Former NFL Star Jacoby Jones Passes Away at 40

Former NFL wide receiver Jacoby Jones, celebrated for his record-setting 108-yard kickoff return in the 2013 Super Bowl, has passed away at the age of 40. The Houston Texans, Jones’ initial team, announced his death on Sunday. The NFL Players Association confirmed that Jones died at his home in New Orleans, though no cause of death was disclosed.

Jacoby Jones’ NFL career spanned from 2007 to 2015, during which he played for the Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers, and Pittsburgh Steelers. His tenure with the Ravens was particularly notable, marked by several game-changing plays that contributed to their Super Bowl XLVII victory.

Jones played a pivotal role in the Ravens’ “Mile High Miracle” against the Denver Broncos in January 2013. His 70-yard touchdown reception with 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter tied the game, which the Ravens eventually won in double overtime. In the subsequent Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, Jones caught a 56-yard touchdown pass and famously returned a kickoff 108 yards, setting a Super Bowl record and helping secure a 34-31 victory for Baltimore.

“Jacoby was one of the most fun-loving teammates and people I’ve ever been around,” said former Texans star J.J. Watt on social media. “Always dancing and laughing, with a permanent smile on his face. Gone far, far too soon.”

Ravens coach John Harbaugh shared a cherished memory, saying, “My favorite football play was when Jacoby was talking to his mom in the end zone, just before a late-game kickoff return against the Vikings in a snowstorm shootout. Jacoby then raced to catch the ball and run it back for a touchdown. My favorite Jacoby personal moment was every time I saw his smiling face full of joy.”

Jones’ impact extended beyond the football field. He was named to The Associated Press All-Pro team as a kick returner for the 2012 season and gained further fame with an appearance on “Dancing with the Stars.”

In April 2023, Jones became the coach of the Beaumont Renegades, an arena football team in Texas. The Renegades paid tribute to Jones, stating, “What can be said about him as a football player is only scratching the surface of who he was as a man. When you needed something, he was there. When you called him, he answered.”