Jonathan Jones (Canadian football)
{{short description|American gridiron football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{distinguish|Jonathan Jones (American football)}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
|name=Jonathan Jones
|team=Winnipeg Blue Bombers
|image=2023, 30, Jonathan Jones.jpg
|image_upright=1
|caption=Jones with the Toronto Argonauts in 2023
|status=Active
|import=yes
|position1=Linebacker
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1997|11|18}}
|birth_place=Ocoee, Florida, U.S.
|number=
|college=Toledo (2020–2021)
Notre Dame (2016–2019)
|high_school=Oak Ridge High
|Height_ft=5
|Height_in=11
|Weight_lbs=230
|playing_years1={{CFL Year|2022|2024}}
|playing_team1=Toronto Argonauts
|playing_years2={{CFL Year|2025}}–present
|playing_team2=Winnipeg Blue Bombers
|career_footnotes=
|career_highlights=
|Honours=
|CFL=jonathan-jones/166858/
}}
Jonathan Carlos Jones (born November 18, 1997) is an American professional football linebacker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a two-time Grey Cup champion after winning with the Toronto Argonauts in 2022 and 2024.
College career
After using a redshirt season in 2016, Jones played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 2017 to 2019 where he played in 28 games and recorded 16 total tackles.{{cite web|url=https://und.com/roster/jonathan-jones/ |title=Jonathan Jones |publisher=Notre Dame Fighting Irish |access-date=November 18, 2022}} He then transferred to the University of Toledo as a graduate transfer to play for the Rockets in 2020 and 2021.{{cite web|url=https://utrockets.com/sports/football/roster/jonathan-jones/7372 |title=Jonathan Jones |publisher=Toledo Rockets |access-date=November 18, 2022}} In two years, he played in 19 games where he had 116 total tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.{{cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2022/05/23/toronto-argonauts-sign-american-linebacker-jonathan-jones-release-one-other/ |title=Toronto Argonauts sign American linebacker Jonathan Jones, release one other |publisher=3DownNation |date=May 23, 2022}}
Professional career
=Toronto Argonauts=
On May 23, 2022, Jones signed with the Toronto Argonauts.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/2022/ |title=Transactions – Football player trades and signings |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=November 18, 2022}} Following 2022 training camp, he was placed on the team's practice roster, but made his professional debut on June 25, 2022, against the BC Lions, where he recorded one special teams tackle.{{cite web|url=https://www.argonauts.ca/players/jonathan-jones/166858/ |title=Jonathan Jones |publisher=Toronto Argonauts |access-date=November 18, 2022}} He returned to the active roster in week 8, but dislocated his shoulder and was placed on the team's injured list.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2022/11/17/the-rookie-and-the-vet-muamba-guiding-jones-to-greatness/ |title=The Rookie and the Vet: Muamba guiding Jones to greatness |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=November 17, 2022}} Once healthy, he returned to the practice roster for two weeks.{{cite web|url=https://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2022_CFL_Gm_Notes_GC109_Wpg_vs_Tor.pdf |title=Game Notes |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=November 18, 2022}}
Following an injury to the team's incumbent starting weak-side linebacker, Wynton McManis, Jones made his first career start on October 8, 2022, against the Lions, where he had one defensive tackle. He started the last four games of the regular season and finished the year having played in six regular season games where he had ten defensive tackles, five special teams tackles, one sack, and two interceptions. Due to his strong play, Jones remained in the lineup for the East Final against the Montreal Alouettes, despite McManis returning from injury, where he had three defensive tackles in his post-season debut. He also played in his the 109th Grey Cup where he had five defensive tackles and one special teams tackle in the Argonauts' 24–23 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.{{cite web|url=https://static.cfl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024_GN_Gm_30_Mtl_vs_Tor2-1.pdf |title=Games Notes |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=December 1, 2024}}
In 2023, Jones played in all 18 regular season games, starting in eight, where he had 49 defensive tackles, 13 special teams tackles, seven sacks, and one interception. He also had one defensive tackle and one special teams tackle in the East Final loss to the Alouettes. In the 2024 season, Jones played in 12 regular season games, starting in six, but sat out the last five games of the regular season. He remained on the injured list while the Argonauts won another Grey Cup over the Blue Bombers in the 111th Grey Cup game.{{Cite news |url=https://www.cfl.ca/games/6486/winnipeg-blue%20bombers-vs-toronto-argonauts/#playbyplay |title=Play-by-Play, 111th Grey Cup |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=November 17, 2024}}
On January 16, 2025, Jones was released by the Argonauts.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2025/01/16/argos-release-lb-jonathan-jones-extend-ol-john-bosse/ |title=Argos release LB Jonathan Jones; extend OL John Bosse |publisher=Canadian Football League | date=January 16, 2025|access-date=January 18, 2025}}
=Winnipeg Blue Bombers=
On January 30, 2025, it was announced that Jones had signed a one-year contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.{{Cite news |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2025/01/30/bombers-sign-american-linebacker-jonathan-jones/ |title=Bombers sign American linebacker Jonathan Jones |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=January 30, 2025}}
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.bluebombers.com/players/jonathan-jones/166858/ Winnipeg Blue Bombers bio]
- {{commonscatinline}}
{{Winnipeg Blue Bombers roster navbox}}
{{109th Grey Cup}}
{{111th Grey Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Jonathan}}
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Canadian football linebackers
Category:Players of American football from Orange County, Florida
Category:Players of Canadian football from Florida
Category:Toledo Rockets football players
Category:Toronto Argonauts players