Former NFL wide receiver and return specialist Jacoby Jones has passed away, as ESPN’s Jamison Hensley was first to report. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports that Jones died overnight in his sleep in his Houston-area home, and that the cause of death is not yet known. Jones was just 40 years old.
Selected by the Texans in the third round of the 2007 draft, Jones eventually became a complementary weapon on Houston’s offense, catching 109 balls for 1,511 yards and 11 scores over the 2009-11 seasons. However, he made his mark as a return man almost immediately, and over his first five years in the league, he averaged over 10 yards per punt return three times and took back three punts and one kickoff for touchdowns.
His time with the Texans came to something of an unceremonious end, as he muffed a punt in a divisional round game against the Ravens in 2011, which Baltimore recovered at Houston’s 2-yard line. The Ravens converted the turnover into a touchdown and went on to win the game by a 20-13 score.
Coincidentally, Jones signed with Baltimore the following offseason, a transaction that proved to be invaluable for player and team alike. While he again enjoyed an important ancillary role on offense, his return skills were instrumental to the Ravens’ success in 2012, as he took back two kickoffs and a punt for touchdowns and led the league with a 30.7 yards-per-return rate on kickoffs.
His performance in that season’s playoffs, though, is what cemented his legacy, particularly in Baltimore. In an upset win over the top-seeded, Peyton Manning-led Broncos in Denver, Jones was on the receiving end of a Joe Flacco bomb late in the game, with the Ravens trailing by a touchdown and facing a a 3rd-and-3 on their own 30 with 42 seconds left in regulation and no timeouts. Jones got behind the Denver secondary, caught the Flacco pass, and scampered into the endzone, blowing a kiss to the stunned crowd as he did so.
Following what became known as the “Mile High Miracle,” the Ravens would go on to defeat the Broncos in double overtime and eventually advanced to Super Bowl XLVII. Near the end of the first half of the team’s win over the 49ers in that contest, which was held in Jones’ hometown of New Orleans, Jones caught another deep Flacco pass, falling to the turf to secure the catch and then getting to his feet to elude San Francisco defenders on his way to paydirt. He then returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a 108-yard touchdown, all part of a 34-31 victory for Baltimore.
Jones, who earned First Team All-Pro honors for his 2012 performance, played for the Ravens for two more seasons, adding another kickoff return TD along the way. He played nine games between the Steelers and Chargers in 2015, and he officially announced his retirement in September 2017.
Wilson passes along statements from the Ravens and head coach John Harbaugh, who was in his fifth year as Baltimore’s HC when the club captured Super Bowl XLVII.
We at PFR pass along our condolences to Jones’ family and friends and his former teammates and coaches, many of whom have taken to social media to share their memories of a gregarious, affable, and often electric player.
R.I.P.
Wow man. Not sure what happened but he was so young.
Not speculating but please, please seek help if you ever have thoughts of harming yourself or others before it is too late.
Not speculation? Yes ah yes yes you are my insensitive schmuck.
Given how much he played on special teams, kickoff returns especially, he may have had more concussions than usual. Something brain related could have happened in his sleep, it’s sad, but does happen in your 40’s & 50’s after lots of concussions.
My dad played college and pro and took his life last year
You should have prefaced your comment with that pertinent information concerning your parent.
Probably shouldn’t have speculated either but idk when I see stuff like this now I just want to tell people that they’re loved and that there are certain things you can’t take back. Probably shouldn’t have said anything at all
Ghost you are good my friend.
Holy crap. I feel like i say this a lot, but this is truly shocking. Jones was one of the most fun returners and clutch big play guys to watch. It feels like just yesterday that the Tomlin controversy occurred, or when Rahim Moore grossly misplayed that deep ball that Jones took to carry Baltimore past Denver to spoil Peyton’s first season. I am sorry to hear of his passing. Thanks to Jones for the highlight reels that he worked to provide for us.
40 years old. Way too young man. RIP.
Due had 3 returns for touchdowns that were over 100 yards.
I’ll never forget him getting past Denver DB for that bomb in playoffs from Flacco. Showed up in big moments. RIP
Almost 300 total yards and 2 TD’s…I thought Jones should have won the MVP in that Super Bowl over a pretty standard QB performance.
RIP.
RIP Jacoby…..
Too soon.