Former NFL wide receiver Jacoby Jones has died at age 40.
The Baltimore Sun‘s Brian Wacker and ESPN’s Jamison Hensley confirmed Jones’ passing on Sunday morning. People around the NFL, including many of his former teammates, mourned his loss on social media.
“My brother! I thank God for the memories and your impact on this world,” former Baltimore Ravens teammate Torrey Smith wrote. “You were 1 of 1! Your play on the field and jokes will live on forever! We have Momma Jones [and] Lil Coby’s back for life! This one hurt me man! We are going to miss you! Love you bro!”
“This sucks. Jacoby was as funny a teammate and happy a person I had ever shared locker room with,” said ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, who played with Jones on the Houston Texans in 2010. “RIP.”
“Jacoby Jones was an absolute legend,” Pat McAfee wrote. “He was beloved by literally everybody he met and lit up every room/field he walked into/onto.
Rest easy my brother.. we will miss your presence.”
“This hits hard,” Matt Leinart said. “His laugh and just bigger than life personality will be something I’ll always remember. RIP brother.”
“Jacoby was one of the most fun-loving teammates and people I’ve ever been around,” former Texans star JJ Watt said. “Always dancing and laughing, with a permanent smile on his face.
Gone far, far too soon.”
Jones received an All-Pro distinction for returning one punt and two kickoffs for touchdowns during the 2012 regular season, but fans still remember him for that postseason.
In what’s now labeled the “Mile High Miracle,” Jones scored a 70-yard touchdown in the final minute of an AFC Divisional Round victory over the Denver Broncos. He later scored a 56-yard receiving touchdown and 108-yard kickoff touchdown in a 34-31 Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Along with spending five seasons with the Texans and three with the Ravens, Jones played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers in 2015. He tallied 11,351 all-purpose yards (playoffs included) and 10 return touchdowns.
Related: Former Baltimore Ravens Star, Super Bowl Champion Dead At 40