Arizona Cardinals' Jeff Gladney Dead at 25

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jeff Gladney has died at the age of 25. In a statement, his team called his passing a "tremendous loss."

By Gabrielle Chung May 30, 2022 9:03 PMTags
Watch: In Memoriam: Fallen Stars of 2022

The sports world is in mourning.

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jeff Gladney has died at the age of 25, the football team shared in a statement on May 30. "We are devastate to learn of Jeff Gladney's passing," they said. "Our hearts go out to his family, friends and all who are mourning this tremendous loss."

The NFL also confirmed Gladney's death, writing on Twitter that the organization "mourns the tragic loss" and "extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones."

The statements did not share how Gladney died, though his agent Brian Overstreet told ESPN that the athlete was killed in a car accident on May 30.

Gladney's passing comes two months after he had signed with the Cardinals. The football star previously played for the Minnesota Vikings, but was released from the team in August after he was indicted on an assault charge stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident in April 2021.

He was found not guilty by a jury in March, per the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

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Gladney was initially drafted by the Vikings as a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Prior to his NFL career, he played for Texas Christian University as a student athlete.

 

Charlie Neibergall/AP/Shutterstock

In the wake of his passing, the Vikings said in a statement, "We are saddened by the tragic death of former Viking Jeff Gladney. Our hearts go out to his family and friends, as well as the Arizona Cardinals organization and Jeff's current and former teammates and coaches who are mourning his life lost much too soon."

Gladney's Cardinals teammate, J.J. Wattmourned the loss on social media. "Just tragic," he tweeted. "Rest In Peace Jeff."

Meanwhile, Gladney's former TCU teammate Jalen Reagor, who now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, wrote on Twitter, "Lost my Brother, my best friend, my right hand man… ain't too much more I can take man damn! R.I.P Jeff Gladney, brother watch over me please."

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