He had just signed a new contract in the US Football League: NFL professional Jeff Gladney and a woman who was in the car with him died in a car accident.
US soccer player Jeff Gladney has died at the age of 25. The cornerback of the Arizona Cardinals and a woman were fatally injured in an accident with an off-road vehicle in Dallas on Monday morning (local time), according to US media reports. Gladney’s agent Brian Overstreet confirmed the NFL player’s death and told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “We ask for prayers for the family and for privacy at this difficult time.”
According to the Dallas County Sheriff, officers were called to an accident at around 2:28 a.m. on the westbound Woodall Rodgers Freeway. A white vehicle had therefore overturned in a meadow. Upon arrival, the Dallas Fire Department confirmed that two people, a man and a woman, had died.
Jeff Gladney might have been speeding
According to the sheriff, two vehicles were involved in the accident. Preliminary information indicated that the white vehicle was speeding and rear-ended the second vehicle. The white vehicle then apparently got out of control and crashed into a bridge pillar on the highway. The two occupants of the second vehicle were not injured.
The US broadcaster NBC Dallas-Fort Worth reports that the second victim is a 26-year-old woman who was traveling with Gladney as a passenger. Her family confirmed this to the broadcaster. The car was a Mercedes-Benz SUV.
“We are devastated by the death of Jeff Gladney,” the Cardinals said. “Our condolences go out to his family, friends and everyone mourning this tremendous loss.” The Minnesota Vikings, who drafted Gladney in 2020 after graduating from Texas Christian University (TCU), expressed their sympathy for “Jeff’s current and former teammates and coaches who are mourning his life, which was lost far too soon .”
Gladney had 16 games for Minnesota in 2020. He retired from the NFL in 2021 after being arrested and charged with aggravated assault in connection with a former girlfriend. However, after being found not guilty, he signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals in March.
TCU also said it was “devastated to learn of Jeff Gladney’s death.” “After graduating and continuing his career in the NFL, Jeff remained closely associated with TCU,” wrote varsity athletic director Jeremiah Donati. “He loved everything about his alma mater. He was a frequent visitor to campus and attended our spring practice and game this year, proudly accompanied by his young son.”
Gladney, whose son turned one in February, returned to Texas this week to help his mother complete a home purchase. A real estate company in Texarkana wrote on its Facebook page that “every little boy dreams of making it big and buying his mom a big house.” Gladney was pictured in the post.
Quellen: “Fort Worth Star-Telegram”, NBC Dallas-Fort Worth, “Washington Post”
