Vikings start training camp grieving loss of Khyree Jackson; team to honor rookie's life

EAGAN, Minn. — The dreaded early morning call for Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell came during that rare time for vacation on the NFL calendar, a summer holiday weekend soured by the sudden death of rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson.

The draft class was expected to report to training camp this week, including the fourth-round pick from Oregon.

Instead, O’Connell spent much of his season-opening news conference on Monday discussing plans to honor the gregarious 24-year-old who never got to play in a game and how the Vikings have been grieving Jackson since he and two friends — Isaiah Hazel and A.J. Lytton — were killed in a car crash on July 6 in their home state of Maryland.

General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah expressed, “His joy, his vigor for life and his hard-working spirit were admirable. We were thrilled to welcome him into this environment, into this culture. His absence is a profound tragedy.”

The Vikings announced that the funeral for Jackson and Hazel will take place on Friday. The team has contributed over $20,000 towards the funeral costs. Adofo-Mensah, O’Connell, defensive coordinator Brian Flores, special teams coordinator Matt Daniels, and defensive backs coach Daronte Jones will be present at the service. Additionally, the Vikings will arrange for Jackson’s family to travel to Minnesota in the upcoming weeks for a private memorial service with the team’s players and coaches.

This season, Jackson’s uniform, bearing No. 31, and locker will remain unused. The players will sport helmet decals featuring his initials, while the coaches will don pins of the same design.

On Sunday, 38 players, primarily rookies, quarterbacks, and those recovering from injuries, reported to the team headquarters ahead of the rest of the squad, who are set to arrive on Tuesday. Usually, O’Connell reserves his season-opening address until everyone is present. However, this year, he made additional time to speak to the early arrivals. He emphasized the availability of mental health resources and detailed the team’s tribute plans to the players closest to Jackson.

“Khyree’s stint with our team was brief, yet, given our team culture, individuals quickly form meaningful connections,” stated O’Connell. “In my summer conversations with some seasoned team leaders, their communication of emotions and thoughts was incredible. It was quite notable to hear the significant impact Khyree managed to make in such a limited period,” he added.

Jackson’s lasting impact on the Vikings may well be a poignant reminder of life’s fragility and the perpetual uncertainty of their careers for the players.

O’Connell expressed, “This incident serves as a reminder in many ways that our time on this earth is not guaranteed. I believe every player in that locker room must have pondered this during their grieving process. They must have thought about how unjust this was for Khyree and his family, asking themselves questions like ‘What if that had been me?'”.

That point became especially poignant less than a week later when second-year wide receiver Jordan Addison was arrested in California on suspicion of driving under the influence. Addison, who was cited for excessive speeding just before his first training camp, was expected to report to camp on Tuesday.

The Vikings have currently passed on any disciplinary role to the NFL under the collectively agreed player conduct policy. The league seldom enforces such punishments until the legal process is concluded.

“Jordan has higher expectations for himself than we could ever have for him,” said Adofo-Mensah. “Raised by a commendable family, he has set high standards for himself. He’s aware of the behaviors necessary to be the best he can be. He feels he has let himself down in this aspect. We don’t typically discuss concepts like discipline within these walls. Here, our focus is on designing for the desired outcome. We aim for Jordan to be the best version of himself, both on and off the field, a goal he wholeheartedly shares.”

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