Calvin Jones (cornerback)

Calvin Jones
No. 26
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born:(1951-01-26)January 26, 1951
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died:October 24, 2021(2021-10-24) (aged 70)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight:170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High school:Balboa
(San Francisco, California)
College:Washington
NFL draft:1973 / round: 15 / pick: 373
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions:12
Fumble recoveries:2
Defensive TDs:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Calvin Jones (January 26, 1951 – October 24, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) with the Denver Broncos. He played college football at the University of Washington in Seattle, and graduated from Balboa High School in San Francisco in the fall of 1968.[2]

In 1970, Jones, along with Mark Wheeler and Ira Hammon, quit the UW football team, holding a press conference denouncing racial discrimination on the part of the coaching staff, led by head coach Jim Owens.[3] In 1971, Don Smith, an African-American, was appointed UW assistant athletic director. Smith asked Jones to return to the UW, and Jones became an All-American in 1972.[4]

Jones was selected in the fifteenth round of the 1973 NFL draft (373rd overall) by the Washington Redskins and played four seasons with the Denver Broncos.

Jones died on October 24, 2021, at the age of 70.[5]

  1. ^ "2016 Media Guide" (PDF). GoHuskies.com. University of Washington Athletics. p. 162. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  2. ^ "Balboa High School 1968 1969 yearbook Photos san francisco". Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  3. ^ "At long last, peace for three UW players". www.seattletimes.com. November 6, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  4. ^ "Donald Smith was a pioneer at Washington | the Seattle Times". community.seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  5. ^ "Balboa Alum Calvin Jones a 3 time All-Pac-8 player dies" (Press release). SF Chronicle. November 5, 2021.