According to multiple reports, former NFL wide receiver Jacoby Jones, who was a Pro Bowl selection and won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, died late Saturday night at his home near Houston. Jones had just turned 40 on July 11. The cause of death has not yet been released.
Jones played nine seasons in the NFL, spending the first five with the Houston Texans before signing with the Ravens in 2012. In his first year in Baltimore, Jones had a standout season, being named First Team All-Pro and making an appearance in the Pro Bowl during the 2012-2013 season, when the Ravens won the NBA championship.
Prior to Baltimore’s appearance in Super Bowl XLVII, Jones performed what is now known as the “Mile High Miracle” when he caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Flacco in the final minute of an AFC divisional game against the Denver Broncos. The touchdown sent the game into double overtime where the winning touchdown was scored to advance the Ravens to the Super Bowl. Jones later scored two more touchdowns in the Super Bowl as Baltimore defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-31.
Jones spent three seasons with the Ravens before finishing his career with brief stints with the San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers. In September 2017, Jones signed a one-day contract with Baltimore, officially retiring from the Ravens.
Some of Jones’ former teammates paid tribute to him on social media, including defensive end and Texans legend J.J. Watt, wide receiver Torrey Smith, who played with Jones in Baltimore, and quarterback Matt Leinart, who played with Jones for two seasons in Houston.
Jacoby was the most fun-loving teammate and personable person I’ve ever met – always dancing, always laughing, always with a smile on his face.
It went too far, too soon.
May Jacoby Jones rest in peace.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) July 14, 2024
Brother! I thank God for the memories and impact you made on this world. You were one of a kind! Your plays and jokes on the field will live on forever! Mama Jones will be on Little Coby’s side for life! This incident hurt me! I will miss you!
I love you! pic.twitter.com/r9MZKU4sqb
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) July 14, 2024
I am heartbroken that my former teammate Jacoby Jones has passed away. He will always be remembered for his laugh and for being the biggest person in life. Rest in peace brother 💔
— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) July 14, 2024
Current Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson also praised Jones in a post.
The owner of the Beaumont Renegades, an indoor football league that hired Jones as its first head coach in April, confirmed the former receiver’s death on Sunday. Renegades owner Sam Gordon called Jones “the most humble, kindest person to anyone” in a phone interview with KPRC 2 Houston on Sunday morning.
