Jimmie Jones

Early years

Jones attended Okeechobee High School, but because he had to work to help support his mother, he didn't play football until his junior year when he started the last 4 games of the season. He would miss all of his senior season football games, because he had to work in a drugstore during the team's summer training sessions.

His high school athletic director (Jim Kirk) sent a highlight tape of his only games as a starter to different colleges, which eventually helped him get a scholarship to the University of Miami. He began his career as a defensive end before transitioning to defensive tackle, where he was a key backup on talented lines that included Cortez Kennedy and Russell Maryland. He finished his college career winning two national championships (1987 and 1989), while recording 105 tackles, 68 assists and 16 1/2 sacks.

Dallas Cowboys

Although he was a backup during his college career, he was selected in the third round (64th overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. As a rookie, he had his best year, working as the primary backup at both defensive tackle positions and starting a total of 6 games, with 5 games replacing an injured Dean Hamel. At the end of the season, he finished tied with defensive end Danny Stubbs for the team lead with 7 1/2 sacks, while adding 60 tackles, 3 passes defensed and 14 quarterback pressures. He also ranked sixth among all interior lineman in the NFL in sacks and was voted to the All-rookie team. Jones and DeMarcus Ware are the only rookies to ever lead or tie for the Cowboys' team lead in sacks.

In 1992, he registered 4 sacks. In Super Bowl XXVII he recovered two fumbles, including one that went for a two-yard touchdown, helping the Cowboys go ahead 14-7 in the first quarter.

In 1993 he posted 5.5 sacks. He also was a part of one of the most famous Thanksgiving football plays, when he blocked a 47-yard field goal attempt from the Miami Dolphins' Pete Stoyanovich, to preserve what seemed an apparent 14-13 victory, but as the ball rolled toward the Cowboys' end zone, Leon Lett kicked the ball and the Dolphins recovered. Stoyanovich would go on to convert a second field goal with 3 seconds left.

During his four-year Cowboys career, he helped the team win two Super Bowls against the Buffalo Bills twice, played a total of 65 games, starting 16 and recording 19 sacks. He was an effective pass rusher who got most of his playing time on passing downs, and was key backup in the best defense and best defensive line rotation in the NFL.

Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams

The Los Angeles Rams signed Jones on March 4, 1994, to a four-year contract for $7.7 million, including a $2 signing bonus. In 1994, he played in 14 games (starting all) and recorded five sacks. In 1995, Jones started 16 games at left defensive tackle and did not record a sack. In 1996, he started 16 games, registering 61 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He was released by the Rams in a salary cap move on April 22, 1997.

Philadelphia Eagles

On July 23, 1997, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Jones to a one-year contract. He played only one season, posting seven tackles and 2.5 sacks in 14 games, while coming in on passing downs, a role he played while in Dallas.