Former NFL wide receiver and return specialist Jacoby Jones has passed away, as first reported by ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, Jones died overnight in his sleep at his Houston-area home, with the cause of death yet to be determined. Jones was just 40 years old.
Drafted by the Texans in the third round of the 2007 draft, Jones became a key offensive player for Houston, recording 109 receptions for 1,511 yards and 11 touchdowns from 2009 to 2011. His impact as a return specialist was immediate, averaging over 10 yards per punt return three times in his first five years and scoring on three punts and one kickoff return.
Jones’ tenure with the Texans ended abruptly after he muffed a punt in a 2011 playoff game against the Ravens, leading to a Baltimore touchdown. Ironically, Jones joined the Ravens the following offseason, proving invaluable to both the player and the team. In 2012, he led the league with a 30.7-yard average on kickoff returns and scored touchdowns on two kickoffs and a punt.
Jones’ legacy was cemented during the 2012 playoffs, particularly in an upset victory over the top-seeded Broncos. Late in the game, he caught a deep pass from Joe Flacco, leading to a game-tying touchdown. The Ravens went on to win in double overtime and eventually triumphed in Super Bowl XLVII, where Jones scored two crucial touchdowns, including a 108-yard kickoff return.
Jones earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2012 and continued to play for the Ravens for two more seasons. He later played for the Steelers and Chargers in 2015 before retiring in 2017.
Wilson shared statements from the Ravens and head coach John Harbaugh, who led the team to their Super Bowl victory in 2012.
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