OWINGS MILLS — The Ravens lost two of the most beloved members of their organization over the last two months — offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris and former wide receiver/returner Jacoby Jones.
Coach John Harbaugh said the team wants to honor D’Alessandris and Jones and is dedicating the season to them.
“‘[D’Alessandris] was a good man, a good coach, just a great person [and] a great man of faith, so he was kind of an inspiration for all of us here for sure,” Harbaugh said after practice on Monday. “We want to honor him for sure with this season, and we want to honor Jacoby Jones this season. Those are two people that we’re going to dedicate our season to this year and do everything we can to make them proud of us when they’re watching from where they’re watching. So, we appreciate those two great men very much.”
D’Alessandris died Sunday morning at the age of 70 after an undisclosed acute illness. He had been hospitalized because of an earlier surgery and had taken a leave of absence from the team earlier this month.
D’Alessandris was born April 29, 1954, in Sewickley, Pennsylvania and was an assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers before taking the job with the Ravens.
Jones died in July at his home in New Orleans from natural causes and cited hypertensive cardiovascular disease as his cause of death.
In D’Alessandris’ absence, the Ravens added George Warhop to the staff. Warhop has more than 40 years of coaching experience, including 27 seasons guiding NFL offensive lines,
Warhop has spent time as an offensive line coach with the Houston Texans (2022), Jacksonville Jaguars (2019-21), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-18), Cleveland Browns (2009-2013), San Francisco 49ers (2005-08), Dallas Cowboys (2003-04), Arizona Cardinals (1998-2002), and Rams (1996-97).
D’Alessandris and Jones are already missed.
“I just wanted to express again our heartfelt condolences, and our very best wishes and prayers to Joe’s family, his three amazing daughters who have been with him every step of the way, all of his great grandkids that – we saw a tape today with our players, his grandkids on the sideline before the game [and] running around here in the fieldhouse,” Harbaugh said. “All of those things mean so much when we look back on Joe’s life and what an impact that he had.
About Jones, Harbaugh said:
“I loved Jacoby Jones. We all did. His spirit, enthusiasm and love for people were powerful. He was a light.”
