Vincent Jackson Death Investigation Update
February 18th, 2021
Vincent Jackson.
Authorities with Hillsborough County’s medical examiner’s office released additional details surrounding the sudden death of former Bucs receiver Vincent Jackson, but a cause of death has yet to be determined.
Per Jenna Laine of ESPN, information released Thursday by the office of the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner states that Jackson may have died days earlier than previously reported.
The previous report stated Jackson was found dead on Monday by hotel employees.
Jackson had moved into a Brandon hotel even though he and his family lived in South Tampa. At one point his family filed a missing person report on Jackson and sheriff’s deputies determined Jackson was safe after speaking with him at the hotel.
Based on the timeline of events described in the Initial Case Summary provided to ESPN by the medical examiner’s office, Jackson was located by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office as part of a welfare check on Feb. 12. Then on Feb. 13 and 14, the hotel staff entered his room and noticed that he was seated on the couch but slouched over.
“They assumed he was sleeping and left the room,” the report said.
On Feb. 15, hotel staff again entered Jackson’s room and determined he hadn’t moved from his previous spot and called 911 at 11:37 a.m. There were no signs of trauma or injury, other than a small laceration on his left big toe, according to the report.
Laine also noted that Jackson’s family has donated his brain to Boston University’s CTE Center, in part, to see if CTE may have been a factor in his death. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease often found in athletes and military veterans after suffering several instances of trauma to the head.
February 18th, 2021 at 10:53 pm
RIP VJAX. The world needs more like you.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:10 pm
Thanks for staying on top of this story Joe. It doesn’t change the fact that we lost a good one, but it does help achieve some closure.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:20 pm
Gone too soon.
Rest In Peace Vincent.
February 18th, 2021 at 11:26 pm
This story is only getting worse. Heartbreaking
February 19th, 2021 at 5:12 am
I’ve never heard of a WR getting CTE before????
I’m not saying it’s not possible, but VJAX was a possession receiver so it’s very possible.
While the family may say it’s CTE, I think we as a society are quick to place blame and deflect from other issues going on in our lives.
I think if they find out that it was Truthfully CTE, then it will really shed light that all positions in the NFL are subjective to this issue and not just positions that are in constant hard contact on almost every play.
It’s still tragic & shocking VJAX died like this at such a young age.
February 19th, 2021 at 7:08 am
Receivers get blasted regularly so yeah they definitely get CTE.
February 19th, 2021 at 7:46 am
So sad to hear about this, he was worth the price of admission when he played on trash Buc teams. Thanks VJax for what you did on and off the field. Thoughts and prayers to his family, I can’t imagine how tough this is. May God be with them in their time of grief.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:36 am
Bucsanthem – also I think it’s wreckless for the fam or anyone to say CTE. No one knows conclusively that it’s CTE and this seems to be sort of the default “go-to” in so many situations, and in a way absolves person of direct blame and points the finger at the sport they played. Aaron Hernandez for example, he was a piece of crap from the day he was born. In any case, the media is running with this whole CTE thing in association with V-Jax based on ZERO facts and it’s ammunition for soy boy sites like deadspin (who already has an axe to grind against “the man” and the NFL) ammo to perpetuate false information.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:49 am
CTE is part of the risks they take when going into their profession. Just as race car drivers risk death, fireman, military, policeman, salesman and the stress. The whole CTE thing is a little irritating to me. Are any of those joining forces or filing lawsuits for PTSD etc?
RIP Vjax.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:51 am
I cannot help but believe CTE in some form had something to do with Jacksons’ death. Many of our..favorite Gladiators suffer with mental abnormalities, headaches and confusion after their playing days. This violent sport we all enjoy has deadly consequences for many after the adulation and cheers are gone.
February 19th, 2021 at 9:51 am
I hope Vjax knew we all Loved him. A real man, a good man, RIP VJax.
February 19th, 2021 at 4:45 pm
I was fortunate enough to meet him one time, but was a bit surprised at the group he was with as they were known to party a bit. Tragic no matter what happened, I simply hope he was not making poor choices.