Jacoby Jones, the Super Bowl star for the Baltimore Ravens, passed away from hypertensive cardiovascular disease due to high blood pressure, according to a New Orleans medical examiner. He was just 40 years old when he died on July 14, with the cause of death listed as natural.
Jones played a key role in the Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII victory over the San Francisco 49ers, famously returning a kickoff 109 yards for a touchdown, the longest play in Super Bowl history. He also made a memorable catch in the ‘Mile High Miracle,’ securing a 70-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco with just 43 seconds left, which led to a Ravens win in that divisional round game.
Though best known for his time with the Ravens, Jones also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015 before retiring. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin expressed his condolences, stating, “My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family of Jacoby Jones during this difficult time. I enjoyed coaching him during his time with the Steelers,” on X.
Jones was honored as a First-Team All-Pro in 2012, his most notable season as a kick returner. He concluded his career with a strong reputation as a return specialist and a Ravens hero. After retiring, Jones pursued coaching, with positions at Morgan State and Alabama State as a position coach.