There’s pain—and then there’s the kind of pain that grows into anger (frustration) because of the unknowingness. That’s what hit the college football and the NFL world this weekend with the devastating news that former LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy had passed away at just 24. And while all the headlines tell the same story that Lacy committed suicide, the real gut punch came through the lens of Jayden Daniels’ mom, Regina Jackson. She didn’t write a eulogy. She shared a moment.
Remember the clip from draft night last year? Jayden and Malik Nabers were all smiles when they received their pro tickets sealed in Round 1. Then, just minutes after hearing their names called, they received a surprise video call. Out of nowhere, Kyren pops in, proud as ever. “I’m proud of y’all boys, bro,” he told them. Malik and JD didn’t hesitate, saying back, “You’re next, though.” Sighs… Alas, that “next” never came. Regina posted the video with a gut-wrenching caption: “This surprise was the best! Forever friends. Why Kyren!!”
Sharing the clip on his IG story, even Jayden teared up as he wrote: “U f*cked me up with this [the surprise] one 2… It was your turn, next bro. We was finna be there right w u, I swear.” Some Commanders fans also wanted to see Kyren and JD suit up together in Washington next season. As one fan wrote: “I was rooting for Kyren to the Commanders with Daniels. RIP.”
This surprise was the best! Forever friends. Why Kyren!! https://t.co/e0IsGvBmRY
— Mz Jackson (@LovelyMzJackson) April 13, 2025
Kyren Lacy was more than a deep-ball threat. He was a locker room heartbeat. A friend who showed up in moments that mattered. The same guy who, despite being tangled in legal trouble after a December car accident, still showed up to LSU’s pro day in March.
But now, just weeks before the draft, just days before relaizing his dreams, tragedy stepped in. Reports suggest he died by suicide in Houston. And it has left the world stunned. Loss for words as Regina didn’t try to say it all. Instead, she captured what many couldn’t find words for: “I’m lost for words. His teammates are lost for words. His friends are lost for words. Pray for his family. No mother should ever have to endure this pain. RIP Kyren. #2”
And one X user’s comment summed up what most of us have been thinking: “Sometimes in life, there are things we’ll never understand… So I pray that God will give his family and friends a peace that surpasses all understanding. Stay strong.”
Because in the end, Kyren’s story wasn’t just about the plays he made—it was about the people he touched. And if there’s one thing you remember from all this? Let it be that.
Jayden Daniels makes a promise to Kyren Lacy
Jayden Daniels didn’t need a podium. He didn’t need a press release. All he needed was one post, one picture, and a promise. “Till next time brudda… U gon live yo dreams through us.. hope u at peace now,” he wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of himself, Kyren Lacy, and Malik Nabers—three LSU brothers whose bond ran deeper than the box score. Oh, add in Brian Thomas in there as well. This was the college’s A-Squad last year. And whenever it was about them, it was never teammates, but always family.
Instagram/@thatkidjayden
Lacy and Daniels shared two seasons in the Bayou. Two years of grind, of deep routes and deeper conversations. In Daniels’ Heisman campaign in 2023, Lacy wasn’t just “the third wideout”—he was that reliable mismatch weapon who torched defenses for 558 yards and 7 touchdowns. He kept defensive backs honest.
And in 2024, right before JD declared for the draft? He straight-up cooked. Nine touchdowns. 866 yards. A breakout. A finale. And one last score—Daniels to Lacy for a 15-yard TD—capping off their final ride together like a scripted football film. Real life. One final throw. One final connection.
But life doesn’t follow a perfect script, does it? In January, everything shifted. Lacy was arrested following a tragic hit-and-run crash that killed a 78-year-old man. He faced charges—negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run, reckless driving. The NFL dream paused. The grand jury? Set to hear the case this week. But now… the case ends in heartbreak, not closure.
And for Daniels? The touchdown to Lacy wasn’t just a highlight. It’s a tribute. A permanent memory etched in his memory bank. Because in football, you throw to your guy one last time and hope he makes it home. This time, Daniels is carrying Lacy’s dreams with him.
The post Jayden Daniels’ Inconsolable Mom Relives Kyren Lacy’s Best Memory as Commanders QB Pays Tribute in 4-Words to Dead LSU Friend appeared first on EssentiallySports.
