Tragedy has hit UFC superstar Jon Jones as his brother Arthur Jones, the former Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman who helped deliver a Super Bowl XLVII title, died Friday at his home in Pompey, N.Y. He was 39. The Ravens and Jones’s alma mater, Syracuse University. Confirmed his passing; a cause of death has not been announced as of Saturday.
Authorities have not released an official cause. Local 911 dispatch summaries reported a defibrillator alert at Jones’s residence. That prompted fire and ambulance crews to respond; however, officials have not tied that alert to a medical cause.
A key piece of a championship front
Drafted in the fifth round in 2010, Jones played four seasons in Baltimore (2010–13). Then stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington. Finishing a seven-year NFL career with 64 games (31 starts), 173 total tackles, 10 sacks, and two forced fumbles. He recorded a sack of Colin Kaepernick and recovered a fumble during the Ravens’ 34–31 win in Super Bowl XLVII.
Baltimore’s team announcement also highlighted his late-season surge with 8.5 sacks across his final two Ravens seasons and his pivotal plays in New Orleans.
Tributes pour in
“We are terribly saddened to learn of Arthur Jones’ sudden passing,” Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said, praising Jones’s “big, bright smile” and “eternal positivity.” Head coach John Harbaugh called him “a dedicated teammate” whose “positive energy and infectious enthusiasm made him a beloved part of our organization.”
Former Ravens wideout Torrey Smith wrote, “RIP to my brother Arthur Jones… We lost a great man and father.” UFC star Conor McGregor called Jones “a friendly giant,” adding, “God speed Arthur Jones.”
Syracuse roots, a family of champions
A Rochester native, Jones starred at Syracuse before turning pro; the school also shared news of his death Friday. He is the older brother of former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones and four-time NFL Pro Bowler Chandler Jones.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
