Tony Jones Jr.

Tony Jones Jr. (born November 24, 1997) is an American football running back for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame.

Tony Jones Jr.
No. 37 – Arizona Cardinals
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1997-11-24) November 24, 1997
St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:224 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)
College:Notre Dame (2016–2019)
Undrafted:2020
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Practice squad
Career NFL statistics as of Week 4, 2023
Rushing yards:249
Rushing average:2.8
Receptions:14
Receiving yards:80
Total touchdowns:2
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Jones attended St. Petersburg Catholic High School in St. Petersburg, Florida before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.[1] He played baseball and football in high school.[2] As a senior in football, he had 78 carries for 514 yards and 11 touchdowns. Jones played in the 2015 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.[3] He committed to the University of Notre Dame to play college football.[4]

College career

Jones did not see the field as a true freshman in 2016. As a redshirt freshman at Notre Dame in 2017, Jones played in 12 games and had 44 carries for 232 yards and three touchdowns. As a redshirt sophomore in 2018, he played in 13 games and had 392 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Jones took over as the starting running back his redshirt junior year in 2019.[5] He missed a game and a half due to cartilage damage in his ribs suffered during a loss to Michigan.[6] Jones graduated in December and announced that he would not return to Notre Dame for his fifth year, in order to enter the 2020 NFL Draft.[7]

In the 2019 Camping World Bowl, Jones had a 84 yard touchdown run that broke the record for longest run in Notre Dame bowl game history.[8] Jones rushed for 857 yards and six touchdowns in his senior season.

At the end of the season, Jones was selected to play in the 2020 East-West Shrine Game in his hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida.[9]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
5 ft 10+1⁄2 in
(1.79 m)		 220 lb
(100 kg)		 30+5⁄8 in
(0.78 m)		 9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		4.68 s1.58 s2.72 s4.21 s7.18 s32.5 in
(0.83 m)		9 ft 11 in
(3.02 m)		13 reps
All values from NFL Combine[10][11]

New Orleans Saints

Jones signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020.[12] He was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, and re-signed to the team's practice squad the next day.[13][14] He was elevated to the active roster on January 2, 2021, for the team's week 17 game against the Carolina Panthers, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.[15] On January 18, 2021, Jones signed a reserve/futures contract with the Saints.[16] On September 2, 2021, Jones made the 53-man roster for the Saints after rushing 106 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown, along with 42 receiving yards on six receptions in two preseason games.[17] He suffered an ankle injury in Week 4 and was placed on injured reserve on October 6, 2021.[18] He was activated on November 20.

On October 8, 2022, Jones was waived by the Saints.[19]

Seattle Seahawks

On October 10, 2022, Jones was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks.[20] He was waived on December 21 and signed to the practice squad on December 26.[21][22] He was promoted to the active roster on January 13, 2023.[23]

Denver Broncos

On March 23, 2023, Jones was signed by the Denver Broncos.[24] On August 29, 2023, he was waived by the Broncos.[25]

New Orleans Saints (second stint)

On August 30, 2023, Jones was signed by the New Orleans Saints to their practice squad.[26] Jones was elevated to the active roster on September 18 and ran for 34 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers following an injury to Jamaal Williams late in the first half of the Saints' week 2 game.[27] Following the game, Jones was signed to the active roster on September 20, 2023.[28] He was released on October 7.[29]

Arizona Cardinals

On October 9, 2023, Jones was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals.[30] He was waived on October 19, and re-signed to the practice squad.

NFL career statistics
Legend
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Returning Fumbles
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2020 NO 1 1 3 13 4.3 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021 NO 11 4 54 142 2.6 11 0 5 29 5.8 19 0 1 5 5 5 0 0 0
2022 NO 2 0 2 8 4 6 0 2 12 6 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SEA 4 0 8 16 2 7 0 3 18 6 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023 NO 4 1 21 70 3.3 19 2 4 21 5.3 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 22 6 88 249 2.8 19 2 14 80 5.7 19 0 1 5 5 5 0 0 0

Personal life

Jones' father Tony Jones Sr. was a fullback and linebacker for Illinois State, as well as the Cleveland Thunderbolts, Tampa Bay Storm, and Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League.[31]

At Notre Dame, Jones majored in Film, Television and Theatre. During the 2019 college football season, Jones filmed his first film, a short film entitled "Come Together" written and directed with classmate Conor Fitzgerald,[32] starring football teammate Ovie Oghoufo and fellow FTT student and stage actress Teagan Earley.[33] The short film premiered at the 2020 Sundial Film Festival[34] in Redding, California.

References
  1. Irish, Bayou (February 3, 2016). "Signature Moves: Tony Jones". Her Loyal Sons. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  2. Burlage, Todd (November 21, 2019). "Tony Jones Jr.: A Case Study in Patience and Performance". UND.com. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  3. "Army All-American Tony Jones pays tribute to grandfather who served in the military". November 18, 2015.
  4. Reilly, Brendan. "2016 RB Tony Jones Jr. Commits to Notre Dame!". OneFootDown.com.
  5. "Tony Jones Jr.'s time to shine at running back". The Observer.
  6. Arend, Alek. "Brian Kelly Announces New Injury Update For RB Tony Jones Jr". The Spun.
  7. "Tony Jones Jr. declares for the NFL Draft, leaving intrigue for Notre Dame's running back room". December 31, 2019.
  8. "WATCH Tony Jones Jr. take it 84 yards to the house to put Notre Dame up 27-6 over Iowa State". OneFootDown.com.
  9. Torello, Chris. "St. Pete Native Begins NFL Journey at East-West Shrine Bowl". BayNews9.com.
  10. "Tony Jones Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  11. "2020 Draft Scout Tony Jones Jr, Notre Dame NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  12. "Saints add 13 undrafted free agents". NewOrleansSaints.com. April 27, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  13. "Saints announce 53-man roster reductions for 2020". NewOrleansSaints.com. September 5, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  14. "New Orleans Saints announce practice squad additions". NewOrleansSaints.com. September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  15. "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. January 2, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  16. Bouda, Nate (January 18, 2021). "Saints Sign 13 Players To Futures Deals, Release WR Jake Kumerow From PS". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  17. Vitovitch, Frank (September 2, 2021). "38 Former Notre Dame Football Players Make NFL Rosters". UHND.com. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  18. "Ryquell Armstead signed to Saints practice squad, Tony Jones Jr. to I.R." Saints Wire. USA Today. October 6, 2021.
  19. "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. October 8, 2022.
  20. Boyle, John (October 10, 2022). "Seahawks Claim RB Tony Jones Off Waivers". Seahawks.com.
  21. Boyle, John (December 21, 2022). "Seahawks Sign DT Daviyon Nixon, Waive RB Tony Jones Jr". Seahawks.com.
  22. Boyle, John (December 26, 2022). "Seahawks Sign RB Godwin Igwebuike Off Practice Squad, Place S Joey Blount On Injured Reserve". Seahawks.com.
  23. Boyle, John (January 13, 2023). "Seahawks Sign RB Tony Jones Jr. To 53-Man Roster; Elevate Cade Johnson & Alexander Johnson From Practice Squad". Seahawks.com.
  24. DiLalla, Aric (March 23, 2023). "Broncos sign RB Tony Jones Jr". DenverBroncos.com.
  25. Lynch, Tim (August 29, 2023). "Broncos have waived running back Tony Jones Jr". MileHighReport.com.
  26. Sliger, John (August 30, 2023). "Saints bring back RB Tony Jones Jr. to their practice squad". Yahoo.com.
  27. "New Orleans Saints 20-17 Carolina Panthers: Tony Jones Jr scores double as Bryce Young is swarmed by Saints defense". Sky Sports. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  28. "Saints promote practice squad RB Tony Jones Jr. to their 53-man roster". Saints Wire. September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  29. "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves ahead of Sunday's game at New England". NewOrleansSaints.com. October 7, 2023.
  30. Root, Jess (October 9, 2023). "Cardinals claim RB Tony Jones off waivers". USA Today.
  31. "Tony Jones Sr. Stats". ArenaFan.com.
  32. "Come Together". Room203Productions.com.
  33. "Teagan Earley Performance Resume" (PDF). TeaganEarley.com.
  34. "Sundial Film Festival". sundialfilmfestival.com.
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