James Jones

James Roosevelt Jones (born March 21, 1961) is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons during the 1980s and early 1990s. Jones played college football for the Florida Gators and then played professionally for the Detroit Lions and the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL.

Early life

Jones was born in Pompano Beach, Florida. He attended Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, and he was a star high school football player for the Blanche Ely Mighty Tigers. Jones was so versatile in his ability to play multiple positions that he was nicknamed the "Franchise." Parade magazine named him as a high school All-American after his senior season. During Jones' sophomore season in 1980, he was a member of the Gators team that posted the biggest one-year turnaround in the history of NCAA Division I football —from 0–10–1 in 1979 to an 8–4 bowl team in 1980.

He was a team captain in 1981 and 1982, a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection in 1981 and 1982, and a third-team/honorable mention All-American in 1982. In a 2006 article series published by The Gainesville Sun, the Sun sportswriters ranked him as the No. 45 all-time greatest Gator from the first century of the Florida Gators football team.

Professional career

The Detroit Lions selected Jones in the first round (thirteenth pick overall) of the 1983 NFL draft, and he played for the Lions from to . Jones started off for the Lions blocking for Billy Sims but became the featured back for the Lions in when Sims was injured. Jones played with Garry James from to and the tandem became known as the "James Gang." Jones' best game with the Lions was in week 1 of in a 13–10 win over the Vikings; he rushed for 174 yards on thirty-six carries and was recognized as the NFC offensive player of the week for his performance.

Jones was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in for defensive back Terry Taylor, and he finished his NFL career with the Seahawks in . Jones finished his ten-season NFL career having played in 135 games, started ninety-one of them, rushed for 3,626 yards and twenty-six touchdowns on 1,010 carries, and caught 318 passes for 2,641 yards and ten touchdowns.

NFL career statistics Legend Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1983 DET 14 14 135 475 3.5 18 6 46 467 10.2 46 1 1984 DET 16 16 137 532 3.9 34 3 77 662 8.6 39 5 1985 DET 14 13 244 886 3.6 29 6 45 334 7.4 36 3 1986 DET 16 16 252 903 3.6 39 8 54 334 6.2 21 1 1987 DET 11 11 96 342 3.6 19 0 34 262 7.7 35 0 1988 DET 14 14 96 314 3.3 13 0 29 259 8.9 40 0 1989 SEA 2 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 8 8.0 8 0 1990 SEA 16 0 5 20 4.0 5 0 1 22 22.0 22 0 1991 SEA 16 6 45 154 3.4 22 3 10 103 10.3 29 0 1992 SEA 16 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 21 190 9.0 30 0 135 91 1,010 3,626 3.6 39 26 318 2,641 8.3 46 10

Playoffs Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1983 DET 1 1 10 33 3.3 7 0 5 44 8.8 17 0 1 1 10 33 3.3 7 0 5 44 8.8 17 0

Life after the NFL

Jones became the head football coach for his high school alma mater Blanche Ely, in 2007, but he resigned in May 2008 after a single season.