Last year, the NFL was shocked by the saddening news that Minnesota Vikings cornerback Khyree Jackson had passed away. The fourth-round pick had an underdog story coming from Fort Scott Community College before transferring to Alabama and finishing his college career at Oregon.
During his college career, he played with Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold. The first-round pick and former Crimson Tide star decided to make a number change going into the 2025 season. His reason for the change is to honor his former teammate Jackson.
“Because I wanted my brother to live through me," Arnold said.
Jackson spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Alabama where he played in 21 games. In those 21 games, he totaled 11 tackles and two pass deflections. After his transfer to Oregon, the Maryland native made a combined 34 tackles while also intercepting three passes and seven pass deflections.
With the 108th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings drafted Jackson, but he would never play a game for the franchise. On July 6, 2024, Jackson lost his life in a car crash.
Since then, the Vikings have honored Jackson in multiple ways including wearing a field patch.
Arnold played with Jackson during the 2021 and 2022 seasons when Arnold had 45 tackles and an interception before totaling 63 tackles, five interceptions, and 12 pass deflections in his final college season. Following his junior season, Arnold declared for the NFL Draft where the Detroit Lions selected him with the 24th pick.
