Former Ravens All-Pro kick returner Jacoby Jones, who had a hand in some of the most iconic plays in franchise history, has died at the age of 40. No cause of death was released, but he died at his home in New Orleans, according to the NFLPA.
“We are completely heartbroken to learn about the passing of Jacoby Jones,” the Ravens said in a statement. “Jacoby had the unique ability to connect with everyone he encountered. His charisma, joy and love created a one-of-a-kind presence that could light up any room or brighten any dark day. … We share are deepest condolences with Jacoby’s family as we all begin to process this devastating loss.”
Head coach John Harbaugh said in a statement, “I loved Jacoby Jones. We all did. His spirit, enthusiasm and love for people were powerful. He was a light.”
Teammates also remembered Jones as an effervescent personality with a million-dollar smile.
A native of New Orleans, Jones starred at Lane (TN) College and was drafted in the third round by the Houston Texans in 2007. The speedster played five seasons with the Texans, becoming one of the top return specialists in the league, but was released after the 2011 season.
The Ravens signed him in 2012 and he made an indelible impact on the Ravens’ run to the Super Bowl with two of the biggest plays in team history. (Ironically, it was a fumble by Jones on a punt return in a 2011 playoff game against the Ravens that ultimately led to his release in Houston and signing in Baltimore.)
In the final minute of regulation of the Ravens’ divisional round playoff game at Denver, Jones caught a 70-yard touchdown heave from quarterback Joe Flacco that — after Justin Tucker’s extra-point kick — sent the game to overtime. The Ravens ultimately won, 38-35, and Jones’ touchdown catch became known as the “Mile High Miracle.”
The Ravens then beat New England to advance to Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers. In the Super Bowl, Jones caught a 56-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and returned the second-half kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown and a 28-6 Ravens lead. The Ravens held on to win, 34-31, and secure the second Super Bowl title in franchise history.
Jones was named a first-team All-Pro that season. He led the league with an average kick return of 30.7 yards — still a Ravens franchise record — and returned two kicks for touchdowns. He also had a punt return touchdown that year and caught 30 passes for 406 yards and a score.
The next season, Jones authored yet another of the one of the most iconic moments in team history. After the Ravens fell behind 19-15 in the closing minutes of a rare Baltimore snowstorm, Jones raced 77 yards with a kickoff return for a go-ahead touchdown with 1:16 left. Both teams scored again in the final minute, and Marlon Brown’s 9-yard touchdown pass from Flacco with four seconds left gave the Ravens a 29-26 win.
The game featured five touchdowns in the final 2:05 and is often cited as the greatest game in the history of M&T Bank Stadium.
Harbaugh has called that snowy kick return his favorite play involving Jones, and on the day that Jones officially retired from the NFL as a member of the Ravens, Harbaugh recalled how the play typified the dynamic personality that Jones brought to bear every day.
Harbaugh explained that Ravens special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg had seen something that led him to anticipate a short kickoff by the Vikings.
“I look back, and Jacoby is supposed be where the kick is going to go,” Harbaugh said. “He is back there in the end zone talking to his mom. … I am screaming, ‘Jacoby! Jacoby! Jacoby!’ He kind of looks back and goes, ‘Oh, I guess we have to go.’ He turns around on the dead run and sprints as the kicker is kicking the ball. He is sprinting from the end zone, catches it on the dead run and takes it to the house for the touchdown.”
Just a week earlier, Jones had another of the more memorable kick returns in Ravens history. On Thanksgiving night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jones fielded a kickoff at the Ravens goal line and raced up the left sideline, headed for a likely touchdown. But Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was on the field and appeared to interfere with Jones, who slowed to avoid Tomlin and was caught from behind after a 73-yard return.
Tomlin had his back to Jones and later explained that he was watching the return on the stadium video board, but he was fined $100,000 and said he took “full responsibility for my actions.”
Jones was released by the Ravens after the 2014 season and actually ended his career with Tomlin and the Steelers in 2015. That came after a brief stint with the San Diego Chargers earlier in the 2015 season.
After Jones’ playing career ended, he began a coaching career at Lane, and later coached in Baltimore at Calvert Hall (2020) and Morgan State (2021).
In nine NFL seasons, Jones finished with nine return touchdowns in the regular season (four punt, five kickoff) in addition to his touchdown return for the Ravens in the Super Bowl. He averaged 27.0 yards on 183 career kickoff returns and 9.7 yards on 276 punt returns.
Jones also had 203 career receptions for 2,733 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver.
Jones still holds several Ravens records, including the longest kick return in team history at 108 yards (accomplished twice). He also holds the records for the most kickoff return touchdowns in a season (2) and career (4), and the longest average return yardage in a game (53.0), season (30.7) and career (30.1).
Ravens rookies reported to training camp July 13, with veterans due to arrive July 20.
Harbaugh is scheduled to meet with the media the next day after the first practice of training camp.
Here are some of the reactions shared to social media following the news:
Photo Credit: Sabina Moran/PressBox