Tony Jones Jr.

Tony Jones Jr.'s Biography

Tony Jones Jr. is an accomplished athlete hailing from St. Petersburg, Florida, embodied by his readiness to make and break records in football. Born on November 24, 1997, Jones Jr. is an American professional football running back. Despite his current position as a free agent, his career is adorned with numerous accolades and compelling moments in football both at the college and professional level.

A prominent period of Jones’ early life was spent at St. Petersburg Catholic High School, which he attended before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Even then, Jones showed considerable prowess in sports, particularly in baseball and football. His senior year performance in football was astounding; he managed to accumulate 78 carries for 514 yards and 11 touchdowns. Because of this distinguished performance, he was selected to play at the 2015 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

His commitment and versatility earned him a spot at the University of Notre Dame, where he played college football. In his first year at Notre Dame in 2016, Jones did not play on the field. However, the tide turned in 2017, his redshirt freshman year. Jones participated in 12 games, carrying the ball 44 times for 232 yards, and scoring three touchdowns.

This upward trajectory continued into his sophomore year in 2018, where he played in 13 games and amassed 392 rushing yards, along with three touchdowns. However, it was in 2019, his redshirt junior year, that Jones seized the position as the starting running back and marked his name with a new record at the 2019 Camping World Bowl, making an 84-yard touchdown run, the longest in Notre Dame’s bowl game history. Unfortunately, his exemplary performance was short-lived due to an injury where he suffered cartilage damage in his ribs during a match against Michigan. Jones registered 857 yards and six touchdowns during his final season.

Jones called time on his illustrious college career by foregoing his fifth year at Notre Dame. Instead, he focused on getting ready for the 2020 NFL Draft. The culmination of his senior year saw Jones being selected for the 2020 East-West Shrine Game held in his hometown, St. Petersburg, Florida.

On April 27, 2020, Jones caught the attention of New Orleans Saints, which signed him as an undrafted free agent. Unfortunately, he was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, but was quickly re-signed to the team’s practice squad the next day. Although his tenure was ripe with ups and downs, he got a chance to sign a reserve/futures contract with the Saints on January 18, 2021.

His hard work in the preseason games of 2021 led to Jones making the 53-man roster for the Saints, but a health setback in the form of an ankle injury placed him on injured reserve soon after. After bouncing between waivers and the practice squad for teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos, Jones bounced back with his first two NFL career touchdowns in a Week 2 game against the Carolina Panthers, after Jamaal Williams’ injury. Though his tenure with the Saints ended shortly after, he was claimed by the Arizona Cardinals on October 9, 2023.

Off the field, Jones Jr. gave a glimpse of his creativity and versatility by earning a major in Film, Television, and Theater at Notre Dame. His abilities extended beyond the gridiron, which was evidenced by him writing and directing a short film titled “Come Together” in 2019. The film, starring football teammate Ovie Oghoufo and fellow FTT student and stage actress Teagan Earley, later premiered at the 2020 Sundial Film Festival in Redding, California.

Jones’ football passion runs in his blood; his father, Tony Jones Sr., was a fullback and linebacker for Illinois State, the Cleveland Thunderbolts, Tampa Bay Storm, and Buffalo Destroyers in the Arena Football League. Despite a change in his circumstances and experiences with injuries, Tony Jones Jr. remains a distinguished professional, fervently making his mark on the sport.