Vincent Jackson Passes Away

Sad news out of Florida, where Vincent Jackson—a former Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Chargers and Buccaneers—has passed away. A statement from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office reports that Jackson's body was found in a hotel room on Monday. 

Jackson had checked into the hotel on January 11 and been staying there since that date. His family reported him as missing on February 10; police located and spoke to him two days later, and the missing persons case was canceled. 

Jackson and his family devoted time away from football to assisting military families, throwing baby showers and writing books for children coping with deployment. Sheriff Chad Cronister noted that Jackson was made an honorary deputy of the HCSO, citing his "passion for supporting military families" and "dedication to the community."

On the field, Jackson was a throwback—he and DeSean Jackson (no relation) are the only players this century to catch at least 50 touchdowns and average at least 16.0 yards per reception. His most prolific season was in 2012, when he gained a career-best 1,384 yards on 72 catches, a league-leading average of 19.2 yards per catch. His best season by our numbers was in 2009, when he finished second among wide receivers in DYAR and first in DVOA.