Former Jaguars CB, D.J. Hayden Died in Collision at 33

Publish date: 2024-05-07

Tragic news emerged from Houston on Saturday as D.J. Hayden, a former first-round pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2013 from the University of Houston, was among six victims killed in a vehicular crash. The collision occurred around 2 a.m. on Saturday, October 11, 2023.

He died at the age of 33. According to Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle, the incident occurred when a car ran a red light, colliding with another vehicle and pedestrians. Hayden, a former cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, was one of the victims.

Tragic news to report this morning: I can confirm from multiple sources that former Houston football players D.J. Hayden and Zach McMillan were among those killed in a collision early Saturday morning in Houston.
Hayden was a former first-round pick of the @Raiders in 2013 who… pic.twitter.com/CHwheE65lh

— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) November 11, 2023

The Houston Police reported that four individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others succumbed to their injuries during transportation to the hospital. Thoughts and Condolances go out to his family and close companions in this tragic time. Prayers for him; Rest in Peace, D.J. Hayden.

About D.J. Hayden

During his time with the Houston Cougars, Hayden earned two selections to the All-Conference USA team. He gained national attention in his final season when a potentially fatal rupture in his inferior vena cava occurred after a practice accident.

Despite this, he made a remarkable recovery and was chosen by the Oakland Raiders as the twelfth overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. After completing his rookie contract with the Raiders and spending one season with the Detroit Lions, Hayden signed a three-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency in 2018.

During his tenure with the Jaguars, he made 30 appearances and started in 15 games. The Houston Chronicle provided additional details, noting that the tragic incident involved a Chrysler 300 running a red light and colliding with a moving SUV.

Four individuals, including a homeless man, lost their lives instantly, and two of the four injured individuals have since passed away in the hospital. One survivor has provided an account of the harrowing event to the authorities. The exact number of occupants in the two colliding vehicles remains unknown at this time.

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