"Yesterday the Lord called home a piece of my family's heart, Marlo," Jones captioned a photo of the boy. "It is hard to believe that our little angel, our fighter from day one, our son 'Marlito' has unfortunately passed away and is no longer here with us."
He added: "Marlo, the joy that you brought to us everyday, with that smile, and that energy was like heaven on earth. You will always be in our hearts. We will always remember you."
The Lions said in a statement that the boy's death was "sudden" but did not say how he died. The team also offered support to Jones and his wife, Jazmyn.
"Marvin and Jazmyn embody the true meaning of family, and the example they set has made them an inspiration to so many in our community," the team's statement read. "We thank everyone for the outpouring of support."
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 29, 2019
The couple share three other sons and a daughter, the Free Press reported.
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