Former Ravens wide receiver and Super Bowl 47 star Jacoby Jones has died, an NFL source with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to the Baltimore Sun.
He was 40 years old.
A Louisiana native, Jones played for the Ravens for just three seasons, from 2012-14, but left an indelible mark on the franchise with his Super Bowl performance against the San Francisco 49ers. He had a 56-yard touchdown reception and a Super Bowl-record 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half that helped lead Baltimore to a 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
He also threw a game-tying 70-yard touchdown in the final seconds of regulation in the Ravens’ AFC Divisional Round playoff game that season against the Denver Broncos, dubbed the “Mile High Miracle,” which Baltimore won in double overtime. The game was voted the greatest moment in team history for the NFL’s 100th anniversary in 2019.
Jones, who played at Lane College and was selected in the third round of the 2007 draft by the Houston Texans, spent nine seasons in the NFL and also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers after his time in Baltimore.
In September 2017, Jones signed a one-day contract with the Ravens so he could retire as a member of the team.
Jones holds the franchise record for most career kickoff return touchdowns (four), most kickoff return touchdowns in a single season (two) and longest kickoff return in team history, having also returned two others for 108 yards against the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers.
A Pro Bowl selection in 2012, he finished his career with 203 receptions, 2,733 yards and 125 touchdowns. He also had 4,940 yards and five touchdowns as a kick returner and 2,688 yards and four touchdowns as a punt returner.
This story will be updated.
Photo by Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun
In the Ravens’ 34–31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, Jacoby Jones opened the third quarter with an NFL-record 108-yard kick return for a touchdown.
Baltimore Sun photograph by Kenneth K. Lam
In the Ravens’ 34–31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, Jacoby Jones opened the third quarter with an NFL-record 108-yard kick return for a touchdown.
Karl Merton Ferron, Baltimore Sun
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, left, and wide receiver Jacoby Jones celebrate after Flacco’s third-quarter rushing touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in 2012.
Kenneth K. Lam / Baltimore Sun
New Orleans, LA – 03/02/13 – Jacoby Jones (#12) of the Baltimore Ravens heads into the end zone on a record-breaking 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half for the Baltimore Ravens against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
Baltimore Sun photograph by Lloyd Fox
Ed Reed and Jacoby Jones celebrate the Ravens’ victory over the Patriots.
Joe Mahoney/AP
Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones celebrates his touchdown against the Denver Broncos in the fourth quarter of an AFC Divisional Playoff football game Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, in Denver.
Mitchell Layton, Getty Images
Ravens catcher (and former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant) Jacoby Jones threw out the first pitch before the Orioles played the Red Sox on June 15, 2013.
Christopher T. Assaf / Baltimore Sun
Jacoby Jones catches a Shane Lechler kickoff before running 105 yards for a touchdown against the Raiders to cap the scoring in the Ravens’ 55–20 victory on November 11, 2012. Jones returned four kickoffs for TDs in the regular season during his three years with the team.
Kim Hairston / Baltimore Sun
Baltimore, Md. – 12/08/17 – Former Ravens wide receiver/returner Jacoby Jones signs autographs during the team’s final public practice at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday. Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun.
Owings Mills, MD — 03/08/2012 — Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones (12) calls out to a trainer during practice at the Ravens Sports Complex on Friday, Aug. 3, 2012. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun Staff) (FBN RAVENS TEAM PRACTICE (_D3S3400.JPG))
Denver-CO-1/12/13-sp-p16-ravens-broncos-sweeney—Ravens’ Jacoby Jones leaves the field after the game-winning field goal. Jones caught Joe Flacco’s 70-yard touchdown pass that tied the game. The Baltimore Ravens play the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Playoff game. Gene Sweeney Jr. Baltimore Sun Staff #7807
Owings MIlls, MD–8/11/12–Jacoby Jones, #12 of the Ravens. Baltimore Ravens football practice at their practice facility in Owings MIlls. Photographer Lloyd Fox-Sun-sp-ravens-camp-0812-p-fox-#133
12/01/13–Denver, CO– sp-p-ravens-broncos-fox, — Ravens’ No. 12 Jacoby Jones and teammate No. 82 Torrey Smith celebrate Jones’ fourth-quarter touchdown to tie the game. Baltimore Ravens vs. Denver Broncos, NFL football playoffs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Lloyd Fox, Sun Photographer #3467
New Orleans, LA– 2/3/13–sp-4313-super-bowl-fox, –Ravens’ Jacoby Jones during pregame warmups. Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers during NFL Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun. #4313
DANCING WITH THE STARS – “Episode 1601” – “Dancing with the Stars” returned with an all-new cast of fresh faces on the dance floor. The competition kicked off with the two-hour Season 16 premiere, live MONDAY, MARCH 18 (8:00-10:01 p.m. ET) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Adam Taylor) KARINA SMIRNOFF, JACOBY JONES
Matthew Wilson of Pylesville, right, fist bumps Baltimore Ravens player Jacoby Jones after getting an autograph during Wednesday night’s book signing at Buon Gusto in Whiteford.
Jacoby Jones opened the second half of Super Bowl XLVII with a 108-yard touchdown return Sunday in New Orleans, tying a Super Bowl record. The score propelled the Ravens to a 28-6 lead over the San Francisco 49ers, who then mounted a comeback that failed after a spectacular Baltimore defense secured the title.
New Orleans, LA — 03/02/13 — Jacoby Jones (#12) of the Baltimore Ravens heads into the end zone on a record-setting 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half for the Baltimore Ravens against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. — Photo by: Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun DSC_3923 sp-3923-super-bowl-lam
