Locals have been in mourning since Monday when former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Vincent Jackson was found dead by a housekeeper at a Homewood Suites hotel room in Brandon, Florida.

The three-time Pro Bowler played in San Diego for seven seasons before coming to the Bucs for the 2012-2016 seasons. In his entire career, he ran over 9,000 yards and scored 57 touchdowns.

After retiring from pro football in 2016, the 38-year-old was widely known in the area as a prominent restaurateur, real estate investor, and philanthropist. His South Tampa restaurant Cask Social is lauded by various publications and is one of Tampa Bay’s most popular hangout spots.

Jackson was also in the process of reopening South St. Petersburg’s historic Manhattan Casino as a food hall and incubator for small food businesses to use as a stepping stone to their own locations. His last Facebook post was dedicated to an article written about it.

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In a Creative Loafing Tampa Bay story about the revamped Manhattan Casino concept, Jackson spoke about how beneficial the new food hall is for the South St. Pete area.

“We’ll just be a facility for everything South St. Pete represents,” he said.

On Tuesday, CL spoke to Callaloo Group partner Mario Farias about what Jackson’s passing means for Manhattan Casino. He said the group is still moving forward with its plans to reopen. A proper memorial for Jackson will occur at a later date.

“We’re about 90% complete already and we’re moving forward. We’re going to keep his vision and legacy alive at the restaurant,” Farias said.

Jackson's philanthropic endeavors never went unnoticed. He was always in the Tampa Bay community giving back to others. His Jackson in Action 83 foundation supported military families through a variety of events including an annual baby shower for expectant military moms, a one-day camp with games and other activities at One Buc Place for kids, and academic scholarships.

The foundation posted about Jackson’s impact and legacy.

“While there is a hole in our hearts that can never be filled, we take solace in knowing that Vincent positively impacted so many lives,” said a post on Jackson in Action 83’s Instagram. “ His legacy continues through the work of the Jackson in Action 83 Foundation and our support of military children and families.”

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department said a formal missing persons case was filed by his family last week but then canceled shortly after when deputies located and spoke to Jackson. HCSO Sheriff Chad Chronister gave a few words of condolence to Jackson’s family in a statement

"My heart aches for the many loved ones Vincent Jackson leaves behind, from his wife and children to the Buccaneers nation that adored him," said Sheriff Chad Chronister in the release. "Mr. Jackson was a devoted man who put his family and community above everything else. Football aside, he touched countless lives through his Jackson In Action 83 Foundation.”

An outpouring of social media posts from friends and family and the teams that he played for (the San Diego Chargers drafted Jackson in the second round of the 2005 draft) followed his death.

“Vincent was a fan favorite not only for his Pro Bowl play on the field but for the impact he made on the community off of it. The work he has done on behalf of the military families through his foundation in the years since his retirement has been an inspiration to all of us,” the Chargers posted.

“We are shocked and saddened to hear the terrible news regarding the loss of Vincent Jackson. During his five seasons with our franchise, Vincent was a consummate professional, who took a great deal of pride in his performance on and off the football field,” said Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner/co-chairman Bryan Glazer in a statement posted on Twitter.

Jackson was CEO of Tampa’s CTV Capital, a company specializing in residential and commercial real estate. Several projects in Tampa Bay and California are in the works at the moment with completed projects in all over Tampa, San Diego, and Nevada.

Vincent Jackson will always be remembered as a pillar in the community. HCSO is currently conducting an investigation into his untimely death.

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