Former Superbowl Star Passes Away at 40

Jacoby Jones, a former Ravens wide receiver who starred in Baltimore’s Super Bowl XLVII win, has passed away, the Jones family announced Sunday. He was only 40 years old.

The NFL Players Association released a statement on behalf of the Jones family, confirming that Jones “passed away peacefully at his home in New Orleans, Louisiana.” Jones was born and raised in New Orleans before attending Lane College in Tennessee.

In the statement, the NFLPA expressed sadness for the loss of the late receiver, and said that the Jones family, including his mother and his son, are together at this time.

“We are deeply saddened to share that Jacoby Jones, a beloved former Ravens football player from New Orleans and a proud graduate of a historically Black college has passed away at the age of 40,” the statement read. ““We want to express our gratitude for all of the kind thoughts and support you have shown us during this challenging time,” the NFL Players Association said in a statement. “Your ongoing support and respecting our privacy means a lot to us.

The owner of the Beaumont Renegades, an indoor football league that hired Jones as its inaugural head coach in April, also confirmed the former receiver’s death on Sunday. Sam Gordon called Jones “the most humble and kind person to anybody” in a phone interview with KPRC 2 Houston on Sunday morning.

“I loved Jacoby Jones, we all did,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. “His spirit enthusiasm and love for people were powerful. He was a light. He was the cherished son of his loving mom, Ms. Emily. They were so close. He was a man of faith.

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“My favorite Jacoby personal moment was every time I saw his smiling face full of joy. Rest in peace, Jacoby, in the arms of Jesus.”

The Ravens posted a tribute to the late receiver on Sunday, writing in a statement that “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.”

“We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Jacoby Jones,” the Houston Texans said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.”

Isn’t a 40-Year-Old Too Young to Die in Their Sleep?

Even though the statement read that he “passed away peacefully in his sleep,” there have been rumblings on social media suggesting that Jones might have had some underlying health issues that caused his last breath at the young age of 40. Could it be old football injuries or head trauma from football that could have led to his demise? Some fans are asking.

According to the National Institute of Health, dying in your sleep, also known as nocturnal death, can be caused by a number of factors, usually related to the heart, lungs, or brain:

• Cardiac arrest: This is the most common cause of death in your sleep, and can be caused by sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS). SADS is a cardiac arrest that occurs unexpectedly in adolescents and adults, usually during sleep or while resting. The exact cause of the cardiac arrest is often unknown. Other causes of cardiac arrest include untreated sleep apnea, diabetes, and an irregular heart rhythm.
• Congestive heart failure (CHF): This condition causes a gradual loss of heart function that can lead to death in your sleep.
• Lung failure: This can also be a cause of death in your sleep.
• End-stage or terminal disease: This can also lead to death in your sleep.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning: Breathing in high levels of carbon monoxide can cause loss of consciousness and death, and people who are sleeping can die from it before realizing they’re being exposed
• Sleep apnea: People with sleep apnea usually don’t die in their sleep because their brain wakes them up when it senses low oxygen levels. However, there are rare cases where people with sleep apnea die because they can’t restart breathing after a pause. Research suggests that people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who are older than 60, have severe apnea, or have very low oxygen levels are more likely to experience sudden death.

Sleep apnea can increase the risk of death because it can disrupt heart and lung function, raise blood pressure, and cause imbalances in brain and body chemistry. People with OSA may also have an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and irregular heartbeats. A study in the journal Sleep found that people with severe sleep apnea have a three times higher risk of dying from any cause than people without sleep apnea.

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How Did Jones Start Playing Football?

Jones started his NFL career with the Houston Texans as a third-round pick in 2007. He arrived in Baltimore as a free agent in 2012 and spent three seasons with the Ravens. He spent time with both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the then-San Diego Chargers during his final season in 2015.

Jones had a standout season in his first year in Baltimore, being named First Team All-Pro and heading to the Pro Bowl during the Ravens’ championship-winning 2012 season.

During the run-up to Baltimore’s Super Bowl XLVII victory, Jones caught what is now known as the “Mile High Miracle,” a 70-yard touchdown from quarterback Joe Flacco in the final minute of the AFC divisional game against the Denver Broncos. The touchdown forced the game into double overtime, where a game-winning touchdown sent the Ravens to the AFC championship game. Jones then scored two touchdowns, including a 108-yard kick return, during the Super Bowl to give Baltimore a 34-31 win over the San Francisco 49ers

He finished his career with 203 receptions for 2,733 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver and scored an additional nine TDs as a returner (five kickoffs, four punts) in 128 total regular-season games.

Rest in peace, Jacoby. You will be missed.