Ex-Raven Jones hired as Calvert Hall WR coach
The Calvert Hall football team made a splash hire Tuesday by making former Ravens star and Super Bowl hero Jacoby Jones its wide receivers coach.
Cardinals coach Josh Ward mentioned last month that the team is looking to become a “national program.” Hiring Jones comes as a welcome addition to the staff, bringing name recognition as an All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection, along with being a Super Bowl champion.
“I was walking around and Jacoby was on campus today and he even sees it,” Ward said. “We have the facilities, we have the academics we have the capabilities to be at that level, and to add a guy like Jacoby, along with the rest of my staff, we have the staff to take us that level. That was my goal.”
Ward got connected with Jones through a friend that is also an alumni of Calvert Hall a few weeks ago. The two kept in touch and Ward made space to bring the former return man onboard. Jones moved back to Baltimore on Thursday from his hometown of New Orleans and they made a verbal agreement Thursday to add him to the coaching staff. Tuesday was Jones’ first day of practice.
Jones had his best season as a Raven in 2012, catching 30 passes for 406 yards and a touchdown. The special teams ace returned 37 punts for 341 yards and a touchdown along with a league-high two kickoff return touchdowns and 30.7 yards per return, earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
His ability as a return man has already proven to be a valuable asset for the young Calvert Hall team.
“The kids were in love,” Ward said. “Just to see him helping out at punt return — we were doing some special teams today and he was back there. You’ve got a guy that’s returned a kickoff for touchdowns and plenty of punt returns for touchdowns and probably one of the most famous kickoff returns where [Pittsburgh Steelers coach] Mike Tomlin stepped on the field.
“He’s literally returned kicks and punts in the NFL teaching our punt returners how to catch the ball and how to read the punt. It’s just crazy. It’s a surreal feeling for the kids and just to see the knowledge and to see them soak that in is awesome.”
Jones was an instrumental part of the Ravens’ Super Bowl run that season. In the AFC divisional round against the Broncos, Jones hauled in a game-tying 70-yard touchdown pass from former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco in the final minute in what became known as the “Mile High Miracle.” The Ravens won in overtime, 38-35, defeated the Patriots in the conference championship game and topped the 49ers, 34-31, in Super Bowl XLVII. Jones had starring role in the Super Bowl victory, catching a 56-yard touchdown pass and returning a kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown.
Jones amassed 853 punt return yards and a touchdown in his three years with Baltimore (2012 to 2014), along with 2,472 kick return yards and four touchdowns. He added 76 receptions for 992 yards and three touchdowns.
After being cut by the Ravens in 2015, less than a year after signing a four-year, $14 million contract, he went on to finish his NFL career with the then-San Diego Chargers and Steelers before signing with the Monterrey Steel of the National Arena League in March 2017. Jones played eight games, catching 19 passes for 169 yards and one touchdown. He signed a one-day contract with the Ravens on September 29, 2017, officially retiring from football.