Ezekiel Elliott offers to pay for funeral for 14-year-old football phenom Jaylon McKenzie

Dallas Cowboys running back reportedly offered to pay for the funeral of eighth-grade football phenom Jaylon McKenzie who was murdered on Saturday night.

Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott reached out to the family of 14-year-old football phenom Jaylon McKenzie to cover the funeral expenses after he was murdered at a party.

The news was first reported by 105.3 The Fan in Dallas radio host Ben Rogers and later confirmed by FanSided.

McKenzie was shot and killed on Saturday after attending a party in Venice, IL near the Illinois-Missouri border. McKenzie reportedly left the party when a fight broke out and he was struck by a stray bullet outside.

McKenzie had dreams of playing in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams or L.A Chargers. The Belleville, Illinois native was featured in Sports Illustrated’s Future Issue and had offers to from Missouri and Illinois.

This is a touching gesture by Elliott who grew up in the area.

Elliott was born in St. Louis at St. John’s Mercy (now Mercy Hospital). The family moved to Alton, Illinois when he was three, moved back to St. Louis when he was nine and back to Alton when he was 12. He later went to high school at John Burroughs School in Ladue, Missouri before attending Ohio State.

Elliott was once in the same shoes as McKenzie, a young promising athlete with a bright future in football. This tragedy moved him to open his heart and help a grieving family.

The Cowboys have raved about the growth and maturity shown by Elliott in recent months. Reaching out to the family in this difficult time to cover the funeral expenses is a moving example of just that.

Hopefully, it provided a small bit of comfort for the family as they mourn the loss of a talented young man. Hopefully, Elliott will be able to establish a longstanding relationship with the family and continue to be of support for them.