Baltimore Ravens pay tribute to late coach Jacoby Jones with helmet decal

The last few weeks haven’t been easy for the Baltimore Ravens.

On July 14, former Ravens wide receiver and running back Jacoby Jones, a hero of Super Bowl 47, suddenly and tragically died in his hometown of New Orleans. Then on August 25, offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris died less than two weeks after being hospitalized with an “acute illness.”

Both men may be gone, but they are certainly not forgotten, especially in Baltimore. On Tuesday, the Ravens unveiled a new helmet sticker honoring both Jones and D’Alessandris. All players will wear the sticker on the back of their helmets, just above each of their numbers.

“I hope these helmet tags for Jacoby Jones and Joe D’Alessandris help remind us all that it’s about people,” head coach John Harbaugh said, according to the team’s website. “It’s about the people in your life that you share this time on Earth with. Treat them well, respect them, celebrate them, love them and remember them.”

Jones, 40, played nine seasons in the NFL with four teams but is best remembered for his postseason heroics in 2012.

His first of several big plays came in the divisional round against the top-seeded Denver Broncos, when he caught a 70-yard bomb from Joe Flacco to tie the score in the final minute of regulation. Then in Super Bowl 47 against the San Francisco 49ers, Jones had two touchdowns — a 56-yard reception and a 108-yard kickoff return — to help the Ravens win their second championship in franchise history, and it was in his hometown.

“I loved Jacoby Jones. We all did,” Harbaugh said after Jones’ death. “His spirit, his enthusiasm and his love for people were powerful. He was a light.”

D’Alessandris, 70, had nearly years of coaching experience and had played in the NFL since 2007. Affectionately known by his players as “Joe D.”, he became the Ravens’ offensive line coach in 2017 and quickly became one of the most respected coaches on the staff. His loss is especially painful for the offensive linemen.

“He touched a lot of lives and was a great person,” defenseman Andrew Vorhees said. “Our calling now is to go and honor him in the way we play and the way we conduct ourselves throughout the season.”

After losing two legendary players, the Ravens will be playing with great emotions this season.

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