Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson was found dead at Florida hotel Monday, authorities said.
Jackson, 38, was found at a Homewood Suites Brandon by a housekeeper who went to check on his room, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The former NFL player had been staying at the hotel, in a suburb just outside the heart of Tampa, since January and was recently reported missing by his family.
The sheriff’s office said deputies located and spoke to Jackson on Friday, a day after a formal report was filed.
“After assessing Jackson’s well-being, the missing persons case was canceled,” the sheriff’s office said.
The county medical examiner’s office will determine Jackson’s cause of death. Authorities said there was an open and active investigation into the matter, though noted there were no visible signs of trauma on Jackson when he was found.
“My heart aches for the many loved ones Vincent Jackson leaves behind, from his wife and children to the Buccaneers nation that adored him,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Mr. Jackson was a devoted man who put his family and community above everything else.”
Jackson was a native of Colorado who was drafted to the National Football League by the San Diego Chargers in 2005. He signed on to the Buccaneers in 2012 as part of a five-year contract with the team.
He retired from professional football in 2018, but stayed a resident of South Tampa.
The Chargers, renamed after moving to Los Angeles a few years ago, released a statement on Jackson’s death. The team offered its condolences to Jackson’s wife, Lindsey, and the rest of his family.
“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.”
A three-time Pro Bowl player, Jackson left the University of Northern Colorado just 15-credit hours shy of a degree before entering the draft, according to the school. He later finished his degree at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Jackson was also known for his entrepreneurship and work off the field. The wide receiver held investments in restaurants, real estate and fitness clubs to help prepare for his post-NFL future, according to a 2015 interview with the Tampa Bay Times.
“Pretty much from the time I was able to work at age 14 in Colorado, if I wanted new shoes or extra money for clothes shopping, I had to go out and get it myself,” Jackson said of his middle-class upbringing and work ethic. “Education also was a big focus in my household. We all got great grades.”
He also contributed to the local community through his Jackson In Action 83 Foundation, which worked to support military families and children.
“We are all mourning the loss of our beloved Vincent,” the foundation said in a statement Monday. “His wife and family ask that everyone respect their privacy at this time.”
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
