How did Joe D'Alessandris die? The reason for the tragic death of the Ravens OL coach is revealed

In the last few days Baltimore Ravens Offensive Line Coach Joe D'Alessandris suffered from an acute illness that required surgery. The current Ravens HC also expressed his emotions after receiving the news of his acute illness. As reported Jameson Hensley, an ESPN reporter for the Ravens, John Harbaugh specified, “When speaking to his daughters, they say they are very encouraged by his progress. He still has a lot of work to do, but he is a fighter. There is no one tougher than Joe D.”

But things went downhill pretty quickly when Jeff Zrebiec posted that Ravens OL coach Joe D'Alessandris passed away this morning. His legendary coaching career that spanned five decades is coming to an end. After this tragic news hit the internet, reactions poured in from all corners of the NFL world. For Joe D was an admired figure not only in Ravens nation, but also in other franchises whose offenses Joe played a role in transforming.

Ravens Nation reacts to Joe D'Alessandris' sudden death at the age of 70

When news broke that Joe D'Alessandris was hospitalized for an acute illness, most of us knew he would be out for an extended period of time. But no one could have guessed what would happen next. Joe has 15 years of experience as a coach in the NFL, having been a part of the Chiefs, Bills, Chargers and finally the Ravens since 2017. He played a crucial role in transforming the Ravens offense into a lethal offensive unit.

After securing a No. 5 offensive ranking last season, the Ravens had an even better one in the 2022 NFL season, where they finished second in the top-ranked offense. However, Joe D wasn't only known for his ability to get the most out of his players. Off the field, he had a loving personality, where he would spend hours talking to 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 confidant, Ravens HC John Harbaugh, was one of the first to express his regret over the incident. “Coach Joe D was a man of integrity and faith. He made us all better. I admired him, loved him and will miss him because Joe D was a joy. Toni has him back now. May God bless Joe D forever.”

Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta also expressed his feelings after the news: “Today is a sad day for the Baltimore Ravens. Joe D was a rock, a great coach and an even better person.” Well, today is truly a sad day as the entire Ravens nation mourns the loss of their beloved offensive line coach.

It would be a huge task for the Ravens to fill the void that Joe D. leaves in the dugout. The new season is just around the corner. 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, check out our exclusive interview with Chris Gronkowski while he shares with us his NFL journey and other interesting stories at Dual Threat Podcast with BG12.