Donnie Jones
{{Short description|American football player (born 1980)}}
{{About|the NFL punter|the basketball coach|Donnie Jones (basketball)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Donnie Jones
| image = Donnie Jones.JPG
| alt =
| caption = Jones with the St. Louis Rams in 2010
| number = 9, 5, 8
| position = Punter
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|7|5}}
| birth_place = Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
| death_date =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 221
| high_school = Catholic
(Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
| college = LSU (2000–2003)
| draftyear = 2004
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 224
| pastteams = * Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2004}})
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2005|2006}})
- St. Louis Rams ({{NFL Year|2007|2011}})
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2012}})
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2013|2017}})
- Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2018}})
| highlights = * Super Bowl champion (LII)
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (2008, 2009)
- NFL punting yards leader (2010)
- BCS national champion (2003)
- Second-team All-SEC (2002)
| statlabel1 = Punts
| statvalue1 = 1,157
| statlabel2 = Punting yards
| statvalue2 = 52,490
| statlabel3 = Punting average
| statvalue3 = 45.4
| statlabel4 = Longest punt
| statvalue4 = 80
| statlabel5 = Inside 20
| statvalue5 = 379
| pfr = JoneDo21
}}
Donald Scott Jones Jr. (born July 5, 1980) is an American former professional football punter who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL draft. He also played for the Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams, Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles, and Los Angeles Chargers. With the Eagles, he won Super Bowl LII.
Early life
Jones attended Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and was a letterman in football. He was an All-Metro and All-State punter and an All-District tight end.{{Cite web |date=February 2, 2018 |title=CHS Alumnus Donnie Jones '99 Soaring With The Eagles Into Super Bowl LII – Catholic High School |url=https://catholichigh.org/news/chs-alumnus-donnie-jones-99-soaring-with-the-eagles-into-super-bowl-lii/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030100940/https://catholichigh.org/news/chs-alumnus-donnie-jones-99-soaring-with-the-eagles-into-super-bowl-lii/ |archive-date=October 30, 2020 |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Catholic High |language=en-US}}
College career
Jones was offered scholarships to play football at the University of Oklahoma, LSU, and Ohio State University. He accepted a scholarship to attend Louisiana State University, where he played for the LSU Tigers football team.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/donnie-jones-1.html |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}
As a freshman, Jones had 57 punts for 2,174 net yards for a 38.1 average.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2000 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/donnie-jones-1/gamelog/2000/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} As a sophomore, he had 47 punts for 2,052 net yards for a 43.7 average.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2001 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/donnie-jones-1/gamelog/2001/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} In his junior season, in the first quarter of the Kentucky game, known as the Bluegrass Miracle, he hit an 86-yard punt, the longest punt in school history.{{Cite web |last=Nadeau |first=Rene |date=February 27, 2018 |title=Former LSU, Catholic High punter Donnie Jones announces retirement |url=http://crescentcitysports.com/former-lsu-catholic-high-punter-donnie-jones-announces-retirement/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Crescent City Sports |language=en-US}} As a junior, he had 64 punts for 2,813 net yards for a 44.0 average.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2002 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/donnie-jones-1/gamelog/2002/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} In his senior year, he was involved in the final play of the 2003 National Championship game, when the punt unit took the last snap of the game, and punted to ensure a victory for the team over Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.{{Cite web |title=Sugar Bowl – Oklahoma vs Louisiana State Box Score, January 4, 2004 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2004-01-04-louisiana-state.html |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} As a senior, he had 65 punts for 2,757 net yards for a 42.4 average. He was a four-year starter, averaging 42.4 yards on his 64 punts during his senior year, with a net average of 39 yards.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2003 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/donnie-jones-1/gamelog/2003/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} He landed 22 of those punts inside the 20-yard line, and had seven touchbacks. He majored in finance.
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Year ! School ! Class ! Pos ! G ! Punts ! Yds ! Avg |
| 2000
| LSU | Freshman | P | 11 | 57 | 2,174 | 38.1 |
| 2001
| LSU | Sophomore | P | 12 | 47 | 2,054 | 43.7 |
| 2002
| LSU | Junior | P | 13 | 64 | 2,813 | 44.0 |
| 2003
| LSU | Senior | P | 14 | 65 | 2,757 | 42.4 |
| style="font-weight: bold;" | [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/donnie-jones-1.html Career]
| style="font-weight: bold;" | | style="font-weight: bold;" | | style="font-weight: bold;" | | style="font-weight: bold;" |50 | style="font-weight: bold;" | 233 | style="font-weight: bold;" | 9,798 | style="font-weight: bold;" | 42.1 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2 5/8
| weight = 222
| arm span = 31 1/4
| hand span = 9
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=973&DraftYear=2004 |title=2004 NFL Draft Scout Donnie Jones College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=April 1, 2024}}
}}
=Seattle Seahawks=
Jones was drafted in the seventh-round (224th overall) by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2004 NFL draft. He was one of three punters to be selected that year.{{Cite web |title=2004 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2004/draft.htm |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He played in six games with Seahawks in between stints on the practice squad during his rookie season. He shared punting duties with Tom Rouen and Ken Walter during the season.{{Cite web |title=2004 Seattle Seahawks Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sea/2004.htm |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} On the year, Jones punted 26 times for a 38.0 average with a net of 32.2, six inside-the-20 and two touchbacks.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2004 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21/gamelog/2004/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He had a season long with a 51-yard punt against the Carolina Panthers on October 31. On November 14 at the St. Louis Rams, he punted three times for a 49.3-yard gross average and a net of 42.7, when he had another 51-yard punt.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams – November 14th, 2004 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200411140ram.htm |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=Miami Dolphins=
Jones was awarded off waivers to the Miami Dolphins on July 25, 2005. There he would be reunited with his college head coach Nick Saban. He was released following training camp and re-signed to the practice squad, but was placed on the active roster prior to the season opener. He went on to play in all 16 games in his first season with the Dolphins. On the season, he had 88 punts for a 43.5-yard average, including a net of 39.3, which led the NFL and marked a new Dolphins’ single-season record.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2005 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21/gamelog/2005/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He also added 31 punts inside-the-20, which ranked second in the AFC and was a Dolphins’ single-season record as well. Of his 88 punts, 24 went 50 yards or longer, with three traveling 60 yards or longer. He had a punt of 50 yards or longer in all but three games, and had a net average of 40.0 or better in nine games. He also held for placekicker Olindo Mare throughout the season.{{Cite web |title=2005 Miami Dolphins Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/2005.htm |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Jones' performance during the season earned him a selection as a third alternate for the Pro Bowl.
Jones experienced a bit of regression in 2006 compared to the previous year. For the season, he had 85 kicks for 3,640 yards – an average of 42.8 yards per kick. He also had a net average of 35.7 yards per punt, with 28 punts inside the 20-yard line. He had one punt blocked during the season.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2006 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21/gamelog/2006/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
Jones was a restricted free agent in the 2007 offseason. He was tendered a contract by the Miami Dolphins on March 2.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
=St. Louis Rams=
On April 13, the St. Louis Rams signed Jones to an offer sheet. Less than a week later, Dolphins general manager Randy Mueller announced that the team would not match the offer sheet and Jones became property of the Rams in exchange for the 225th pick in the 2007 NFL draft. The contract was worth $5.585 million over five years. It included a signing bonus of $1.175 million and salaries of $510,000 in 2007, $700,000 in 2008, $1 million in 2009, $1.1 million in 2010, and $1.1 million in 2011.
In 2007, Jones broke the Rams record for highest punting average in a single season, punting 78 times for a 47.2-yard punting average.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2007 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21/gamelog/2007/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} The previous record of 45.5-yard punting average lasted 45 years after being set in 1962 by Danny Villanueva.{{Cite web |title=Cleveland/LA/St. Louis Rams Single-Season Kicking & Punting Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/single-season-kicking.htm |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In 2008, he became the first NFL punter to average at least 50 yards per punt since Sammy Baugh in 1940.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2008 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21/gamelog/2008/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=NFL Yards per Punt Single-Season Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/punt_yds_per_punt_single_season.htm |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He was voted second-team All-Pro and a first alternate to the Pro Bowl. For the second straight year, he was voted an alternate to the Pro Bowl in 2009. In 2009, he broke the Rams career gross average punt record with a 48.0-yard average, surpassing the 44.3-yard average established by Danny Villanueva from 1961 to 1964.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2009 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21/gamelog/2009/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In the 2010 season, he finished with 94 punts for 4,276 net yards for a 45.49 average.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2010 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21/gamelog/2010/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In the 2011 season, he finished with 105 punts for 4,652 net yards for a 44.30 average.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2011 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21/gamelog/2011/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=Houston Texans=
Jones signed a one-year contract with the Houston Texans on March 29, 2012.{{Cite web |last=Silva |first=Evan |date=March 29, 2012 |title=Texans sign former Rams punter Donnie Jones |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/29/source-texans-do-on-year-deal-with-donnie-jones/ |access-date=December 31, 2017 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en-US}} He was expected to compete with and briefly replace Brett Hartmann as punter while Hartmann served his three-game suspension,{{Cite web |last=Florio |first=Mike |date=May 22, 2012 |title=Hartmann explains his three-game suspension |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/22/hartmann-explains-his-three-game-suspension/ |access-date=December 31, 2017 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en-US}} but took over as the full-time punter when Hartmann was released. In the 2012 season, he finished with 88 punts for 4,150 net yards for a 47.16 average.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2012 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21/gamelog/2012/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=Philadelphia Eagles=
File:Donnie Jones and Jake Elliott Super Bowl LII warmups.jpg during warmups prior to Super Bowl LII]]
On March 25, 2013, Jones signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.{{Cite web |date=March 25, 2013 |title=P Donnie Jones Added; McBriar Released |url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/p-donnie-jones-added-mcbriar-released-9774803 |access-date=December 31, 2017 |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com}} During the 2013 season, he set a franchise record{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2014 |title=Position-By-Position Look: Defense, Special Teams |url=http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/article-1/Position-By-Position-Look-Defense-Special-Teams/191b73d1-d900-40cc-b637-014bb134e866 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101135342/http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/article-1/Position-By-Position-Look-Defense-Special-Teams/191b73d1-d900-40cc-b637-014bb134e866 |archive-date=January 1, 2018 |access-date=December 31, 2017 |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com}} for net punting average with 40.4 yards.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2013 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21/gamelog/2013/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Weeks 11 and 13.{{Cite web |title=2013 NFL Week 11 Leaders & Scores |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2013/week_11.htm |access-date=October 31, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2013 NFL Week 13 Leaders & Scores |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2013/week_13.htm |access-date=October 31, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} On March 11, 2014, Jones re-signed with the Eagles on a three-year deal worth a maximum of $6 million.{{Cite web |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=March 11, 2014 |title=Eagles sign Donnie Jones for three more years |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/11/eagles-sign-donnie-jones-for-three-more-years/ |access-date=December 31, 2017 |website=ProFootballTalk}} In the 2014 season, he finished with 76 punts for 3,331 net yards for a 43.83 average.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2014 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21/gamelog/2014/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In the 2015 season, he finished with 86 punts for 4,038 net yards for a 46.95 average.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2015 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21/gamelog/2015/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On November 18, 2016, Jones signed a three-year, $5.5 million contract extension with the Eagles through 2019.{{Cite web |last=McPherson |first=Chris |date=November 18, 2016 |title=Why Not? Eagles Extend Donnie Jones |url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/why-not-eagles-extend-donnie-jones-18106381 |access-date=October 31, 2022 |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com}} Overall, in the 2016 season, he finished with 63 punts for 2,888 net yards for a 45.84 average.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2016 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21/gamelog/2016/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
In the 2017 season, Jones finished with 67 punts for 3,033 net yards for a 45.27 average.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2017 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21/gamelog/2017/ |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He earned a Super Bowl ring when the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41–33 in Super Bowl LII.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Lindsay H. |date=February 4, 2018 |title=Eagles dethrone Tom Brady, Patriots for first Super Bowl title in stunner |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/super/2018/02/04/super-bowl-2018-score-philadelphia-eagles-new-england-patriots/305840002/ |access-date=February 25, 2019 |website=USA TODAY |language=en}} Jones recorded the only punt in the game that went 41 yards.{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl LII – Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots – February 4th, 2018 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201802040nwe.htm |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} During his time with the Eagles, Jones set the all-time Eagles gross punting average record with 45.4 yards, punts inside the 20-yard line with 138, and all-time net punting average with 40.5 yards.{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia Eagles Career Kicking & Punting Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phi/career-kicking.htm |access-date=March 8, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On February 27, 2018, Jones announced his retirement from the NFL.{{Cite web |date=February 27, 2018 |title=Donnie Jones Announces Retirement from NFL |url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/donnie-jones-announces-retirement-from-nfl-20393073 |access-date=October 31, 2022 |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com}} On April 4, 2018, Jones requested and was granted his release from the Eagles' reserve/retired list, making him a free agent, citing his desire to play again.{{Cite web |last=Hagemann |first=Andie |date=April 4, 2018 |title=Ex-Eagles punter Donnie Jones eyeing return to NFL |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/ex-eagles-punter-donnie-jones-eyeing-return-to-nfl-0ap3000000925018 |access-date=April 4, 2018 |website=NFL.com}}
=Los Angeles Chargers=
On October 2, 2018, Jones signed with the Los Angeles Chargers after the team released Drew Kaser.{{Cite web |last=Henne |first=Ricky |date=October 2, 2018 |title=Chargers Make Punter Switch; Sign Donnie Jones |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-make-punter-switch-sign-donnie-jones |access-date=October 31, 2022 |website=Chargers.com}} In the 2018 season, Jones finished with 47 punts for 1,990 net yards for a 42.34 average in 12 games.{{Cite web |title=Donnie Jones 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21/gamelog/2018/ |access-date=October 31, 2022 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="5"| Punting | ||||||
| Punts | Yards | Avg | Blk | Lng | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | SEA
| 6 || 26 || 988 || 38.0 || 1 || 51 | |||||
| 2005 | MIA
| 16 || 88 || 3,827 || 43.5 || 0 || 63 | |||||
| 2006 | MIA
| 16 || 85 || 3,640 || 42.8 || 1 || 64 | |||||
| 2007 | STL
| 16 || 78 || 3,684 || 47.2 || 0 || 80 | |||||
| 2008 | STL
| 16 || 82 || 4,100 || 50.0 || 0 || 68 | |||||
| 2009 | STL
| 16 || 90 || 4,212 || 46.8 || 0 || 63 | |||||
| 2010 | STL
| 16 || 94 || 4,276 || 45.5 || 0 || 63 | |||||
| 2011 | STL
| 16 || 105 || 4,652 || 44.3 || 1 || 65 | |||||
| 2012 | HOU
| 16 || 88 || 4,150 || 47.2 || 0 || 66 | |||||
| 2013 | PHI
| 16 || 82 || 3,681 || 44.9 || 1 || 70 | |||||
| 2014 | PHI
| 16 || 76 || 3,331 || 43.8 || 0 || 68 | |||||
| 2015 | PHI
| 16 || 86 || 4,038 || 47.0 || 2 || 64 | |||||
| 2016 | PHI
| 16 || 63 || 2,888 || 45.8 || 0 || 72 | |||||
| 2017 | PHI
| 16 || 67 || 3,033 || 45.3 || 1 || 62 | |||||
| 2018 | LAC
| 12 || 47 || 1,990 || 42.3 || 0 || 59 | |||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneDo21.htm Career] | 226 | 1,157 | 52,490 | 45.4 | 7 | 80 |
Personal life
Donnie is married to Aubrie, and the couple resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Following the 2003 National Championship season at LSU, Jones penned a book titled Nine Seconds to a Championship{{Cite web |date=July 23, 2004 |title=Former LSU punter writes book |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=1845145 |access-date=December 31, 2017 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}} ({{ISBN|0-9760181-9-5}}) about his career as a member of the LSU Tigers football team. He is also known as Thunder Foot, Donnie Long-Ball, Donnie Boom, Donnie J'Owns, Do-Rag Donnie, and Donnie ‘Bag of Bones’ Jones.{{Cite web |last=Stephens |first=Dr. Mark R. |date=December 6, 2015 |title=The Fanatic ESPN Radio |url=http://componentstudios.com/callrecorder/call/RE5652c30db58a272106302f8b77ab4596 |access-date=December 31, 2017 |website=ESPN Radio |publisher=Christopher Allen}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons}}
{{footballstats|pfr=J/JoneDo21|yahoo=6983|espn=5749}}
- [https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/donnie-jones/ LSU Tigers bio]
{{2003 LSU Tigers football navbox}}
{{Seahawks2004DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl LII}}
{{NFL punting yards leaders}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Donnie}}
Category:Players of American football from Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Category:American football punters
Category:LSU Tigers football players
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:Seattle Seahawks players
Category:St. Louis Rams players
Category:Houston Texans players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:Los Angeles Chargers players
Category:Catholic High School (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) alumni