Jeff Gladney, a cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals, was found dead early Monday following a car crash, per the teamโs website. He was 25-years-old. Per TMZ, Gladneyโs girlfriend, Mercedes Andrea Palacios, also died in the crash.
The NFL player and former first-round draft pickโwho had been taking part in the Cardinalsโย voluntary OTAs last weekโwas believed to have been driving in a white car before clipping another vehicle, per TMZ. Nobody was injured in the second vehicle, the Dallas County Sheriffโs Dept, told the outlet. Gladney, who isย suspected to have been speeding,ย hit a beam and flipped into a grassy area.ย
After his time at Texas Christian University, the Texas native joined the Minnesota Vikings as the 32nd overall pick in 2020, and playedย 16 games.ย He didnโt play in the 2021 season following an assault charge, but signed with theย Cardinals in March after being found not guilty.ย
โWe are devastated to learn of Jeff Gladneyโs passing,โย the Cardinals tweeted Monday. โOur hearts go out to his family, friends and all who are mourning this tremendous loss.โ
Teammates and friends have since shared an outpouring of grief on social media following news of Gladneyโs death, including fellow TCU grad and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jalen Reagor, who shared a photo and his last words to Gladney on Twitter this week.
โLost my Brother, my best friend, my right hand manโฆ ainโt too much more I can take man damn,โ Reagor wrote. โR.I.P Jeff Gladney, brother watch over me please.โ
Teammate J.J. Watt wrote that he found out about the โhorrifying newsโ after the incident, calling it โjust tragic.โ