Jimmy Wilkerson (1981–2024), former Chiefs defensive end
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2 min readJimmy Wilkerson was a defensive lineman for such NFL teams as the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the New Orleans Saints.
- Died: December 13, 2024 (Who else died on December 13?
- Details of death: Died in Oklahoma of a heart attack at the age of 43.
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Jimmy Wilkerson’s legacy
Wilkerson was a standout at Paul Pewitt High School in Omaha, Texas, leading to his college career at the University of Oklahoma. With the Sooners, he was a two-time first-team All-Big 12 pick, and he went to the 2001 Orange Bowl, where they won. In 2003, he was chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. That year, he was one of two players honored with the team’s Mack Hill Award for the rookie of the year.
In his four seasons with the Chiefs, Wilkerson was a reserve defense lineman and contributed to special teams. In 2008, he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he played two seasons. He was in their 2009 starting lineup, starting all of the year’s games. He moved on to the New Orleans Saints in 2010 and the Seattle Seahawks in 2011 before his retirement as a player.
In later years, Wilkerson worked as a coach, both in high school and in college. In 2017, he began coaching the East Texas A&M Lions. He helped guide the squad to their NCAA Division II national championship victory that year. Most recently, Wilkerson was an assistant coach at Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, Oklahoma, which won the state title for its third consecutive year the day after his death. His son, Maddox, plays on the team.
Tributes to Jimmy Wilkerson
Full obituary: The Kansas City Star
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