Ernie Jones (defensive back)

Ernie Jones
No. 49, 31, 37
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (1953-01-03) January 3, 1953 (age 71)
Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school:Boca Raton (FL)
College:Miami
NFL draft:1976 / round: 5 / pick: 153
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions:6
Fumble recoveries:7
Defensive touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Ernest Jones (born January 3, 1953) is an American former professional football defensive back who played in four National Football League (NFL) seasons from 1976 to 1979 for the Seattle Seahawks and New York Giants.[1][2] He was selected by the Seahawks in the fifth round of the 1976 NFL draft after playing college football for the Miami Hurricanes.[3][4] After playing mostly as a backup cornerback for the Seahawks in 1976, the Seahawks moved him to free safety during the 1977 preseason, but he was waived before the start of the 1977 season and signed by the Giants.[5][6][7] Jones was waived by the Giants during the 1980 preseason and was not picked up by any other team, ending his pro football career.[8][9][10] Giants' head coach Ray Perkins said of waiving Jones that Jones could no longer play "at a level of winning football" due to a foot injury he suffered during the 1979 season and added that "I recommended he retire. Getting waived was his choice. I know we spoke to nine teams and there was no interest."[8] According to Jones' roommate and fellow Giants' defensive back Beasley Reece, Jones spent the 1980 offseason working to regain his mobility but wasn't able to.[10]

  1. ^ "Ernie Jones". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  2. ^ Livingston, Howard (August 20, 1978). "Whirlwind rips through Giants' secondary". Poughkeepsie Journal. p. 8D. Retrieved October 18, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Luebker, Earl (April 9, 1976). "Seahawks decide offense can come out and play, too". News Tribune. p. 5. Retrieved October 18, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Dieffenbach, Leroy (July 2, 1976). "Kids will miss Ernie in summer activities". Boca Raton News. p. 8. Retrieved October 21, 2022 – via www.newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Jones getting trial at free safety spot". Spokesman-Review. July 22, 1977. p. 15. Retrieved October 21, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "'Hawks cut six players". Bellingham Herald. September 14, 1977. p. 13. Retrieved October 18, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Heisman winners axed in final NFL cutdown". Chillicothe Gazette. September 15, 1977. p. 17. Retrieved October 18, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b Kernan, Kevin (August 27, 1980). "Reece loses a friend while Giants lose experience". The News. p. 11. Retrieved October 18, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Marks, Ed (August 26, 1980). "Ernie Jones latest veteran to go". Daily Record. p. 16. Retrieved October 18, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b Smith, Jim (August 27, 1980). "Giants' facelift purges Ernie Jones". Newsday. p. 97. Retrieved October 18, 2022 – via newspapers.com.