No. 20, 23 | |||||||
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Position: | Cornerback | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | New Boston, Texas | December 12, 1996||||||
Died: | May 30, 2022 Dallas, Texas | (aged 25)||||||
Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 199 lb (90 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | New Boston (New Boston, Texas) | ||||||
College: | TCU (2015–2019) | ||||||
NFL Draft: | 2020 / Round: 1 / Pick: 31 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||
| |||||||
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Jeff Gladney (December 12, 1996 – May 30, 2022) was an American professional football player, who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for two seasons. He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs and was a two-time all-conference selection in the Big 12. Gladney was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He died in a car crash at age 25.
High school career
Playing at New Boston High School in New Boston, Texas, Gladney was a three-star recruit[1] and signed with Texas Christian University (TCU) to play college football for the TCU Horned Frogs on February 5, 2015,[2] after originally committing to the program on June 6, 2014.[3] Gladney chose TCU over offers from North Texas, Northern Illinois, Rice, Texas State, Tulsa, and UTSA.[3]
College career
Gladney redshirted his freshman year due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained during his senior year in high school,[4] but then was a four-year starter at Texas Christian University.[5] During his junior season, Gladney made waves as a cover corner, earning first team all-Big 12 Conference by Pro Football Focus and second team all-Big 12 by the coaches.[6] He injured a meniscus before his senior season but played the whole year, waiting for surgery until after the conclusion of the season.[7] Over his TCU career, he recorded five interceptions and was named to the 2020 Senior Bowl roster after his senior season[8] as well as garnering first team all-Big 12 honors by the Associated Press.[9]
NFL draft evaluators praised Gladney for his physical style of play.[10]
Professional career
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 ft 10+1⁄4 in (1.78 m) |
191 lb (87 kg) |
31+7⁄8 in (0.81 m) |
9 in (0.23 m) |
4.48 s | 7.26 s | 37.5 in (0.95 m) |
10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) |
17 reps | ||||
All values from NFL Combine[11] |
Minnesota Vikings
Gladney was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round with the 31st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.[12]
Heading into his first training camp, Gladney competed for a starting job against Mike Hughes, Holton Hill, and fellow rookie Cameron Dantzler, and ended up starting every game of the 2020 season as cornerback from Week 2 onwards.[13] In Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons, Gladney recorded his first forced fumble on running back Brian Hill which was recovered by the Vikings during the 40–23 loss.[14] Overall, Gladney finished the 2020 season with 81 total tackles, three passes defensed, and one forced fumble.[15]
Gladney was released on August 3, 2021, after his indictment for domestic violence.[16] In March 2022, he was found not guilty of the charges.[17]
Arizona Cardinals
On March 16, 2022, Gladney signed with the Arizona Cardinals.[18]
Personal life and death
Gladney had one son, Kingston, born in 2021.[19]
On May 30, 2022, Gladney and his girlfriend, Mercedes Palacios, were killed in a car accident in Dallas, Texas, at 2:30 am. Police reports indicated his Mercedes SUV clipped a car while traveling at an excessive speed; the car then spun off the road, crashed into a brick wall, and ignited into flames. He was 25.[20][21][22]
References
- ^ "Jeff Gladney, New Boston, Athlete". 247Sports. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ Richert, Josh (February 5, 2015). "On The Dotted Line". Texarkana Gazette. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ a b Graham, Mike (June 6, 2014). "New Boston's Jeff Gladney commits to TCU". ETSN. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ Brugler, Dane (April 7, 2020). The Athletic's 2020 NFL Draft Guide (PDF). The Athletic. p. 197. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ Tuls, Jonah (December 6, 2019). "Tuls' Takes: Jeff Gladney is Top-Tier CB Prospect". The Draft Network. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ Triebwasser, Melissa (June 14, 2019). "TCU Football's Jalen Reagor, Jeff Gladney named preseason All-Americans". Frogs O War. SB Nation. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ Krammer, Andrew (September 12, 2020). "Vikings rookie cornerback Jeff Gladney keeps reaching his goals". Star-Tribune. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ Shipley, John (January 9, 2020). "Senior Bowl Preview: Which CBs in Mobile Should the Jaguars Be Interested In?". JaguarMaven. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ Davison, Drew (December 13, 2019). "TCU football lands four players on the AP All-Big 12 first team". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ Brugler, Dane (January 14, 2020). "2020 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Patriots and five other teams land a quarterback in two-round projection". The Athletic. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ "Jeff Gladney Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ White, R.J. (April 23, 2020). "2020 NFL Draft grades: Vikings get a 'B' for selecting Jeff Gladney at No. 31 overall". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- ^ Smith, Eric (February 2, 2021). "2020 Vikings Position Recap: Cornerbacks". www.vikings.com. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
- ^ "Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings – October 18th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ^ "Jeff Gladney 2020 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ^ "Statement From The Vikings on Jeff Gladney". Vikings.com.
- ^ "Jury finds former Minnesota Vikings CB Jeff Gladney not guilty on felony assault charge". espn.com.
- ^ Urban, Darren (March 16, 2022). "Chandler Jones Leaves For Las Vegas; Cardinals Add Cornerback". AZCardinals.com.
- ^ "NFL star's heartbreaking post about future memories with son before death". The US Sun. May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- ^ Arend, Alex. "NFL Cornerback Jeff Gladney Is Reportedly Dead At 25". The Spun. Sports Illustrated.
- ^ Davidson, Drew; Hill Jr., Clarence E. (May 30, 2022). "Jeff Gladney, former TCU standout and NFL first-round pick, dead at 25". Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
- ^ "Friends, family confirm name of woman killed alongside TCU's Jeff Gladney in Dallas crash". www.audacy.com. May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.