Former Buc Player Vincent Jackson Found Dead In Hotel Room

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Vincent Jackson, 38. The south Tampa resident was found dead Monday at the Homewood Suites at 10240 Palm River Road in Brandon, Florida.

According to hotel staff, Jackson checked into the hotel on Jan. 11, and had been staying in a room since that date.

On Feb. 10, members of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office spoke with Jackson’s family members who called to report that he was missing. A formal report was filed on Feb. 11. The following day, Feb. 12, the sheriff's office located Jackson at the Homewood Suites and spoke with him. After assessing Jackson’s well-being, the missing persons case was canceled.

Jackson was found dead around 11:30 a.m. Monday in his hotel room by a housekeeper.

There are no apparent signs of trauma. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause of death, as well as officially identify Jackson’s remains based on dental or DNA records. The sheriff's has notified Jackson’s next of kin.

"My heart aches for the many loved ones Vincent Jackson leaves behind, from his wife and children to the Buccaneers nation that adored him," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Mr. Jackson was a devoted man who put his family and community above everything else. Football aside, he touched countless lives through his Jackson In Action 83 Foundation. We shared a passion for supporting military families, and three years ago, Jackson was even made an honorary deputy by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to recognize his dedication to the community. He will be sorely missed by not only football fans across the country, but also the people here in Hillsborough County who reaped the benefits of his generous contributions.”

Jackson last played in the NFL in 2016 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team with which he spent the final five seasons of his career. He is ranked fourth in franchise history with 4,326 receiving yards and 10th with 268 receptions.

Buccaneers owner Bryan Glazer said in a statement that Jackson was a "consummate professional" and even with his accomplishments on the field, "his greatest achievements as a Buccaneer were the four consecutive nominations he earned as our Walter Payton Man of the Year."

He played his first seven seasons with the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers who selected him in the second round of the 2005 draft.

His Jackson In Action 83 Foundation was well-known in Tampa Bay for hosting fundraisers for Tampa Bay's large population of military families such as the annual Military Moms Baby Shower, which raised $80,000 for military moms in September.

Courtesy Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Born in Louisiana, both of Jackson's parents were in the military, so he spent his youth moving around to different military bases in Germany, Hawaii and finally Colorado, where he attended the University of Northern Colorado before being drafted by the Chargers, just a semester short of his graduation.

After being signed by the Buccaneers in 2012, he went back to school at the University of South Florida and got his degree in business management.

Jackson founded five restaurants: two in San Diego, one in Las Vegas and the Cask Social Kitchen in Tampa.

He also founded CTV Capital LLC in Ybor City, a company that invests in homes and properties to help improve neighborhoods and provide affordable housing including the Bella Terraza town homes in Temple Terrace, the Oasis at North Hyde Park condominiums and Mia Bella homes in Brandon.

For the past two years, Jackson's been focused on renovating the 1925 Manhattan Casino in St. Petersburg where some of America's moved revered Black musicians performed including James Brown, Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Ray Charles and Nat “King” Cole.

The venue closed its doors in 1968, but Jackson was hoping to bring it back to life.

Jackson met his wife, Lindsey, an elementary school teacher, in San Diego. They have four children, the oldest of which is 7.