Washington (AFP) – Jacoby Jones, a star wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens known for the “Mile High Miracle” catch and his ebullient personality, has died at the age of 40, the Ravens said Sunday.
The cause of Jones’s death was not immediately available.
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The NFL Players Association released a statement on Sunday afternoon on behalf of Jones’s family confirming he “passed away peacefully at his home in New Orleans, Louisiana.”
“We are completely heartbroken to learn about the passing of Jacoby Jones,” the Ravens said in a statement.
“Jacoby had the unique ability to connect with everyone he encountered. His charisma, joy and love created a one-of-a-kind presence that could light up any room or brighten any dark day.”
Jones played nine NFL seasons for four different teams, but he’ll be best remembered for his contributions to the Ravens’ run to the Super Bowl after the 2012 campaign.
His 70-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Joe Flacco with 31 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos — the “Mile High Miracle” — was a season-saving play for Baltimore.
The Ravens went on to win the game in double-overtime to advance, eventually booking a Super Bowl showdown with the San Francisco 49ers.
In the championship game, scored two touchdowns, diving to catch a long pass late in the second quarter and bouncing up to score.
He opened the second half with a 108-yard kickoff return touchdown — the longest play in Super Bowl history.
“I loved Jacoby Jones,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. “We all did. His spirit, enthusiasm and love for people were powerful. He was a light.”
Jones started his NFL career with the Houston Texans as a third-round pick in 2007. He arrived in Baltimore as a free agent in 2012 and spent three seasons with the Ravens. He played for Pittsburgh and the San Diego Chargers during his final NFL season in 2015.
Several former teammates, including Ray Lewis, Torrey Smith and J.J. Watt, remembered Jones with posts to social media.
“Jacoby was one of the most fun-loving teammates and people I’ve ever been around,” Watt, a teammate in Houston, said on X, formerly Twitter. “Always dancing and laughing, with a permanent smile on his face. Gone far, far too soon.”
Former Ravens teammate Smith called Jones “1 of 1!” in his X tribute. “Your play on the field and jokes will live on forever!” Smith wrote while iconic Ravens linebacker Lewis wrote: “My brother, you will truly be missed.”
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