Jacoby Jones
A lightning-fast receiver and returner whose breathtaking Super Bowl kickoff return sealed a championship for the Baltimore Ravens.
1984–2024 (age 40)·American football player·Birthday: July 11·Millennials
Biography
Jacoby Jones's NFL career was a testament to explosive, game-altering speed. Drafted by the Houston Texans, he initially struggled with consistency but found his defining moment after joining the Baltimore Ravens in 2012. His 56-yard touchdown catch in the final minutes of the AFC Divisional playoff that year is etched in franchise lore, forcing overtime and propelling the Ravens toward the Super Bowl. On the sport's biggest stage, Jones delivered an iconic 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, the longest play in Super Bowl history, helping secure the Lombardi Trophy. His later years saw brief stops with other teams, but his legacy remains that of a clutch postseason performer whose sheer velocity could change a game's destiny in a single, electrifying flash.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jacoby was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jacoby Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Jacoby's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
Key Achievements
- Scored a 56-yard 'Mile High Miracle' touchdown in the 2013 AFC Divisional playoff, a pivotal play in the Ravens' Super Bowl run.
- Executed a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLVII, the longest play in the game's history.
- Earned a Pro Bowl selection and First-Team All-Pro honors in 2012 as a return specialist.
Did You Know?
He was a standout track athlete in college at Lane, competing in the 100-meter dash and long jump.
After retiring from the NFL, he appeared as a contestant on the television show 'Dancing with the Stars'.
His Super Bowl kickoff return touchdown was the second of two touchdowns he scored in that game.
“I just caught it and ran. I wasn't thinking about nothing but the end zone.”
