Kelvin Joseph, a former Dallas Cowboys cornerback, finds himself entangled in yet another legal storm, this time facing a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from a fatal crash in Richardson, Texas. The incident, which claimed the life of 27-year-old Cody Morris, has thrust Joseph back into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
According to the Dallas Morning News, the tragic accident occurred last month near the 2400 block of US Highway 75. Joseph was not present when police arrived at the scene, but he later contacted authorities to admit his involvement. On June 7, Richardson police booked the 26-year-old on a felony charge of collision involving death, coupled with a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated (DWI). His bond for the felony charge was set at $25,000, which he posted, securing his release on Sunday.
This isn’t Joseph’s first brush with the law. In April 2022, he was named a person of interest in a fatal shooting in Dallas’s Lower Greenville area. Although his attorney clarified that Joseph was merely a passenger in the shooter’s vehicle and was cleared of further involvement, the incident added to his troubled history.
Drafted by the Cowboys in the second round (No. 44 overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft, Joseph entered the league with high expectations but struggled to find his footing. Over two seasons with Dallas, he appeared in 26 games, starting just three, and recorded 40 tackles and four passes defended. His underwhelming performance led to him losing his roster spot to standout Daron Bland during the 2023 preseason. Subsequently, Joseph was traded to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Noah Igbinoghene. His stint with the Dolphins was short-lived, as he was released in November 2023.
Joseph’s career then became a whirlwind of brief stops. He joined the Seattle Seahawks two weeks after his release from Miami, only to bounce around to the Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, and Minnesota Vikings over the next year. In February 2025, he signed with the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL), hoping to revive his professional football career.
Now, with this latest legal battle looming, Joseph’s future—both on and off the field—hangs in the balance. The wrongful death lawsuit and felony charge cast a long shadow over the former second-round pick, raising questions about the circumstances of the crash and what lies ahead for the embattled athlete.