Former Vikings and Seahawks QB Tarvaris Jackson Dies in Overnight Car Accident

An unexpected draft day rise, a feared scrambling presence, and a Super Bowl ring -- all things considered, any quarterback would sign up for the sum total of Tarvaris Jackson's NFL career.

The story of his roller coaster tenure in the league was tragically redefined once more on Monday morning, however, as word leaked that the 36-year-old Jackson had passed away in a car accident in his native Alabama.

Jackson became the fifth QB drafted in 2006 when Minnesota selected him in the second round out of Alabama State, believing in the Arkansas transfer even though most major publications had his draft stock far lower. As an offensive caretaker next to a young Adrian Peterson, Jackson finished 8-4 as a starter in his first full season at the helm in 2007, but the team went 8-8, missing the playoffs.

Following a similarly up-and-down 2008 season, during which he was occasionally relegated to backup duty, Minnesota ignited their pursuit of recently-retired QB Brett Favre, signaling the end of Jackson's hold on the starting QB job.

He found his way to Seattle, where he started 15 games of the 2011 season, throwing 14 TDs to 13 interceptions, and piling up over 3,000 passing yards. Following that campaign, he settled in as Russell Wilson's backup, and found his greatest triumph in the league, ascending to Super Bowl glory as Wilson's caretaker and insurance policy, seamlessly running his offense when needed (in fact, that gig included on-field time in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLVIII, a welcome reward for a hard-working steward).

Jackson was named the quarterbacks coach at Tennessee State for the 2019 season, and would've served in the same capacity in 2020, had tragedy not befallen him.