ESPN News Services1 Minute Read
Tragic news out of Houston as former NFL cornerback D.J. Hayden, along with five others, lost their lives in a devastating car accident early Saturday morning. Hayden, a talent at 33, was taken too soon.
The Houston police revealed that the crash also claimed the lives of Hayden’s former University of Houston teammates Zach McMillian and Ralph Oragwu. The driver responsible for the collision was also pronounced dead at the scene, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
Authorities stated that four individuals were pronounced dead at the accident site, while two more succumbed to their injuries after being transported to a nearby hospital. A woman’s condition was described as “life-threatening” upon arrival at the hospital, while another person was able to communicate with investigators.
A standout player at the University of Houston, Hayden gained national attention following a practice collision in 2012 that resulted in a heart tear. Remarkably, he was released from the hospital just a week later and went on to be drafted by the then-Oakland Raiders as the 12th overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft.
During his time in the NFL, Hayden amassed 328 tackles, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, and four forced fumbles in 92 games, playing for the Raiders (2013-16), Detroit Lions (2017), Jacksonville Jaguars (2018-20), and Washington Commanders (2021).
McMillan, a standout cornerback at the University of Houston, and Oragwu, an offensive lineman, were also integral parts of the football program during their college years.
Information from Reuters contributed to this report.
