Former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Kelvin Joseph is now facing a wrongful death lawsuit following a fatal early-morning crash on June 7 in North Texas that took the life of 27-year-old motorcyclist Cody Morris, wife and mother of two.
Joseph, 25, has been charged with driving while intoxicated and a collision involving death after reportedly striking Morris on North Central Expressway and fleeing the scene.
According to police reports, he continued driving for three miles before stopping at a gas station in Plano, where he waited nearly 40 minutes before calling authorities to report the crash.
A Facebook post from the Richardson Police Department details the incident, reading, “At approximately 4:51 a.m., the Richardson Police Department responded to a fatal motorcycle crash in the 2400 block of northbound North Central Expressway (US-75). The female motorcycle driver, identified as 27-year old Cody Morris of Plano, was pronounced deceased at the scene. There were no other vehicles or people located at the crash scene…At approximately 5:39 a.m., the Plano Police Department received a call from Kelvin Joseph Jr., a 25-year old resident of Allen, who advised he had been involved in the crash.”
An affidavit obtained by Fox 4 further states that Joseph appeared impaired, displaying signs of intoxication such as glassy eyes, the smell of alcohol, and unsteady balance. He also reportedly failed multiple field sobriety tests, and officers later discovered a smoked marijuana roach inside his vehicle.
Morris’ family, including her children and husband, is in extreme grief after the sudden loss.
This week, the father of one of Morris’ children filed a civil suit in Dallas County, seeking over $10 million in damages. The lawsuit names Joseph and two Dallas-area bars or “clubs,” accusing all parties of gross negligence.
The filed suit claims that the former Dallas Cowboy cornerback was over-served alcohol at both establishments, despite being visibly intoxicated, which directly violates Texas liquor laws.
A second-round pick by the Cowboys in the 2021 NFL Draft, Joseph’s career has since taken him through several different NFL teams, including the Dolphins, Seahawks, Chiefs, Colts, and Vikings, before he dropped out of the league entirely.
According to the league’s website, he most recently played for the DC Defenders in the semi-pro UFL, appearing in nine games during the 2025 season.
Neither Joseph nor his legal representatives responded to The Dallas Express for comment on the lawsuit as of the time of publication.