Former Ravens wide receiver and returner Jacoby Jones died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease, the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office determined.
Jones, 40, died at his home in New Orleans on July 14, three days after his birthday. The coroner’s office said Wednesday that a July 15 autopsy ruled Jones died of natural causes.
He began playing for the Ravens in 2012 during the franchise’s run to a Super Bowl XLVII title. Against the San Francisco 49ers, Jones was the first player in Super Bowl History to score a receiving touchdown and a return touchdown in the same game, helping the Ravens win 34-31.
Most fans will remember a play that came before it, when Jones caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco in a divisional-round playoff game against the Denver Broncos with 31 seconds left to force overtime. The Ravens went won 38-35, and the catch became known as the “Mile High Miracle.”
Jones was named a Pro Bowl and All-Pro returner in 2012 and played with the Ravens for the next two seasons.
“We are completely heartbroken to learn about the passing of Jacoby Jones,” the Ravens said in a statement when he died. “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.”
In his nine-year NFL career, Jones played 128 games and had 203 catches for 2,733 yards and 14 touchdowns. As a returner, he racked up 2,688 yards and four touchdowns on punts, and 4,940 yards and five touchdowns on kickoffs.
After he retired, Jones began coaching at his alma mater, Lane College, then served as wide receivers coach and tight ends coach at Calvert Hall College High School in Towson and then at Morgan State University.
He had just been named the head coach of the Beaumont Renegades, a new arena football team based in Texas, in February. The Renegades’ ownership group said in a statement then that Jones was a “special football player” who loved “every minute of every game.”
“But what can be said about him as a football player is only scratching the surface of who he was as a man,” the group said in a statement. “When you needed someone, he was there.”
Baltimore Banner reporter Jonas Shaffer contributed to this article.
