Former NFL cornerback D.J. Hayden died at the age of 33 on Saturday.
According to a Houston Police Department report obtained by Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle, Hayden was among six people killed in a collision when a car sped through a red light near a freeway around 2 a.m. local time.
Duarte noted four people were pronounced dead at the scene, including former University of Houston cornerback Zach McMillian.
Hayden and McMillian played together with the Cougars in 2011 and 2012. They were selected for the 2010s all-decade team in the program. During his two collegiate seasons, Hayden was also selected twice for the All-Conference USA team.
Hayden played nine seasons in the NFL, missing the last three games for Houston in 2012 due to a near-fatal cardiac ailment sustained during a practice when a teammate inadvertently kneed him in the chest.
In the 2013 draft, Hayden was chosen by the Oakland Raiders with the 12th overall choice. Before signing with the Detroit Lions in 2017, he played with the Raiders for four seasons. After leaving Oakland, he spent three years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, which was his longest tenure with a franchise.
In 2021, Hayden’s NFL career came to an end with a single game with the Washington Commanders. During his career, he made 92 appearances and recorded 328 total tackles, 46 pass breakups, and four interceptions.