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Popular Ex-Buc Player May Have Had Chronic Illnesses
NFL 360 Tells The Trailblazing Of Black Quarterback Sunday
VINCENT JACKSON
... FORMER TAMPA BAY BUCCANEER
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Monday, shortly before noon, the body of a former NFL player was found. His body was found by a housekeeper at a local hotel.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the Homewood Suites, 10240 Palm River Road, in reference to an unresponsive guest. When deputies arrived, they discovered that 38-year-old Vincent Jackson was de- ceased.
Police said Jackson had checked into the hotel on Janu- ary 11, 2021, and had been stay- ing there since that time. His family reported him missing on February 11th. However, he was located the following day at the hotel. Law enforcement spoke with him and the missing per- son’s report was cancelled.
Statement From Sheriff
On Wednesday morning, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said, "It could be several weeks before we know what led to the untimely and tragic death of Vincent Jackson. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Of- fice continues to conduct a thor- ough investigation alongside the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Based on statements made by relatives of Jackson to detectives, his family had reason to believe he may have suffered from chronic alcoholism and concussions, however, the exact cause and manner of Mr. Jack- son's death will not be certain until his autopsy, among other reports, is complete."
Tampa Bay Buccaneers co- owner Bryan Glazer said, “We are shocked and saddened to hear the terrible news regarding the loss of Vincent Jackson. During his five seasons with our franchise, Vincent was a con- summate professional, who took a great deal of pride in his per- formance on and off the football field. Vincent was a dedicated father, husband, businessman and philanthropist, who made a deep impact on our community through his unyielding advocacy for military families, supported by the Jackson in Action 83 Foundation.
“He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection for his accom- plishments on the field, but his greatest achievements as a Buc- caneer were the four consecutive nominations he earned as our Walter Payton Man of the Year. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife, Lindsey, and the en- tire Jackson family.”
Mayor Jane Castor said, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Vincent Jackson. His contributions as a former Bucca- neer, businessman, and philan- thropist are beyond reproach, and his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched. Vince’s family and friends are in our thoughts dur- ing this difficult time.”
Chad Chronister, Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff said, "My heart aches for the many loved ones Vincent Jackson leaves behind, from his wife and chil- dren to the Buccaneers nation that adored him.
"Mr. Jackson was a devoted man who put his family and community above everything else. Football aside, he touched countless lives through his Jack- son In Action 83 Foundation. We shared a passion for sup- porting military families, and three years ago, Jackson was
even made an honorary deputy by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to recognize his dedication to the community. He will be sorely missed by not only football fans across the country, but also the people here in Hills- borough County who reaped the benefits of his generous contri- butions.”
The cause of death remains undetermined, pending the out- come of the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s rul- ing and the investigation into the death remains ongoing.
Jackson lived in South Tampa. He is survived by his wife and four children, as well as other family members and friends.
His Career
The child of military parents, Jackson attended Widefield High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he played football. He was a Rocky Mountain News All-Star Honor- able Mention, a first-team all- area pick and a first-team all-conference pick during his senior year.
A straight-A student, he de- cided to attend the University of Northern Colorado on a partial scholarship to play both football andbasketball.
Jackson turned professional when he became a member of the San Diego Chargers in 2005. By 2008, he had a career season with 59 interceptions, 7 touch- downs, and 1,098 yards. He be- came the first Chargers’ wide receiver to have 1,000 receiving yards since 2001.
He joined the Tampa Bay Buc- caneers in 2012, and was elected a team captain. During his ca- reer with the NFL, Jackson was selected to the Pro Bowl three times and exceeded 1,000 re- ceiving yards six times.
Jackson retired on May 17, 2018.
U. S. Cold Snap: Why Is Texas Seeing Arctic Temperatures?
Scenes such as this one in Odessa, Texas are unusual for the state.
This Homewood Suites, 10240 Palm River Road, is where the body of Vincent Jackson was found Monday.
DOUG WILLIAMS
On Sunday, February 21 at 8:00 PM ET, a new episode of NFL 360 premieres, dedicated to celebrating Black History Month.
NFL Roundtables: Field Generals (Sunday, February 21) – Trailblazing quarter- backs Doug Williams, James Harris, Warren
WARREN MOON
Moon and Michael Vick sit down to discuss their hard- ships and triumphs of being a Black quarterback in the NFL. The 30-minute show pre- mieres Sunday, February 21 at 9:00 PM ET. You can also watch the story of Doug Williams in Tampa Bay which aired last Monday.
At 9 p.m.; Must - Watch TV
Texas is known for its sprawling deserts and excruci- ating heatwaves - but right now, it's blanketed in a thick layer of ice.
The state is seeing some of its coldest temperatures in more than 30 years, with some areas breaking records that are more than a century old.
Parts of Texas hit 0F (-18C) on Sunday, and weather warn- ings are going to stay in place through the week.
So why is this normally boil- ing state suddenly freezing over?
According to the US Na- tional Weather Service (NWS), this is down to an "Arctic out- break" that originated just above the U. S.-Canada bor- der, bringing a winter snow storm as well as plummeting temperatures.
Cold air outbreaks such as these are normally kept in the Arctic by a series of low-pres- sure systems, the NWS said. However, this one moved through Canada and spilled out into the U. S. last week.
Temperatures in the city of Dallas for example will reach a high of 14F (-10C) on Monday when it should be more like 59F (15C) at this time of year.
For the first time in the U. S., all 254 counties are under a winter storm warning, U. S. media report. The tempera- ture in Dallas is already colder than in Anchorage, Alaska, CBS News reports.
In a statement on Sunday night, President Joe Biden declared an emergency in Texas, which authorises US agencies to co-ordinate disas- ter relief in the state.
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