jackson, the Vikings’ fourth-round pick out of Oregon, was one of three people killed in a car crash in Maryland two weeks ago. Also killed in the crash were Isaiah Hazel, who played at Maryland and UNC Charlotte, and Anthony “AJ” Lytton, who played at Florida State and Penn State.
In addition to the season-long tribute, the Vikings announced they will pay Jackson’s full signing bonus to his family. According to SpotracJackson was set to receive a bonus of $827,148 as part of his contract. For the 2024 season, he was set to receive $206,787.
He #Vikings plan to pay the remainder of Khyree Jackson’s signing bonus to his estate.
Players will wear decals on their helmets and coaches will wear pins with the initials “KJ” throughout the season. Jackson’s No. 31 will not be used.
— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) July 22, 2024
The Vikings will also pay “a significant portion” of Jackson’s funeral expenses. reports Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star-TribuneThe funeral will be held Friday. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, head coach Kevin O’Connell and assistant coaches Brian Flores, Matt Daniels and Daronte Jones are among the 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, and won multiple state championships.
The Dr. Henry A. Wise Athletics Department sends its condolences to the families and mourns the loss of Khyree Jackson (2016 State Champion c/o ’17), Anthony Lytton, Jr. (AJ) (2015, 2016, 2017 State Champion c/o ’18) and Isaiah Hazel (2015, 2016, 2017 State Champion c/o ’19). #OnceATimeAlwaysATime image.twitter.com/8SsQEgbR0G
— Wise Athletics (@WisePumaSports) July 6, 2024
Jackson’s football history is an interesting one. He initially committed to play at Arizona Western College, but soon became homesick and returned to Maryland. Embarrassed by his dropout, Jackson quit football for two years and I worked in a grocery store.
He was eventually recruited by Fort Scott Community College in Kansas to return to football. He then played two seasons at Alabama before transferring to Oregon for the 2023 season. In 12 games with the Ducks, he racked up 34 tackles with three interceptions and two sacks.
The NFL family is deeply saddened and devastated by the passing of Vikings rookie Khyree Jackson.
Our thoughts and condolences are with his family, loved ones and everyone involved in this tragic accident. image.twitter.com/Qj2rc4YgNv
— NFL (@NFL) July 6, 2024
After being drafted by the Vikings, Jackson made a favorable impression on coaches and scouts during minicamp and organized team activities, particularly with His performance in press coverage. Adofo-Mensah praised him For its resilience.
“I am absolutely devastated by this news. Khyree brought an infectious energy to our facility and to our team. Her confidence and engaging personality immediately endeared her teammates to her,” O’Connell said. In a statement from the team 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 as a memorial.
