Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones shared the way he pays tribute each game to his late teammate Khyree Jackson, who died in a car crash at age 24 in July.
Jones, 29, spoke to the Sunday Night Football crew after the Vikings defeated the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 3, and revealed that he puts flowers in Jackson’s locker each week.
The rookie’s life was tragically cut short on July 6, before he could make his NFL debut, when a driver “attempted to change lanes while driving at a high rate of speed,” leading to a triple fatal car crash, according to Maryland State Police.
Nearly four months later, Jones said he took an extra pause for Jackson before their victory on Sunday.
“I just had a moment with him, told him tonight’s for him,” Jones told the SNF hosts.
What’s more, the Vikings running back said he was able to share a moment with Jackson’s parents before the game. “And then when I got here, warming up, I turn and see his parents,” added Jones. “His parents were here, and I shared that story with them.”
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Jones — who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2017 — said he experienced a “moment of gratitude” during Sunday’s victory. “It just gave me a moment of gratitude. Just how thankful I am to be able to play this game, the game that I love.”
Two of Jackson’s former teammates at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School — Isaiah Hazel, 23, and Anthony Lytton, Jr., 24 — also died in the crash in Prince George’s County in Jackson’s home state of Maryland, police said at the time. Hazel was driving the vehicle, a Dodge Charger, while Jackson was in the passenger seat. Lytton, meanwhile, was in the back.
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The Vikings planned to pay tribute to Jackson throughout the season, announcing that his locker will not be used during the season and neither will his jersey number, 31.
Additionally, this season, players are wearing helmet decals with the initials “KJ” while team staff members will wear special pins, Sports Illustrated and the Associated Press reported. Per SI, special stenciling was also added to the Vikings practice fields in honor of Jackson.
The team also said they will pay out the remainder of Jacksons $827,000 signing bonus to his estate and contribute $20,000 for his funeral expenses.
