For the past few days, the Baltimore Ravens offensive line coach, Joe D’Alessandris, had been suffering from an acute illness that needed surgery. Even current Ravens HC also expressed his emotions after receiving the news of his acute illness. As reported by Jamison Hensley, an ESPN reporter for the Ravens, John Harbaugh stated, “Talking to his daughters, the information that they’re sharing is they’re very encouraged by his progress. He’s still got some work to do, but he’s a fighter. There’s nobody tougher than Joe D.”

But things went south pretty quickly, as Jeff Zrebiec posted that Ravens OL coach Joe D’Alessandris passed away this morning. With a legendary coaching career that spanned over five decades. His time at the gridiron comes to an end. After this tragic news surfaced on the internet, reactions from every corner of the NFL world started to pour in. As Joe D wasn’t only an admired figure in the Ravens nation but also in other franchises where Joe had some part to play in transforming their offenses.

Ravens Nation reacts to Joe D’Alessandris’s sudden passing at age 70

As soon as the news of Joe D’Alessandris getting hospitalized due to an acute illness spread in the NFL world, most of us knew he would be out for an extended period. But no one could have guessed the next thing that happened. With 15 years of coaching experience in the NFL, Joe has been part of the Chiefs, Bills, Chargers, and finally, Ravens since 2017. He played an integral role in transforming a Ravens offense into a lethal offensive unit.

Having secured an offensive rank of No.5 last season, the Ravens had an even better 2022 NFL season, where they finished second in best-ranked offenses. However, Joe D wasn’t renowned only for his ability to bring out the best in his players. He had a loving personality off the field, where he talked for hours with anyone about his three daughters, Anna, Kelly, and Emily. Sometimes, he would also mention his wife, Toni, who tragically passed away in 2022 after 42 years of marriage.

His close associate, Ravens HC John Harbaugh, was among the first ones to express his sorrow about the incident, “Coach Joe D was a man of integrity and man of faith. He made us all better. I admired him, loved him, and am going to miss him because Joe D was a joy. Toni has him back now. May God bless Joe D forever.”

Elsewhere, Baltimore’s GM Eric DeCosta also conveyed his emotions upon hearing the news, “Today is a sad day for the Baltimore Ravens. Joe D was a rock, a great coach and a better person.” Well, today is truly a sorrowful day as the whole Ravens nation weeps for the passing of their beloved offensive line coach.

As for the Ravens, it would be a daunting task for them to fill the void that Joe D leaves in the dugout. With the new season approaching fast, can Baltimore find a replacement? Or will it be a huge task for them?

If you want to turn your attention to something more exciting, then check out our exclusive interview with Chris Gronkowski as he shares with us his NFL journey and other interesting stories at Dual Threat Podcast with BG12.