SAD NEWS : BILLY JOEL mourn the loss of his young boy who…..
Vikings Links: Tributes Pour in as Team Mourns Khyree Jackson’s Tragic Death
Tragedy still looms large in Vikings circles and friends, family and others search for answers
The holiday weekend carried a somber note with the Vikings getting news of the tragic death of recently drafted cornerback Khyree Jackson. While Jackson was only 24, plenty of people noted the effect he had in their lives in his brief time on earth.
Monday Morning Mailbag: Vikings Mourn Khyree Jackson’s Tragic Passing
“Heartbroken,” tweeted Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.
“I am absolutely crushed by this news,” he added in a team statement released after the accident. “Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his teammates to him. In our short time together, it was evident Khyree was going to develop into a tremendous professional football player, but what was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him.
“I am at a loss for words. My heart goes out to Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches.”
“Naaaah not lil Khyree,” tweeted Vikings edge Jonathan Greenard.
It’s also important to note that it wasn’t just Jackson who passed away in the accident. Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton Jr. — both football alums and high school teammates of Khyree’s at
The photos of the Dodge Charger Jackson, Hazel and Lytton were riding in have been published, but they are not for the faint of heart. Click here if you wish to see them, but the short version here is that there was virtually nothing left of the car.
What a tragedy. Daily Norseman continues to send the deepest condolences to the families of Jackson, Hazel and Lytton.
It’s really difficult to grasp anything else going on with the Vikings outside of the Jackson tragedy, and Matthew Coller of Purple Insider does a nice job summing up how a young man was on the cusp of realizing his dreams after quite a few bumps in the road.
Khyree Jackson’s dreams were taken away in tragic crash
Coller has statements from team officials, and hearkens back to Jackson saying he “wouldn’t change it for the world” when asked about his path to reaching the NFL.
It’s highly recommended to read here.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Zone Coverage’s Tom Schreier wonders if the Vikings’ loss to the Giants in the playoffs two years ago can help them find success in their upcoming Week 1 matchup to start the 2024 season.
Minnesota’s Playoff Loss Two Years Ago May Have Set Them Up For A Week 1 Win
Schreier lays out the case that the Vikings — erm, Ed Donatell in this case — more or less helped make Daniel Jones a very rich man after his performance against them in the playoffs. Now, with his cap hit approaching $50 million, Jones has to be the focal point of the Giants offense — for better or worse.
Quite a bit of Schreier’s intel comes from this season of Hard Knocks, which again is providing a fun inside glimpse into an NFL team’s inner dealings unlike ever before.
Over on the Vikings Entertainment Network there are a pair of fun videos of Tatum Everett sitting down with head coach Kevin O’Connell and assistant coach Wes Phillips over a cup of coffee.
Caffeinated with Coach: Wes Phillips
Caffeinated with Coach: Kevin O’Connell
Phillips suggested that he’s more or less an all-day coffee drinker, especially enjoying it after meals. During the season, he’ll even indulge in some evening cups of coffee after dinner if he knows he’s still got plenty of work ahead of him over the rest of the night.
Everett playfully asks O’Connell if this is his first cup of the day, and his reply is an amused “side-eye,” as Tatum notes. “I love coffee,” O’Connell says after noting that he really didn’t drink it growing up. KOC notes that he really didn’t get started on coffee until he was with the Patriots, when he felt his eyes getting a little heavy and he became terrified with the thought of Tom Brady or Bill Belichick seeing him dozing in a team meeting.
This is a fun little feature.
Over on the Vikings Entertainment Network there are a pair of fun videos of Tatum Everett sitting down with head coach Kevin O’Connell and assistant coach Wes Phillips over a cup of coffee.
Caffeinated with Coach: Wes Phillips
Caffeinated with Coach: Kevin O’Connell
Phillips suggested that he’s more or less an all-day coffee drinker, especially enjoying it after meals. During the season, he’ll even indulge in some evening cups of coffee after dinner if he knows he’s still got plenty of work ahead of him over the rest of the night.
Everett playfully asks O’Connell if this is his first cup of the day, and his reply is an amused “side-eye,” as Tatum notes. “I love coffee,” O’Connell says after noting that he really didn’t drink it growing up. KOC notes that he really didn’t get started on coffee until he was with the Patriots, when he felt his eyes getting a little heavy and he became terrified with the thought of Tom Brady or Bill Belichick seeing him dozing in a team meeting.
This is a fun little feature.
In his latest for Pro Football Focus, Trevor Sikkema examines the 2025 NFL draft player pool and notes an offensive player to watch for each team.
2025 NFL Draft: One offensive player to watch for all 32 NFL teams
The Vikings’ choice is a curious one — Luke Lachey, a tight end out of Iowa just like the team’s incumbent at the position, T.J. Hockenson. Lachey is the son of former NFL offensive tackle Jim Lachey, who played for three teams from 1985-95 and was a Super Bowl champion, three-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler who was named among the 70 greatest players in Washington Commanders franchise history.
Sikkema’s contention is that the two can create a two-headed monster at the position, giving J.J. McCarthy a future with two premium targets not only at wide receiver, but also tight end.
It’s not as crazy as it might seem at first.
Here’s who he’s watching for other NFC North squads:
- Detroit Lions; Stanford wide receiver Elic Ayomanor
- Green Bay Packers: Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons
- Chicago Bears: North Carolina State offensive tackle Anthony Belton
We’ll be sure to keep an eye out for the defensive version of this article, which is no doubt coming in the near future.
NBC Sports Edge — I think I’ll always still call it Rotoworld, but that’s just me — makes a note of Vic Tarfur suggesting the Raiders still might add another runner to their running back room — which is fronted by Zamir White.
The Athletic’s Vic Tarfur: It wouldn’t shock me if the Raiders added another running back
The Vikings connections here are numerous, and in some ways obvious. The next two backs on the team’s depth chart are former Vikings Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah, and the two players Rotoworld suggests could be targets are also former Vikings — Dalvin Cook and Jerick McKinnon.
Might be time to call Las Vegas “Minneapolis West” huh?
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