(StraightNews.org) – Former NFL star Jacoby Jones has died at age 40. Mr. Jones’ family confirmed his death but did not explain how he died. The Baltimore Ravens, for whom Jones scored two touchdowns in Super Bowl XLVII, issued a statement saying, “His charisma, joy, and love created a one-of-a-kind presence that could light up any room.”
Social media was filled with tributes to the wide receiver, including from former teammate Ray Lewis, who described him as a “brother” who will “truly be missed.” JJ Watt, a Houston Texans teammate, said Mr. Jacoby was always jovial, with a “permanent smile on his face.”
Jones was an NFL football star for nine years, playing with the Texans, Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, and Los Angeles Chargers. Among the highlights of his career was the moment he caught the “Mile High Miracle” 70-yard touchdown, which beat the Denver Broncos in 2012.
Born in New Orleans in 1984, he attended St. Augustine High School, where he was considered too small for football. He transferred to Marion Abramson High School and later won a track scholarship to Southeastern Louisiana University in 2002. A year later, he moved to Lane College and became a four-time All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) selection.
Mr. Jones’s professional career began when the Texans drafted him in the third round of the 2007 draft. In 2012, he signed a $7 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens, where he remained for three years before leaving for the San Diego Chargers. He retired from football in 2017, briefly rejoining the Baltimore Ravens so he could retire as a member of that team.
Following his retirement, he returned to Louisiana and found employment as a coach at his old school, Lane College. In 2022, he transferred to Alabama State University, taking a coaching post there. Mystery surrounds his personal life, which he kept strictly private. He is known to have a young son, but it is unclear if he ever married.
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