‘So young, so precious.’ Teammates, friends mourn death of former TCU star Jeff Gladney
The tragic death of TCU football star Jeff Gladney sent shock waves across the country Monday as friends, former teammates and coaches expressed their sorrow.
Gladney, 25, was killed in a car accident early Monday in Dallas, his agent Brian Overstreet confirmed.
A source said a female passenger also died in the crash, which is under investigation.
“We loved you and will miss you my friend! Please keep his family in your prayers! RIP,” former TCU football coach Gary Patterson posted on Twitter.
Patterson coached Gladney at TCU, where he was selected as a first-round NFL draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2020.
Gladney had a standout season with the Vikings in 2020, recording 81 tackles, including seven for loss.
“We are saddened by the tragic death of former Viking Jeff Gladney. Our hearts go out to his family and friends,” the Minnesota Vikings posted on their official Twitter page.
George Iloka, a teammate of Gladney with the Vikings in 2020, said the tragic news was “hitting him different.”
“One of the most respectful and intentional rookies I’ve been around so far,” Iloka tweeted. “Always had a smile and came to work. Sad sad. So young, so precious. RIP Young King.”
Gladney was released by the Vikings in August 2021 after he was charged with felony assault and he sat out the 2021 season, but he was found not guilty in March and appeared to be getting things back on track when he signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
Gladney was from New Boston, a small East Texas town about 25 miles west of Texarkana. He had a son who turned 1 in February and had returned to Texas this past week to help close on a house for his mother.
Exit Realty Unlimited, a real estate company in Texarkana, posted on its Facebook page that “every little boy dreams of making it big and buying his mom a big house.”
This story was originally published May 30, 2022 at 9:21 PM.