Julio Jones

Julio Jones
refer to caption
Jones with the Tennessee Titans in 2021
Personal information
Born: (1989-02-08) February 8, 1989 (age 35)
Foley, Alabama, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:Foley
College:Alabama (2008–2010)
Position:Wide receiver
NFL draft:2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Receptions:914
Receiving yards:13,703
Receiving touchdowns:66
Player stats at PFR

Quintorris Lopez "Julio" Jones Jr. (/ˈhuːlioʊ/ HOO-lee-oh; born February 8, 1989)[1] is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2011 NFL draft. He is regarded as one of the greatest receivers of the 2010s.[2]

After a productive rookie season, Jones recorded 1,198 receiving yards and ten touchdowns in 2012 and was named to his first Pro Bowl. After an injury-plagued 2013 season where he only played five games, Jones led the Falcons in receiving yards in 2014, and made his second Pro Bowl, beginning to develop a deep chemistry with team quarterback Matt Ryan.[3][4] Jones broke out the next season, leading the league in receiving yards and co-leading in receptions, both of his statistics ranking top five all-time in a season. After this season, he was named to his first All-Pro selection. In 2016, Jones again had a productive year, garnering another All-Pro selection, and helped to lead the Falcons to Super Bowl LI. Over the next three seasons, Jones amassed 4,515 yards, the most by any player during that span, including leading the league again in yards in 2018.

Jones has amassed the most receiving yards by any player since entering the league,[5] and more than any receiver in the 2010s, with 12,125 yards during that span.[6] In doing so, Jones was invited to seven Pro Bowls, including six consecutive from 2014 to 2019, was a first-team All-Pro selection twice and was named second-team All-Pro three times.

Jones has been noted for having a rare combination of size (6 ft 3 in and 220 lbs), speed (40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds), catching ability, strength, leaping ability, and body control, which has drawn frequent comparisons to Calvin Johnson.[7][8] On November 11, 2018, Jones became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 10,000 career receiving yards.[9] On September 15, 2019, Jones became the all-time career receiving yards leader for the Falcons.[10] On October 5, 2020, Jones became the all-time career receptions leader for the Falcons. His career average of 87.9 receiving yards per game is the second highest in NFL history, and as of 2022, he is tied for third all-time in career games with 100-yards receiving with 59 career games.[11][12] After another injury-plagued 2020 season, Jones was traded to the Tennessee Titans in 2021 after reported disgruntlement with Atlanta's new front office.[13] After being released by the Titans in 2022, Jones signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles before being released at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Florio, Mike (December 26, 2019). "Top 10 receivers of the decade". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  3. ^ Moton, Maurice (June 4, 2019). "Ranking the NFL's Top 10 QB-WR Duos". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  4. ^ Mays, Robert (January 24, 2020). "The Top 10 NFL Quarterback–Pass Catching Duos of the 21st Century". The Ringer. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  5. ^ "Most receiving yards since the 2011 NFL season". StatMuse. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "Most receiving yards by a player from 2010–2019". StatMuse. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  7. ^ "NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles – Julio Jones". NFL.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  8. ^ Bardeen, Knox (February 1, 2013). "Why Julio Jones Is Better Than Calvin Johnson". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  9. ^ McClure, Vaughn (November 11, 2018). "Julio Jones becomes fastest receiver to 10,000 yards". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  10. ^ McFadden, Will (September 16, 2019). "WATCH: Julio Jones scores 54-yard touchdown, surpasses Roddy White as Falcons' all-time leading receiver". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  11. ^ "NFL Receiving Yards per Game Career Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on December 17, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  12. ^ "Most Career 100 Yard Receiving Games". StatMuse. Archived from the original on January 30, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  13. ^ Maya, Adam (June 6, 2021). "Falcons trade WR Julio Jones, future sixth-rounder to Titans for second- and fourth-round picks". NFL.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2021.