NFL star reveals his touching pre-game tribute to teammate who died in tragic car crash

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones is paying weekly tribute to his late teammate, Khyree Jackson, after the rookie passed away before making his NFL debut.

The Oregon product was drafted with the 108th pick by the Vikings in 2024 before sadly passing away in a tragic car accident in July at the age of 24.

Speaking to the Sunday Night Football crew after the Vikings defeated the Colts on Nov. 3, Jones, 29, revealed that he puts flowers in Jackson’s locker every week.

“I usually put flowers on Khyree Jackson’s locker,” Jones said. “So I walked by, see the flowers. I was the only one in there.”

Jones also added that he took an extra break for his late teammate on Sunday, almost four months after his death.

“I had a moment with him and said tonight was for him,” Jones told the SNF hosts.

The running back also mentioned sharing a moment with Jackson’s parents before the game.

“And when I got here, warming up, I turned around and saw his parents,” Jones added. “His parents were here and I shared that story with them.”

The fatal crash happened while a driver “attempted to change lanes while traveling at a high rate of speed,” according to Maryland State Police.

Two of Jackson’s former teammates on the Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School – Isaiah Hazel, 23, and Anthony Lytton Jr., 24 – also died in the crash, which occurred in Prince George’s County in Maryland. Hazel drove the Dodge Charger with Jackson riding shotgun and Lytton in the back.

After the accident, the Vikings announced that his locker and jersey number, 31, would not be used during the season. Additionally, players will wear helmet stickers with the initials “KJ,” while staffers will wear special pins to honor Jackson’s life.

Jones was drafted by the Packers in 2017 and remained in Green Bay until last year before moving to Minnesota.

The former UTEP star said he had a “moment of gratitude” during Sunday’s win.

“It just gave me a moment of gratitude,” he said. “How grateful I am to be able to play this game, the game I love.”

Jones clocked 64 yards in 21 carries in Minnesota’s 21-13 win as they improved to 6-2 and finished second in the NFC North.