Ravens legend Ray Lewis shares heartfelt tribute after Jacoby Jones' untimely death: "A pillar in the community"
Ray Lewis has joined other NFL players in paying tribute to Jacoby Jones, who was instrumental in the Ravens winning Super Bowl 47. The Baltimore wide receiver scored a receiving touchdown and a kickoff return touchdown in that edition, becoming the first player to do so in the same championship game. He passed away at the age of 40 and no cause of death has yet been reported.
Ray Lewis wrote on his X account, formerly known as Twitter,
"My brother, you will truly be missed. They can’t take the memories and the hard work you put in on and off the football field. You always gave back and always a pillar in the community, a @Ravens for life... Love ya JJ"
Jacoby Jones and Ray Lewis shared a special connection in Super Bowl 47
In Super Bowl 47, the San Francisco 49ers kicked off and the Baltimore Ravens received the ball in the second half. The returner was Jacoby Jones and what he did is etched in NFL history. He scored a 108-yard kickoff return touchdown that was the longest-ever postseason play. The 49ers, who were trailing going into halftime, were immediately deflated and never recovered to mount a large enough comeback to usurp the Ravens' lead.
What is forgotten is that right before Jacoby Jones went on the field, Ray Lewis, the Baltimore icon, put both his hands on his chest. Later recounting the incident, the defender felt it was a sign from God, saying,
"I'm in the locker room I'm changing the shoes so I'm coming out just a little bit late and we're receiving the ball in the second half. Just as I walk out, God tells me to go put my hands on Jacoby Jones. It's something about faith, but more importantly something about receiving it and then applying it."
Ray Lewis told the returner that he was touching his chest because of divine instructions and so knew that something "magical" was about to unfold. The defensive star added,
"I walked over to him and I told him, 'I'm just doing what God told me. Let's put my hands.' I put my hands on his chest, I touched his chest, I went to the sideline and everybody else didn't know but I knew something magical was about to happen."
A legendary score was followed by Jacoby Jones doing Ray Lewis' dance, one assumes, in honor of the benediction he had received. With the receiver's passing, it is through such archives that we will keep remembering him.