On Monday, former NFL wide receiver Vincent Jackson was found dead in a Florida hotel room, according to the Hillsborough County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office.
Jackson’s body was found at Homewood Suites in Brandon, Florida, at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Monday. Police said there was an open investigation. They also said there were no apparent signs of trauma, and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause of death.
The hotel staff confirmed that Jackson checked into the hotel on January 11 and stayed there since that date. Jackson’s family reported him missing last Wednesday, with a formal report filed Thursday. However, the case was canceled after Jackson’s well-being was confirmed.
“My heart aches for the many loved ones Vincent Jackson leaves behind, from his wife and children to the Buccaneers nation that adored him,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “Mr. Jackson was a devoted man who put his family and community above everything else.”
“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,” Chronister added.
Jackson was the son of military parents and founded the Jackson In Action 83 Foundation, a nonprofit to support military families.
Jackson played a total of 12 seasons in the NFL. The first seven years of his career were spent with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers said in a statement that Jackson was a, “fan favorite not only for his Pro Bowl play on the field but for the impact he made on the community off of it.”
Jackson last played in the NFL in 2016 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he spent the last five years of his career there.
Buccaneers owner and co-chairman Bryan Glazer said in a statement that Jackson was a “consummate professional,” and even with his accomplishments on the field, “his greatest achievements as a Buccaneer were four consecutive nominations he earned as our Walter Peyton Man of the Year.”
Over the entirety of his career, Jackson recorded 540 catches for 9,080 yards and 57 touchdowns. He was selected to three Pro Bowls.
