Tarvaris Jackson Dead, Former Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Dies In A Car Accident
Tarvaris Jackson is dead, according to TMZ. The former Seattle Seahawks quarterback, who was 36, died in a terrible car accident on Sunday near Montgomery, Alabama.
Jackson’s 2012 Chevrolet Camaro hit a tree and overturned just before 9 p.m. in a single-car accident. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. There is no word on what authorities think may have caused his car to leave the road, leading to the devastating crash.
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport also tweeted about the former NFL star’s death.
“Former #Seahawks QB Tarvaris Jackson died last night in a car accident in Alabama, a spokesperson for his employer Tennessee State tells me. Jackson, 36, was TSU’s QB coach. Along with Seattle, he also played for the #Vikings and #Bills.”
Many people tweeted their condolences, including Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, whom Jackson backed up for two seasons. Wilson offered prayers for the late football player’s family.
The former quarterback leaves behind three children — TaKyla Jackson, Tarvaris Jackson II, and Tyson Jackson — whom he shared with his wife, Lakitta Jackson. The couple had been married since 2014.
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Jackson Spent Just Less Than A Decade In The NFL
In 2006, the Minnesota Vikings selected Jackson — who played at Alabama State — in round two of the NFL draft. He had also played college ball at Arkansas, before transferring to Alabama State. At the time he was drafted, the Vikings’ head coach Brad Childress called him a “diamond in the rough.” Jackson stayed with the team for five seasons, where he had 20 starts, USA Today reported.
He then moved to the Seahawks, where he had his most prolific year. In 2011, the quarterback boasted 14 starts and threw for 3,091 yards, wracking up 14 touchdowns. The next year, he signed with the Bills, but he never started a regular-season game. After one year with the Bills, he returned to the Seahawks, providing backup for Wilson from 2013-2015. During that stint, he won a Super Bowl ring in 2014.
Throughout his career — which spanned parts of nine seasons — Jackson started 34 games. During his playing time, the former play-caller threw for over 7,200 yards, resulting in 39 touchdowns and 35 interceptions.
After The NFL Jackson Transitioned To Collegiate Coaching
In 2016, the Seahawks released Jackson and he faced an arrest in Florida later that year for allegedly pulling a knife on his wife. Ultimately the charges were dropped and he decided to retire from the NFL.
After leaving the league, the former professional quarterback began coaching at the collegiate level at Alabama State, where he was the quality control and quarterback coach. In 2019, he started working for Tennessee State University. Last summer, he spoke about his transition.
“I am definitely comfortable with the NFL career I had, but, of course, there are things you wish you could have back to do again that you would do differently,” he told The Tennessean last summer. “A lot of the things I wish that I could have back, I try to teach these guys so that they won’t go through the same thing.”
