Khyree Jackson Remembered by Vikings Coach Kevin O’Connell Throughout Funeral for Late Cornerback

The life and soccer profession of Minnesota Vikings rookie Khyree Jackson was remembered throughout a funeral for the late cornerback who died at 24 years previous in a deadly automotive crash earlier this month.

Jackson’s household held a joint funeral on July 26 for the athlete and highschool good friend Isaiah Hazel, each of who have been killed alongside one different throughout a three-car accident in Maryland on July 6.

The service at First Baptist Church of Glenarden Worldwide in Higher Marlboro, Md. was attended by Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, common supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, defensive coordinator Brian Flores, particular groups coordinator Matt Daniels and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones, all whom the Related Press confirmed have been planning to look in-person on Friday.

Moreover, former and present teammates additionally joined the Vikings workers as O’Connell spoke on behalf of the franchise and paid tribute to their late participant and teammate.

After providing the Minnesota Vikings condolences, O’Connell, 39, gave an emotional speech as he mirrored on his time with Jackson, from first drafting him to the crew to attending to know him on the sector as they started making ready for the 2024 NFL season. 

“I solely actually knew him by means of the draft course of — and we have been fortunate to draft him,” the pinnacle coach stated. “He knew who he was and what he was all about.”

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O’Connell additionally mirrored on how particular of a participant Jackson was, saying, “All of us rapidly realized that Khyree was a particular teammate… He was dedicated to working arduous for one thing that was larger than himself.” 

Recalling how Jackson confronted a shoulder harm, O’Connell famous that the participant selected his crew over his personal ache. “I’ve to be on the market with my brothers. I might somewhat do no matter I’ve to do to be on the market with my [team],” the coach remembered Jackson telling him. 

Later, throughout his tribute, O’Connell shared how the Vikings plan to honor the cornerback — from on the sector to contained in the locker room. “We are going to honor Khyree all season lengthy,” he stated, explaining that “while you tune in to observe Minnesota Viking video games, it is possible for you to to visually bear in mind Khyree every Sunday.”

Bringing his speech to a detailed, O’Connell stated, “He made an influence.” The coach added, “Thanks, Khyree, for being all the pieces that we hoped for once we drafted you… There was simply one thing about you that drew us nearer and nearer… We promise that you may be with us each step of the best way [this season].”

On July 22, the Vikings introduced that Jackson’s locker and jersey quantity (31) would go unused in the course of the upcoming NFL season. The crew additionally stated would honor their late teammate by sporting helmet decals with Jackson’s initials, “KJ,” and his quantity, Sports activities Illustrated and the Related Press reported. 

Along with the crew’s gestures, the Minnesota franchise additionally pledged to pay out the rest of Jackson’s $827,000 signing bonus to his property together with donating $20,000 to funeral bills, the shops reported. 

The cornerback was the 108th decide throughout this 12 months’s NFL draft, being chosen by the Minnesota Vikings after a stellar 12 months on the College of Oregon the place he transferred after his stint at Alabama. 

Jackson together with Hazel, 23, and one other highschool teammate, Anthony Lytton, Jr., 24, have been killed after one other automobile tried to vary lanes at a excessive pace on a Maryland freeway, the police stated.

On the time, investigators stated they consider alcohol might have been a “contributing circumstance” within the “triple deadly automotive crash.”

Following the information of Jackson’s dying, Adofo-Mensah stated in a press release that he was “heartbroken by the lack of Khyree.”

“As we bought to know him all through the pre-draft course of, it was clear the objectives Khyree needed to perform each professionally and personally./ His story was certainly one of resilience. He was taking steps to change into one of the best model of himself not only for him, however for many who cared about and appeared as much as him.”

The overall supervisor added, “Khyree’s character captured each room he was in. I am devastated that his life and all the pieces he had in entrance of him has been minimize brief.”