Jeff Gladney
{{Short description|American football player (1996–2022)}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jeff Gladney
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Gladney with the Minnesota Vikings in 2020
| current_team =
| number = 20
| position = Cornerback
| birth_date = {{birth date|1996|12|12}}
| birth_place = New Boston, Texas, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|5|30|1996|12|12}}
| death_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lb = 199
| high_school = New Boston
| college = TCU (2015–2019)
| draftyear = 2020
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 31
| pastteams =
- Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2020}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2022}})*
| status =
| highlights =
- First-team All-Big 12 (2019)
- Second-team All-Big 12 (2018)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 81
| statlabel2 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue2 = 1
| statlabel3 = Pass deflections
| statvalue3 = 3
| pfr = GladJe00
}}
Jeff Gee Gladney (December 12, 1996 – May 30, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a cornerback for one season in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs and was a two-time all-conference selection in the Big 12.
Gladney was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. He was released in August 2021 after an indictment for domestic violence. After he was found not guilty, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals in March 2022, but was killed in a car crash two months later.
Early life
Playing at New Boston High School in New Boston, Texas, Gladney was a three-star recruit{{Cite web |title=Jeff Gladney, New Boston, Athlete |url=https://247sports.com/Player/Jeff-Gladney-32879/high-school-53250/ |access-date=January 14, 2020 |website=247Sports}} and signed with Texas Christian University (TCU) to play college football for the TCU Horned Frogs on February 5, 2015,{{Cite web |last=Richert |first=Josh |date=February 5, 2015 |title=On The Dotted Line |url=https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/sports/prep/story/2015/feb/05/dotted-line/370306/ |access-date=January 14, 2020 |website=Texarkana Gazette }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} after originally committing to the program on June 6, 2014.{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Mike |date=June 6, 2014 |title=New Boston's Jeff Gladney commits to TCU |url=https://etsn.fm/new-bostons-jeff-gladney-commits-to-tcu/ |access-date=January 14, 2020 |website=ETSN}} Gladney chose TCU over offers from North Texas, Northern Illinois, Rice, Texas State, Tulsa, and UTSA.
College career
Gladney redshirted his freshman year due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained during his senior year in high school,{{Cite book |last=Brugler |first=Dane |url=https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2020/04/07094728/Dane-2020-NFL-DRAFT-FINAL.pdf |title=The Athletic's 2020 NFL Draft Guide |date=April 7, 2020 |publisher=The Athletic |page=197 |access-date=April 7, 2020 |url-access=subscription}} but then was a four-year starter at Texas Christian University.{{Cite web |last=Tuls |first=Jonah |date=December 6, 2019 |title=Tuls' Takes: Jeff Gladney is Top-Tier CB Prospect |url=https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/tcu-cornerback-jeff-gladney-is-first-round-talent-in-2020-nfl-draft |access-date=January 14, 2020 |website=The Draft Network}} During his junior season, Gladney made waves as a cover corner, earning first-team all-Big 12 Conference by Pro Football Focus and second-team all-Big 12 by the coaches.{{Cite web |last=Triebwasser |first=Melissa |date=June 14, 2019 |title=TCU Football's Jalen Reagor, Jeff Gladney named preseason All-Americans |url=https://www.frogsowar.com/2019/6/14/18677169/tcu-footballs-jalen-reagor-jeff-gladney-named-preseason-all-americans |access-date=January 14, 2020 |website=Frogs O War |publisher=SB Nation}} He injured a meniscus before his senior season but played the whole year, waiting for surgery until after the conclusion of the season.{{Cite web |last=Krammer |first=Andrew |date=September 12, 2020 |title=Vikings rookie cornerback Jeff Gladney keeps reaching his goals |url=https://www.startribune.com/vikings-rookie-cornerback-jeff-gladney-keeps-reaching-his-goals/572389292/ |access-date=September 16, 2020 |website=Star-Tribune}} Over his TCU career, he recorded five interceptions and was named to the 2020 Senior Bowl roster after his senior season{{Cite web |last=Shipley |first=John |date=January 9, 2020 |title=Senior Bowl Preview: Which CBs in Mobile Should the Jaguars Be Interested In? |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/jaguars/news/senior-bowl-preview-which-cornerbacks-in-mobile-should-the-jaguars-be-interested-in |access-date=January 14, 2020 |website=JaguarMaven |publisher=Sports Illustrated}} as well as garnering first-team all-Big 12 honors by the Associated Press.{{Cite web |last=Davison |first=Drew |date=December 13, 2019 |title=TCU football lands four players on the AP All-Big 12 first team |url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/texas-christian-university/article238355638.html |access-date=January 14, 2020 |website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram}}
NFL draft evaluators praised Gladney for his physical style of play.{{Cite web |last=Brugler |first=Dane |date=January 14, 2020 |title=2020 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Patriots and five other teams land a quarterback in two-round projection |url=https://theathletic.com/1530818/2020/01/14/2020-nfl-mock-draft-2-0-patriots-and-five-other-teams-land-a-quarterback-in-two-round-projection/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 14, 2020 |website=The Athletic}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 10 1/4
| weight = 191
| dash = 4.48
| ten split = 1.53
| twenty split = 2.64
| cone drill = 7.26
| vertical = 37.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 4
| bench = 17
| arm span = 31 7/8
| hand span = 9
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |last=Zierlein |first=Lance |title=Jeff Gladney Draft and Combine Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jeff-gladney/3200474c-4123-3268-ddee-2301ab56da44 |access-date=April 29, 2020 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=2020 NFL Draft Scout Jeff Gladney College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1008274&DraftYear=2020 |access-date=March 7, 2024 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Minnesota Vikings=
Gladney was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round with the 31st overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=White |first=R.J. |date=April 23, 2020 |title=2020 NFL Draft grades: Vikings get a 'B' for selecting Jeff Gladney at No. 31 overall |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-draft-grades-vikings-get-a-b-for-selecting-jeff-gladney-at-no-31-overall/ |access-date=April 23, 2020 |website=CBS Sports}}
Heading into his first training camp, Gladney competed for a starting job against Mike Hughes, Holton Hill, and fellow rookie Cameron Dantzler, and ended up starting every game of the 2020 season as cornerback from Week 2 onwards.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Eric |date=February 2, 2021 |title=2020 Vikings Position Recap: Cornerbacks |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/cameron-dantzler-jeff-gladney-2020-cornerbacks |access-date=June 1, 2022 |website=www.vikings.com}}
In Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons, Gladney recorded his first forced fumble on running back Brian Hill which was recovered by the Vikings during the 40–23 loss.{{Cite web |title=Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings – October 18th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202010180min.htm |access-date=March 24, 2021 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} Overall, Gladney finished the 2020 season with 81 total tackles, three passes defensed, and one forced fumble.{{Cite web |title=Jeff Gladney 2020 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GladJe00/gamelog/2020/ |access-date=March 24, 2021 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
Gladney was released on August 3, 2021, after his indictment for domestic violence.{{Cite web |title=Statement From The Vikings on Jeff Gladney |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/statement-from-the-vikings-on-jeff-gladney |website=Vikings.com}} In March 2022, he was found not guilty of the charges.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-10 |title=Jury finds former Vikings CB Gladney not guilty |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33471634/jury-finds-former-minnesota-vikings-cb-jeff-gladney-not-guilty-felony-assault-charges |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}
=Arizona Cardinals=
On March 16, 2022, Gladney signed with the Arizona Cardinals.{{Cite web |last=Urban |first=Darren |date=March 16, 2022 |title=Chandler Jones Leaves For Las Vegas; Cardinals Add Cornerback |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/chandler-jones-leaves-for-las-vegas-cardinals-add-cornerback |website=AZCardinals.com}}
Personal life and death
Gladney had one son, born in 2021. Gladney was close friends with fellow 2020 first round draft pick and Patriots wide receiver Jalen Reagor.{{cite web | last=Kracz | first=Ed | title=Jalen Reagor Mourns Death of 'Right Hand Man' Jeff Gladney | website=SI.com | date=2022-05-30 | url=https://www.si.com/nfl/eagles/news/jalen-reagor-mourns-death-of-right-hand-man-jeff-gladney | access-date=2024-10-16}}
On May 30, 2022, Gladney and his girlfriend, Mercedes Palacios, were killed in a car crash in Dallas, Texas, at 2:30 am. Police reports indicated that Gladney's Mercedes SUV clipped a car while traveling at an excessive speed; his vehicle then spun off the road, crashed into a brick wall, and ignited into flames. Gladney was 25 years old; Palacios was 26.{{Cite web |last=Arend |first=Alex |date=May 30, 2022 |title=NFL Cornerback Jeff Gladney Is Reportedly Dead At 25 |url=https://thespun.com/more/top-stories/nfl-cornerback-jeff-gladney-is-reportedly-dead-at-25 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=The Spun |agency=Sports Illustrated}}{{Cite news |last=Davidson |first=Drew |last2=Hill Jr. |first2=Clarence E. |date=May 30, 2022 |title=Jeff Gladney, former TCU standout and NFL first-round pick, dead at 25 |url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/texas-christian-university/article261948210.html |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram}}{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Curt |date=May 31, 2022 |title=Friends, family confirm name of woman killed alongside TCU's Jeff Gladney in Dallas crash |url=https://www.audacy.com/krld/news/local/friends-family-confirm-name-of-woman-killed-alongside |access-date=May 31, 2022 |website=www.audacy.com |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://gofrogs.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5736 TCU Horned Frogs bio]
{{2020 NFL Draft}}
{{VikingsFirstPick}}
{{Vikings2020DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gladney, Jeff}}
Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen
Category:People from New Boston, Texas
Category:Players of American football from Bowie County, Texas
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:TCU Horned Frogs football players
Category:Minnesota Vikings players
Category:Arizona Cardinals players