From the moment former Ravens fullback Vonta Leach met him, Jacoby Jones was always the same person: energetic, fun and, most importantly, a man of the people.
Their friendship began 17 years ago. Jones, who recently died at the age of 40, was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Jones’ personality shined then and up until Leach’s last moment with him.
“Jacoby was the show,” Leach said on Glenn Clark Radio July 15. “The last time we were all together for the [AFC championship game in January], and me and Jacoby had some appearances together. Man, Jacoby lit up a room. He’s going to do his move, he’s going to do his dance, he’s going to do his talk. Everybody just loved Jacoby. Jacoby was Baltimore.”
Jones spent the first five years of his career with the Texans (2007-2011), the first four of which came with Leach.
Jones’ time in Houston was fairly uneventful until his final game with the team: the 2011 divisional round game against the Ravens. Jones muffed a punt in the first quarter, which led to the Ravens’ first touchdown of the game. After Houston lost, 20-13, Jones received much of the blame from Texans fans.
While the moment was the worst of Jones’ NFL career, he was determined to rewrite his legacy and signed with Baltimore the following offseason. However, he had a rough first few days with his new team, and Leach was told to talk to him.
“It took me one time to go pull him to the side [and] have a talk, and then the rest was history,” Leach said. “Jacoby changed our whole special teams. We were a threat on special teams. We could score at any time he had the ball in his hands.”
In 2012, Jones led the league in kickoff return touchdowns (2) and yards per return (30.7) en route to Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selections. He also returned the second-half kickoff in Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers 108 yards for a touchdown.
Jones caught 30 passes for 406 yards and a touchdown in 2012 as well. He elevated his play in the postseason, though, recording five catches, 147 yards and two touchdowns in just four games. He caught a 56-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter of the Super Bowl, another crucial moment in the 34-31 win.
“He was exactly what we needed, and I think he added another dimension and another spark to our offense,” Leach said. “Jacoby always had big-play skills.”
Jones’ biggest play came against the Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the 2012 playoffs, when he caught a 70-yard touchdown pass to help tie the game, 35-35, with 31 seconds remaining in regulation. Justin Tucker’s eventual game-winning field goal sent the Ravens to the AFC championship game.
Jones’ catch is now known as the “Mile High Miracle.”
“I was sitting on the bench. It’s late in the game. I was like, ‘Holy shit, did we really just do that? Did we really just score? Oh, my god. We may have a chance,'” Leach said. “… It’s probably one of the top three [or] four plays in the Ravens’ history, and Jacoby’s got like two of them.”
Outside of his legendary plays, Jones also helped the team with his infectious personality, teaching them how to have fun while getting the job done, Leach said.
But even after Jones became a fan favorite and achieved celebrity status with his appearance on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2013, he remained the same personable man who loved helping people.
“Jacoby was about kids. He was about helping people,” Leach said. “He was just about being around people and helping in any way he can.”
“He loved the light, he was a star, but he was a man for the people,” the former fullback added.
For more from Leach, listen to the full interview here:
See Also:
• Glenn Clark: Jacoby Jones Represented A Great Marriage Between Player, Franchise And City
• Former Ravens All-Pro Kick Returner Jacoby Jones Dies At 40
Photo Credits: Sabina Moran/PressBox