Former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver, returner and Super Bowl hero Jacoby Jones has passed away, according to multiple reports.
Per Aaron Wilson of Click2Houston.com, Jones died overnight in his sleep but no cause of death was immediately revealed. He was only 40 years old.
Jones is best known for his heroics with the Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers. In that game, Jones returned a kickoff 108 yards to the house, and he caught a 56-yard touchdown pass. Jones' kick return remains the longest in Super Bowl history.
But he will also be remembered as the returner Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin got in the way of for what could have been a touchdown return for Jones during a 2013 Thanksgiving Day game between the Steelers and Ravens.
Tomlin stepping on the field and in Jones' way altered his path, which led to him getting tackled. The Steelers head coach was ultimately fined $100,000 and took responsibility for his mistake but claimed he did not intend to get in Jones' way.
Never forget when Mike Tomlin interfered with Jacoby Jones’ kick return pic.twitter.com/96d7mdqs1Q
— The Ravens Realm (@RealmRavens) August 19, 2023
“In my mind I’m thinking, ‘he’s going up their sideline’ because the Jumbotron picture is backwards,” Tomlin said of the play. “I didn’t realize I was in danger man until I saw myself on the Jumbotron. I dodged Jacoby [Jones] because I saw myself. I never saw him.”
After his stint with the Ravens and run-in with Tomlin, Jones ended up playing for the Steelers in 2015. He also had stints with the Houston Texans and San Diego Chargers during his career.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jones' friends and family at this difficult time.
