It’s one of those stories that just feels wrong. You know, the kind where a guy finally makes it—beats all the odds, gets the jersey, signs the contract—and then it’s just over. People keep asking when did Khyree Jackson die because the timeline feels like a blur. He was drafted in April, and by July, the Minnesota Vikings were mourning a player who hadn't even played a regular-season snap.
It happened in the early morning hours of July 6, 2024.
Khyree was 24. He was back home in Maryland, the kind of trip you take before the chaos of an NFL training camp starts. He wasn’t alone, either. He was with his high school teammates, guys he’d won a state championship with at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School.
The Night Everything Changed in Upper Marlboro
The crash wasn't some mysterious single-car accident on a deserted road. It was chaotic. Around 3:14 a.m., Khyree was sitting in the front passenger seat of a maroon Dodge Charger. His friend Isaiah Hazel was driving, and Anthony Lytton Jr. was in the back. They were heading north on Maryland Route 4.
Then came the impact.
A silver Infiniti Q50, driven by a woman named Cori Clingman, was flying. Investigators eventually said she was trying to change lanes at a high rate of speed when she clipped the Charger. That hit sent the boys' car careening off the road. It didn't just stop; it struck multiple tree stumps with enough force that Khyree and Isaiah were pronounced dead right there at the scene. Anthony was rushed to the hospital, but he didn't make it either.
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Honestly, the details that came out later made it even harder to stomach.
The Aftermath and the Search for Justice
For months, the families waited. It wasn't until January 2025 that a grand jury in Prince George’s County indicted Clingman on 13 counts, including vehicular manslaughter. Prosecutors alleged she was not just speeding—she was legally drunk. She was reportedly driving 109 mph when the collision happened. By late 2025, she pleaded guilty, facing decades in prison for a night that wiped out three promising lives in a split second.
Why does this specific story stick with people? Probably because Khyree’s path to the NFL was anything but a straight line.
- He struggled with grades in high school.
- He worked at a grocery store deli and was once "Employee of the Month."
- He almost gave up on football entirely, even considering a career in professional gaming (NBA 2K).
- He bounced from Fort Scott Community College to Alabama, and finally to Oregon where he became a star.
When the Vikings took him with the 108th overall pick in the 2024 draft, it felt like the ultimate "I told you so" moment. He was 6-foot-4, a physical specimen that head coach Kevin O’Connell was already calling a "tremendous professional."
How the Vikings Honored His Memory
The team didn't just move on. If you watched any Vikings games during the 2024 season, you saw the "KJ" decals on their helmets. Coaches wore pins with his initials. The most touching gesture? They left his locker at the TCO Performance Center untouched. His No. 31 jersey wasn't handed out to some waiver-wire pickup.
The Vikings also did something rarely seen: they paid his full signing bonus to his estate. It was a class move for a kid who never got to see his first NFL paycheck hit the bank.
Moving Forward: The Khyree Jackson Foundation
If you're looking for a way to actually honor his legacy, his parents, Ebbony and Raymond Jackson, launched the Khyree Jackson Foundation in April 2025. They’re focused on helping kids who, like Khyree, might be "late bloomers" or struggling with the traditional path.
Next Steps for Fans and Supporters:
- Check out the Foundation: Look into the Khyree Jackson Foundation to see how they are supporting youth sports in Maryland.
- Support Road Safety: This tragedy is a grim reminder. Never drive under the influence and speak up if a friend is about to.
- Watch the Tape: If you never saw him play at Oregon, go back and watch his 2023 highlights. He was a force of nature on the field.
Knowing when did Khyree Jackson die is only part of it. Remembering how hard he worked to get there is the part that actually matters.