Wayne Lumbasi
Arizona Cardinals cornerback and Texas Christian University standout Jeff Gladney was among two people who died in a car crash early Monday morning near downtown. The fatal crash happened around 2:30 a.m. in the westbound services lanes of Woodall Rogers Freeway at Allen Street.
After the news of his passing, the NFL community took to social media to express their condolences, grieve and reflect on what Gladney was like on and off the field.
Prior to being a 2020 first-round pick for the Minnesota Vikings, Gladney was a three-star prospect hailing from New Boston, Texas. While playing for Texas Christian University’s Horned Frogs, he developed into a shutdown cornerback, finishing off his collegiate career with 43 passes defensed, five interceptions and six tackles for loss.
In 2020, he was dropped by the Vikings after being indicted on felony assault charges related to an incident where he allegedly committed intimate partner violence against a former girlfriend. He missed the 2021 season and was found not guilty by a Dallas jury in March.
Shortly thereafter, he went on to sign a two-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals this offseason. He was expected to make a solid impact and improve his NFL trajectory after a rocky start to his career.
The news of Gladney’s passing comes as a tragedy to the league and those who knew the young defender. Just two short seasons into his professional career, Gladney had his whole legacy ahead of him, yet to be fulfilled.
