The Baltimore Ravens announced earlier today that they will wear a helmet decal to honor the memories of wide receiver Jacoby Jones and offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris, both of whom passed away during the 2024 offseason.
The team released a video showing the decals on the helmets, coupled with images of the two on the field and the sidelines.
For 12 and Joe D 💜 pic.twitter.com/3MKIvAyovY
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 3, 2024
“Hopefully those helmet tags of Jacoby Jones and Joe D’Alessandris help to serve as a reminder to all of us that it’s about the people,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said. “It’s about the people in your life that you share this time on Earth with. Treat them right, cherish them, celebrate them, love them, and remember them.”
Per the team, “D’Alessandris passed away on Aug. 25, 11 days after he was hospitalized with an ‘acute Illness.’ He was revered for the kindness he treated everybody with and the offensive linemen he developed with the touch of a father. An NFL coach for 17 seasons, including seven in Baltimore, D’Alessandris started his NFL career in Kansas City, where the Ravens will open the season. The Ravens’ offensive linemen have dedicated this season to the man they affectionately called ‘Joe D’.”
As for Jacoby Jones, he “died suddenly on July 14 in his native New Orleans. One of the heroes of the Ravens’ 2012 season and Super Bowl XLVII, Jones scored the ‘Mile High Miracle’ to force overtime in the divisional playoff game in Denver and had two touchdowns in the Super Bowl. Beyond the explosion he had on the field, Jones was adored for the joy he brought to life. He was an entertainer in every sense of the word, constantly making his teammates, coaches, and fans laugh.”
The memorial decal will be present when the Ravens open the Season Thursday night against the Kansas City Chiefs, and will remain on the helmets for the duration of the 2024 season.
Guessing that the line between the two names is an attempt to emphasize that the honoree is not someone named Joe D. Jacoby
I fully support memorial stickers, but can we do away with the flag and the damn warning sticker? Like, do they have to leave the warning sticker on in case a fan sneaks down to the field, steals a helmet and starts slamming his head into stuff? Honestly, my minimalist is coming out in full force lately. It’s not just maker’s marks and advertisements. How many times do I need to be reminded that I’m watching a particular league by seeing the league logo on the uniform? Or that the league is based in the United States? Why do they need warning stickers on the helmets of athletes that have been using them for years if not decades? Why must MLB players alert the world to the fact that it’s their first big league game with a patch? Why must all holidays and special events come with a side-of-the-hat patch now? All this stuff is just visual clutter.
Stupid clouds! I’ll show you!
Definitely looks like a guy named Joe D. Jacoby died.
Yes I thought the same thing when I seen it, when Joe Jacoby die ? Strange way to have it on, considering it’s a well known name and great when combining the 2.