Former NFL player D.J. Hayden was killed in a car crash early Saturday morning in Houston.
The Houston Chronicle first reported the 33-year-old Hayden, a cornerback at the University of Houston before being drafted in the first round by the Raiders (12th overall) in the 2013 draft, was one of six people killed after a car ran through a red light at about 2 a.m. local time.
A black Chrysler 300 went speeding through the light and hit a black Acura SUV that had the right of way, according to police.
Former NFL cornerback D.J. Hayden died in a car crash in Houston on Saturday, according to police. Getty Images
Hayden was one of six people killed after a car ran through a red light at about 2 a.m. local time. KHOU11
The crash occurred early Saturday morning in Houston. KHOU11Hayden spent four of his eight seasons in the NFL with the Raiders and also spent time with Detroit, Jacksonville and Washington.
“The Raiders family is mourning the tragic loss of former cornerback D.J. Hayden,” the Raiders said Saturday in a statement. “D.J.’s courage, perseverance, and dedication to his teammates will be fondly remembered by everyone who knew him. The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with D.J.’s loved ones at this time.”
The University of Houston also sent condolences in its statement.
“The entire University of Houston community is heartbroken over the tragic passing of former Football student-athletes D.J. Hayden, Zachary McMillian and Ralph Oragwu earlier today, and our thoughts and prayers remain with Jeffery Lewis in his recovery ahead,” the school said.
The Houston Police Department said four people were pronounced dead at the scene, one of whom was Hayden’s teammate at Houston, fellow cornerback Zach McMillian.
Four people were transferred to the hospital, two of whom have died, and one woman is said to have life-threatening injuries, police said.
Four people were pronounced dead at the scene and two more died at the hospital. KHOU11The driver of the Chrysler 300 died at the scene along with a homeless male, according to the police.
Hayden had previously survived a heart injury that nearly killed him in 2012, when a hit during practice damaged a main vein leading to his heart after a teammate accidentally kneed Hayden in the chest.
D.J. Hayden played nine NFL seasons, including three with the Jaguars. Getty ImagesHayden recovered from that injury and went on to play 92 games while collecting four interceptions during a nine-year NFL career that ended in 2021.
