NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Dozens of children gathered at Pontchartrain Park Saturday morning (August 24) to play football in honor of Jacoby Jones, an NFL player and New Orleans native.

The event, an annual soccer festival hosted by the Pontchartrain Park Booster Club, brought together 34 youth teams to remember Jones, who died unexpectedly in July at the age of 40 from complications of cardiovascular disease.

“We wanted to honor Jacoby today in the park where he started,” said Nikki Collins, president of the Pontchartrain Park Booster Club.

Friends and family in New Orleans mourn the death of former NFL player Jacoby Jones

Super Bowl champion Jacoby Jones from New Orleans was found dead at the age of 40

Jacoby Jones, one of the stars of Baltimore’s recent Super Bowl title race, has died at the age of 40

Jones, who had a successful NFL career, including a Super Bowl 47 win with the Baltimore Ravens, was known for his strong ties to his hometown, often returning to Pontchartrain Park to share his wealth and knowledge of the game with the community.

“That’s what we miss about him,” said Darrell Jackson, a local coach. “That’s why the mural is up and will stay there.”

The event highlighted Jones’ sense of community, and many attendees spoke about his lasting impact.

“It’s family, everything is family, we all come from the inner city, and it’s family, we all come together and do this all the time,” Jackson added.

Jones’ legacy continues to resonate in the neighborhood where his football career began.

“Here, out in the park, where it all began for him, we wanted to honor and celebrate him. Here we wanted to let his family and him know that we will miss him forever,” Collins said.

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