Arthur Jones, a former NFL defensive lineman who helped the Baltimore Ravens capture Super Bowl XLVII, died Friday morning at his home in Pompey, New York. He was 39.
Emergency responders were dispatched to Jones’ residence shortly before 11 a.m. on October 3, 2025, after his defibrillator activated and automatically alerted his doctor. An Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told Syracuse.com that Jones had a pre-existing heart condition and used a pacemaker. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Ravens and Syracuse University, Jones’ alma mater, announced his death but did not specify the cause in their official statements. Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta indicated that Jones’ presence was a gift to everyone he encountered, noting his infectious energy and eternal positivity that continuously uplifted others.
Jones was drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by Baltimore after a standout collegiate career at Syracuse. During his four seasons with the Ravens from 2010-2013, he accumulated 120 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and 22 quarterback hits. His most productive seasons came in 2012 and 2013, when he recorded 8.5 of his 10 career sacks over that two-year stretch.
The defensive lineman played a crucial role in Baltimore’s Super Bowl XLVII victory over the San Francisco 49ers, which capped the 2012 season. During that championship game at the Superdome in New Orleans, Jones sacked 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick just before a major power outage and also recovered a fumble to help secure the Ravens’ 34-31 triumph.
Following his time in Baltimore, Jones signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2014, where he spent three seasons, appearing in 17 games with 11 starts. During his tenure with Indianapolis, he totaled 53 tackles, 1.5 sacks and four tackles for loss while also contributing in all three of the Colts’ 2014 playoff games with 11 tackles and one quarterback hit. He concluded his NFL career with a final season in Washington in 2017.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, who coached Jones for all three of his seasons in Baltimore, described him as a truly remarkable person and dedicated teammate. Harbaugh emphasized Jones’ genuine gift for connecting with people and bringing joy to the locker room, calling his presence a source of light within the team and the Baltimore community.
Jones was the oldest of three brothers who all achieved professional sports success. His younger brother Jon Jones is a former UFC heavyweight champion, while Chandler Jones enjoyed an 11-year NFL career as a defensive end, earning four Pro Bowl selections and winning a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. Chandler Jones accumulated 112 sacks during his NFL tenure from 2012-2022.
At Syracuse, Jones established himself as one of the program’s most accomplished players from 2005-2009. He set a school record for tackles for loss by an interior defensive lineman with 38.5 and ranked among the top-10 in program history for career tackles by a defensive lineman with 146. He earned first-team All-Big East selection honors in each of his final two collegiate seasons.
Syracuse Athletic Director John Wildhack said that Jones was “a tremendous player and even better person.” Wildhack noted that Jones continued supporting the football program after his playing career ended, impacting student-athletes with his characteristic smile and uplifting messages.
Jones’ roots trace back to Union-Endicott High School in Endicott, New York, where he starred as both a football player and wrestler. He was named first-team Class AA all-state in football for 2003 and 2004, and won New York State wrestling championships at 275 pounds during his sophomore and senior seasons in 2003 and 2005.
The Union-Endicott Central School District described Jones as one of its most accomplished student-athletes in district history and planned to hold a moment of silence before the high school’s homecoming football game on October 4. The district characterized him as a true Tiger both on and off the field.
The funeral for Jones was held Saturday, October 11, 2025, at City Church in Binghamton, New York.
Throughout his seven-season NFL career, Jones appeared in 64 games and recorded 173 total tackles, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles. Former teammates and sports figures paid tribute to Jones on social media, with Ravens receiver Torrey Smith calling him a great man and father, while UFC fighter Conor McGregor described him as a friendly giant.