In the bowels of Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium on a Sunday afternoon a couple Octobers ago, I caught a glimpse of a Ravens legend and one of the most electrifying players I have ever watched.
The game itself — a Ravens-Browns matchup celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Super Bowl XLVII team — was soaked in nostalgia already, with Hall of Famers, journeymen and backups alike all in attendance for a halftime celebration. Amid all of those Baltimore heroes, no player is as closely associated with that magical Ravens Super Bowl run as wide receiver and returner Jacoby Jones. By some coincidence, he met with fans near one of the exits postgame and I walked over to get a closer look, his mere presence thrilling me as much as his lengthy returns had a decade prior. I did not shake his hand or thank him for his heroics as a Raven, but the moment was a highlight of an unforgettable gameday.
Jones died peacefully at 40 years old last week, and in the week since, it’s been difficult to come to terms with his passing.
A mentor and contributor to the sport even after his playing days, Jones still had much to give to the game of football and players in younger generations, let alone his family, former teammates and loved ones. From a football perspective, he’s one of the most impactful Ravens players to don the purple and gold and was one-half of my favorite sports play of all-time: the “Mile High Miracle” in January 2013. Jones was truly one-of-one.
I’d claim that Jones is the face of the Ravens’ Super Bowl run for a couple factors: his big-play ability, his late-game heroics and his dynamism on both offense and special teams. All three were on display in the Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII win over the San Francisco 49ers. If not for quarterback Joe Flacco’s hot streak in the playoffs, Jones very well could have earned Super Bowl MVP honors. His 56-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter and record-breaking 109-yard kickoff return touchdown to open the second half were instrumental in building the Ravens’ commanding 28-6 lead and eventual victory, and his performance in both of his roles should rank among the best single-game performances in Super Bowl history.
An even more impactful play in the clutch came weeks earlier with the Ravens trailing the powerful Denver Broncos in the final minute of regulation. Trailing 35-28 in one of the coldest games in playoff history, Flacco launched a bomb in Jones’ direction down the right sideline. Broncos safety Rahim Moore came up short in his attempt to deflect the pass, but the play required Jones to still secure the catch. He did exactly that, and the feeling of euphoria and disbelief as Jones strolled into the end zone and sent the game into overtime still reverberates with each replay of the touchdown over a decade later. The “Mile High Miracle” completely flipped the Ravens’ bleak outlook and sparked later victories over New England and San Francisco for the Ravens’ second Super Bowl trophy.
Jones was different from other stars on the 2012 Ravens. He won’t reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame like linebacker Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, and he wasn’t even the best receiver on the Ravens that year, as wide receiver Anquan Boldin, wide receiver Torrey Smith, tight end Dennis Pitta and running back Ray Rice all accumulated more regular season receiving yards than Jones’ modest 406-yard output. His career is also overshadowed on special teams by the Ravens’ rookie kicker that year, Justin Tucker, who very well could be the sport’s best kicker when he retires. Unlike other longtime Ravens like Terrell Suggs and Marshal Yanda who claim the Super Bowl as one of many honors throughout their tenures in Baltimore, Jones only played for the Ravens for three years and spent two more seasons with the team that drafted him, the Houston Texans.
Jones’ scattered flashes of excellence were typically confined to game-turning plays, clutch moments and win-or-go-home playoff stages. But those are exactly the times that forge Super Bowl champions, and Jones had his fingerprints all over that long-awaited Ravens’ Super Bowl trophy.
It wasn’t just Jones’ knack for big plays that earned him adoration from Ravens’ fans. No. 12’s joy for football was evident — almost the offense’s equivalent to Ray Lewis — and his touchdown dances after his incredible gains added an extra boost of energy to the celebration. Years later, he put those dancing skills to the test and earned a third-place finish in the hit show Dancing with the Stars.
Both on and off the football field, Jacoby Jones was an all-time showman. His death is a staggering blow to his loved ones and the communities he impacted, and his legacy and impact extends beyond the magic he made on Sundays.
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