BREAKING NEWS: Former NFL wide receiver Vincent Jackson is found dead in Florida hotel room aged 38
- Vincent Jackson was founded dead at the Homewood Suites in Tampa Monday
- The 38-year-old had reportedly been staying there since January 11
- He was reported missing on February 10, but police made contact with him two days later and cancelled the missing persons report
- By Monday, five days later, he was found dead by a housekeeper at the hotel
- The sheriff’s office said there were no apparent signs of trauma
Former NFL wide receiver Vincent Jackson has been found dead in a Florida hotel room aged 38, police confirmed Monday.
The 38-year-old was discovered deceased by a housekeeper at approximately 11:30am this morning at the Homewood Suites in the Tampa suburb of Brandon.
Police said there were no apparent signs of trauma and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office are currently working to determine his cause of death.
According to staff at the hotel, Jackson, a married father-of-three, checked into Homewood on January 11, and had been staying there ever since.
The former Chargers and Buccaneers star was reported missing by his family on February 10, police said.
However, officers made contact with him two days later, on Friday, and the missing persons reported was canceled after ‘assessing his well-being’.
He was then found dead in his room just three days later.
Former NFL wide receiver Vincent Jackson has been found dead in a Florida hotel room aged 38
Police said the 38-year-old had been staying at the Homewood Suites in the Tampa suburb of Brandon since January 11
It’s currently unclear why Jackson had been staying at Homewood Suites for the last month.
He and wife of 10-years Lindsey VanDeweghe lived in a sprawling $3.5 million mansion at the Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club, in Tampa, along with their three young children – Carter, Amaya, and Dominick.
Jackson proposed to VanDeweghe in 2011 while accepting the honor of being inducted into the University of North Carolina Hall of Fame.
Stepping on stage, the three-time Pro Bowler told her: ‘I love you. I will always love you. I want to start a family with you. I want to spend the rest of my days with you. You are my soulmate. Will you marry me?’
They later tied the knot on July 16, 2011. VanDeweghe has not yet spoken publicly on Jackson’s death.
However, a statement from Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister read: ‘My heart aches for the many loved ones Vincent Jackson leaves behind, from his wife and children to the Buccaneers nation that adored him.
‘Mr. Jackson was a devoted man who put his family and community above everything else.’
It’s currently unclear why Jackson had been staying at Homewood Suites for the last month. He and wife of 10-years Lindsey VanDeweghe (together above) lived in a sprawling $3.5 million mansion at the Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club
Jackson reportedly had close ties to the sheriff’s office and was also previously made an honorary deputy.
He also founded the Jackson in Action 83 Foundation, which provided support to military families, focusing on the educational, emotional, and physical health of the children.
‘Football aside, he touched countless lives through his Jackson In Action 83 Foundation,’ Chronister continued. ‘He will be sorely missed by not only football fans across the country, but also the people here in Hillsborough County who reaped the benefits of his generous contributions.’
Jackson played 12 seasons with the then-San Diego Chargers (2005-11) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012-16). The three-time Pro Bowl selection caught 540 passes for 9,080 yards and 57 touchdowns in 155 games.
Jackson posted six 1,000-yard seasons. He led the NFL with 19.2 yards per reception in his first season with Tampa Bay in 2012.
Jackson became to emerge as a top receiver when he caught 18 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns in three games in the 2007 postseason. The Chargers lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
The Chargers selected him in the second round (61st overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Northern Colorado.