Former Kansas City Chiefs Star Jimmy Wilkerson Dies at 43: High School Pays Tribute with Emotional Win

Former Kansas City Chiefs Star Jimmy Wilkerson Dies at 43: Jimmy Wilkerson, a former Kansas City Chiefs draftee and long-serving NFL defensive end, passed away very sadly on December 13 in Oklahoma City. He was 43 years of age at the time.

Wilkerson was working as an assistant coach at Carl Albert High School up until his tragic death. A few hours before the team's last practice scheduled for Saturday, that was when paramedics were called out to an emergency at the former OU star's home, according to The Oklahoman. By the time officials arrived, however, Wilkerson was said not to have survived. A heart attack is suspected behind the sudden death.

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Learn more about the NFL star's professional career. His son has also followed the footsteps of his father. For the rest of his National Football League career, the Oklahoma athlete played as a Kansas City Chief from 2003 to 2007 before moving to Tampa Bay for two seasons and then joining the roster of New Orleans Saints in 2010. Seattle would be the last stop along his NFL path in 2011.

The deceased assistant coach's son, senior tight-end Maddox Wilkerson, played alongside his teammates for Carl Albert, following in the footsteps of his father. Only a little over a day had passed since Maddox's soccer idol had drawn his last breath when the senior #45 (the same number as his dad wore while playing at the collegiate level) still stepped up to the occasion and participated in the crucial match, which ultimately paved the way for a historic win against Guthrie.

Historic Carl Albert victory pays memory to Jimmy Wilkerson

On Saturday, December 14, Carl Albert thrashed Guthrie, 30-6, at the Class 5A state championship football game held at Chad Richison Stadium in Edmond, Okla. The school won its third successive title in Class 5A and the 19th all-time for the program. But still, the post-game images were painful, with the raw bottom line of a loss.

With tears in his eyes, Carl Albert coach Mike Dunn praised the student-athletes for rising above the prevailing hardship, saying, “Proud of all of our guys. Different circumstances today. … I don’t know that we’ve ever dealt with adversity like that.”

Maddox's mother, Jamie, reportedly told him that he could sit out the game. But he actually came and didn't just go to the place for the team. “We were trying really hard to get him in” the end zone, Dunn said of the young player. “But he’s made plays all year long, and so I know his dad would be proud of him.”

He added, “You talk about hard. That kid dealt with a lot. … He’s a great kid, great family and he’s gonna have a bunch of coaches, we’ll never be his dad, but we’ll always be there for him.”

“Everybody earned this…but this one’s going home tonight with Maddox Wilkerson.”

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Maddox Wilkerson's teammates stand by him

Carl Albert Captain Caden Davis said of the late NFL player, “You can’t replace a guy like Coach Wilkerson. He’s so selfless and gives everything he has to everybody.”

Alluding to the example set by Maddox, he added, “That guy is so tough. Maddox is such a strong guy.”

Similarly, linebacker and OU signee Marcus James noted, “He came out and handled business like he was supposed to. … It was great for him to come out and be able to take the field and be able to play after a time like that.”

On Friday, the kid of the NFL legend made an Instagram post paying tribute to his father. “You were the best dad and also my best friend,” he wrote on social media. “I love you so much, Dad. Life won’t ever be the same without you here by my side.”

This social elephant's leave gives us a picture of Jimmy Wilkerson: a wife, Jamie, and four sons: Tyson, Maddox, Jax, and Emilia.

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