Jacoby Jones

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Jones played college football for the Lane College Dragons before playing for the Texans from 2007 to 2011. He then played for the Ravens from 2012 to 2014, and was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2012. He was known for two of the most memorable plays in the 2012 NFL playoffs as a member of the Ravens: catching a 70-yard game-tying touchdown pass in the final seconds of regulation in the AFC Divisional playoff game against the Denver Broncos, which helped lead the Ravens to an eventual 38–35 double overtime victory; and a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers, the longest play in Super Bowl history, and tied for the longest kickoff return in NFL history at the time. At the time of his death he was the wide receivers coach at Alabama State University.

In Their Own Story

The stadium lights hummed above the cold December air at NRG Stadium. The crowd held its breath as the ball spiraled through the wind toward the sideline. Jones caught it cleanly near the ten-yard line, tucking it tight against his ribs. He didn't hesitate; he accelerated instantly, weaving through the chaos of defenders. One tackle missed, another slid past. The end zone stretched out before him, a beacon of glory in the Texas night.

Reader's Guide

Jones was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2007 NFL draft. For his first-career touchdown, he returned a punt for a 70-yard score against Miami in week 6 of the 2008 season. He continued to contribute as both a receiver and a returner for the Texans. At the end of the 2009 regular season, he was named as an alternate kick returner for the AFC squad to the 2010 Pro Bowl. In the 2010 season, Jones caught five passes for 115 yards in Week 16 at Denver, recording his first 100-yard game in the NFL. On January 15, 2012, early in the 2011 AFC Divisional Playoff game, Jones muffed a punt, when he was rushed by Cary Williams and the ball was recovered inside the Texans 5-yard line by Jimmy Smith, in a play that contributed to the Texans' elimination by the Baltimore Ravens. Jones was subsequently released by the Texans on May 1, 2012. In his 5 seasons with Houston, he caught 127 passes for 2,733 yards and 14 touchdowns, making an impact as a return specialist, returning kickoffs and punts for four total touchdowns. On May 8, 2012, Jones signed a two-year, $7 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens. On October 14, 2012, Jones returned a kickoff for 108 yards and a touchdown in a win against the Dallas Cowboys, tying an NFL record for longest kick return. On November 11, 2012, Jones returned a kick-off for 105 yards in the Ravens' 55–20 win over Oakland Raiders, becoming the first player to return two kicks for 105 yards or more in a season. On November 18, 2012, in a division game against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, Jones returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown, helping the Ravens win the game 13–10. It was the first time the Ravens returned a punt for a touchdown against the Steelers. Jones was named to his first Pro Bowl as a kick returner for the AFC roster and was selected for the 2012 All-Pro team. His stellar play would continue in the playoffs. On January 12, 2013, in the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Denver Broncos, the Ravens were down 35–28 and had one last chance to tie the game. On 3rd down and 3 from the Ravens own 30-yard line, Jones caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco with 31 seconds left. The play, dubbed the 'Mile High Miracle', tied the game at 35 and preceded a 38–35 double overtime win for the Ravens. In Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers, Jones became the first player to

Did You Know?

• Jones was selected in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2007 NFL draft by the Houston Texans.
• His 108-yard kickoff return in Super Bowl XLVII is the longest play in Super Bowl history.
• Jones was the first player to score a receiving touchdown and return touchdown in the same Super Bowl.
• He was named to the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro in 2012.