Former Pro Bowl receiver Vincent Jackson was found dead in a Tampa-area hotel room on Monday, according to local authorities. He was 38 years old.
Jackson had been staying at the Homewood Suites in Brandon, Florida, since Jan. 11, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said in a statement released Monday afternoon, before he was found dead at approximately 11:30 a.m. Monday.
The discovery followed an effort from police to locate and speak with Jackson just four days earlier as a result of a missing persons report filed by Jackson's family members. Authorities found Jackson at the Homewood Suites and spoke with him, assessing his well-being before canceling the missing persons case.
There were no apparent signs of trauma in regards to Jackson's death, according to the sheriff's office.
"My heart aches for the many loved ones Vincent Jackson leaves behind, from his wife and children to the Buccaneers nation that adored him," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in the statement. "Mr. Jackson was a devoted man who put his family and community above everything else. Football aside, he touched countless lives through his Jackson In Action 83 Foundation. We shared a passion for supporting military families, and three years ago, Jackson was even made an honorary deputy by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to recognize his dedication to the community.
"He will be sorely missed by not only football fans across the country, but also the people here in Hillsborough County who reaped the benefits of his generous contributions."
Jackson played 12 seasons in the NFL, spending seven with the San Diego Chargers before moving east to play his final five campaigns with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 6-foot-5 receiver made three Pro Bowls (2009, 2011, 2012) and posted six 1,000-yard receiving seasons in his career. He retired in 2018.
The Chargers released a statement on Jackson's death Monday evening.
"We are shocked and deeply saddened by news of Vincent Jackson's sudden passing," the Chargers said in the statement. "Vincent was a fan favorite not only for his Pro Bowl play on the field but for the impact he made on the community off of it. The work he has done on behalf of military families through his foundation in the years since his retirement has been an inspiration to all of us. We simply cannot believe he's gone, and our hearts go out to his wife, Lindsey, their children, his parents, former teammates and everyone whose lives were touched by having known Vincent."
The Buccaneers followed with a statement of their own from owner and co-chairman Bryan Glazer.
"We are shocked and saddened to hear the terrible news regarding the loss of Vincent Jackson," Glazer said in the statement. "During his five seasons with our franchise, Vincent was a consummate professional, who took a great deal of pride in his performance on and off the football field. Vincent was a dedicated father, husband, businessman and philanthropist, who made a deep impact on our community through his unyielding advocacy for military families, supported by the Jackson in Action 83 Foundation.
"He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection for his accomplishments on the field, but his greatest achievements as a Buccaneer were the four consecutive nominations he earned as our Walter Payton Man of the Year. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife, Lindsey, and the entire Jackson family."
