Vincent Jackson, who played in the NFL for 12 seasons with the San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was found dead Monday in Florida. Jackson was 38 years old.
The investigation into Jackson’s death is underway. In a statement released by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office after Jackson was found deceased at the Homewood Suites in Brandon, Florida, around 11:30 a.m. Monday. A housekeeper found him dead in his room. There were no apparent signs of trauma.
A second round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Northern Colorado, Jackson was the school’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, kick-return yards, punt-return yards, and receiving touchdowns. Jackson retired form the NFL in 2018.
Jackson is fourth on the Buccaneers’ all-time receiving yards list at 4,326 and his 68.7 receiving yards per game is third in franchise history. Jackson owns the Buccaneers record for receiving yards in a game (216) and longest reception in a game (95 yards against the New Orleans Saints in 2012). He’s 10th on the Chargers’ all-time receiving yards list with 4,754 and tied for eighth in touchdowns with 37. His 17.5 yards per catch is third in franchise history amongst players with more than 250 receptions.
Jackson was always one of the top wide receivers in the NFL during his career, finishing with 540 catches for 9,080 yards and 57 touchdowns (16.81 yards per catch). He topped 1,000 yards in six different seasons and earned three Pro Bowl selections. leading the NFL with 19.2 yards per catch in 2012. Jackson led all wide receivers in yards per catch from 2005 to 2016 (minimum 500 receptions).
Always a fan favorite with Buccaneers fans, Jackson was very fond of the military. Both of Jackson’s parents served in the U.S. Armed Forces. He sponsored military families at every Buccaneers home game through the ‘Jackson in Action’ Front Row Fans section at Raymond James Stadium.
In November 2012, Jackson spoke to students at Northwest Elementary School about the importance of physical fitness, helped present a $10,000 Play 60 grant, and led students through a P.E. class to congratulate the winners of the Play 60 Super School contest.
