Julio Jones facts for kids
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Jones with the Atlanta Falcons in 2019
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
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| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | February 8, 1989 Foley, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Foley | ||||||
| College: | Alabama (2008–2010) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Quintorris Lopez "Julio" Jones Jr. (born February 8, 1989) is an American professional football player. He is known as a wide receiver, a player who catches passes from the quarterback. Julio Jones is currently a free agent.
He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. There, he helped his team win a national championship in 2009. The Atlanta Falcons picked him in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. Many people consider him one of the best wide receivers of the 2010s.
After his first year, Jones had a great season in 2012. He gained 1,198 receiving yards and scored ten touchdowns. He was chosen for his first Pro Bowl. Even though he was injured in 2013, he came back strong in 2014. He led the Falcons in receiving yards and made his second Pro Bowl. He also built a strong connection with quarterback Matt Ryan.
The next season, Jones became a superstar. He led the league in receiving yards and was tied for the most catches. His stats were among the top five all-time for a single season. After this amazing year, he was named to his first All-Pro team. In 2016, Jones had another excellent year and was again named All-Pro. He helped lead the Falcons to Super Bowl LI. Over the next three seasons, Jones gained more receiving yards than any other player. He led the league in yards again in 2018.
Julio Jones has gained more receiving yards than any other player since he joined the NFL. He also had the most receiving yards of any receiver in the 2010s. He has been chosen for seven Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro multiple times. Jones is known for his rare mix of size, speed, and catching ability. He became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 10,000 career receiving yards in 2018. In 2019, he became the Falcons' all-time leader in receiving yards. In 2020, he became the Falcons' all-time leader in catches.
Contents
- Early Life and High School Sports
- College Football Career
- Professional Football Career
- NFL Career Statistics
- NFL Records and Achievements
- Atlanta Falcons Team Records
- Awards and Honors
- See also
Early Life and High School Sports
Julio Jones was born on February 8, 1989, in Foley, Alabama. His mother, Queen Marvin, raised him and his brother. Julio grew up in a challenging area. He went to Foley High School in Foley, Alabama. There, he played high school football as a wide receiver and defensive end.
Julio quickly became a star in high school. In his junior year, he caught 75 passes for 1,306 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. People even called him "Waffle House" because he was always open for a pass. He also played in the high school Under Armour All-America Game.
Besides football, Jones was a great athlete in other sports. He played on the basketball team. He was also a top track athlete. He won state championships in the long jump and triple jump in 2006 and 2007. He was named the Gatorade Track & Field Athlete of the Year in Alabama in 2007. He also competed in the high jump and as a sprinter.
Many experts considered Jones the best wide receiver recruit in the nation in 2008. On February 6, 2008, he decided to play college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He announced his choice live on ESPNU.
College Football Career
Becoming a Star at Alabama (2008)
Julio Jones quickly made an impact in his first year at Alabama. He was the first true freshman wide receiver to start a season opener for the Crimson Tide. In his first game, he caught four passes and scored a touchdown. He had a great game against the #3 ranked Georgia Bulldogs, catching five passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.
Jones had his first game with over 100 receiving yards against Tennessee. He caught six passes for 103 yards. Two weeks later, against #16 LSU, he had seven catches for 128 yards. His 23-yard catch in overtime helped Alabama win the game. In the SEC Championship Game, Jones caught five passes for 124 yards. Alabama lost that game to Florida.
Jones finished his freshman season leading all Alabama receivers. He had 58 catches for 924 yards and four touchdowns. He was named to the second-team All-SEC and was the SEC Freshman of the Year. People started comparing him to famous NFL players.
Winning a National Championship (2009)
Jones had a slower start to his second season, but he improved in the second half. In a big game against #9 LSU, he had four catches for 102 yards. This included a 73-yard game-winning touchdown. In the Iron Bowl against rival Auburn, Jones helped Alabama come back to win. He caught three important passes on a long drive that led to the winning touchdown.
Alabama finished the regular season undefeated. They won the SEC Championship against #1 Florida. This earned them a spot in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game against #2 Texas. Jones had 23 receiving yards in the title game. Alabama won the game 37–21, becoming national champions.
Final College Season (2010)
Jones started the 2010 season with two games over 100 yards. On October 23, he had an amazing game against the Tennessee Volunteers. He caught 12 passes for 221 yards in a big victory. Later, he scored two receiving touchdowns in a game against Georgia State. In the Iron Bowl against #2 Auburn, Jones had ten catches for 199 yards and a touchdown. However, Alabama lost that close game.
In his final college game, the 2011 Capital One Bowl, Jones had three catches for 49 yards. He also rushed for 36 yards and scored a rushing touchdown in a big win.
Jones ended his junior season with an Alabama record of 78 catches and 1,133 yards. He also scored seven touchdowns. He finished his Alabama career second in school history for career catches (179) and yards (2,653). He was named a first-team All-SEC player in 2010.
College Career Statistics
| Alabama Crimson Tide | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Punt Returns | Kick Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||
| GP | GS | Att | Gain | Loss | Net | Avg | Lng | TD | Y/G | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Y/G | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |
| 2008 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 58 | 924 | 15.9 | 64 | 4 | 66.0 | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 21.0 | 21 | 0 |
| 2009 | 13 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2.0 | 5 | 0 | 0.3 | 43 | 596 | 13.9 | 73 | 4 | 45.8 | 5 | 75 | 15.0 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 12 | 0 |
| 2010 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 135 | 0 | 135 | 16.9 | 56 | 2 | 10.4 | 78 | 1,133 | 14.5 | 68 | 7 | 87.2 | 5 | 44 | 8.8 | 41 | 0 | 5 | 129 | 25.8 | 36 | 0 |
| Total | 40 | 40 | 10 | 140 | 1 | 139 | 13.9 | 56 | 2 | 3.5 | 179 | 2,653 | 14.8 | 73 | 15 | 66.3 | 12 | 130 | 10.8 | 41 | 0 | 7 | 162 | 23.1 | 36 | 0 |
Professional Football Career
Joining the NFL (Pre-draft)
On January 7, 2011, Jones decided to leave college early to enter the 2011 NFL draft. At the 2011 NFL Combine, he showed off his amazing athleticism. He had the longest long jump and one of the fastest 40-yard dash times among wide receivers. He did this even with a broken bone in his foot!
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | Wonderlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 2+3⁄4 in (1.90 m) |
220 lb (100 kg) |
33+3⁄4 in (0.86 m) |
9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) |
4.39 s | 1.53 s | 2.54 s | 4.25 s | 6.66 s | 38.5 in (0.98 m) |
11 ft 3 in (3.43 m) |
17 reps | 15 |
| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Atlanta Falcons Years
The Atlanta Falcons chose Julio Jones as the sixth player picked in the 2011 NFL Draft. This was a big move for the Falcons. They traded five draft picks to the Cleveland Browns to get him. The Falcons really wanted Jones because they believed he would make their team much better. He wore number 11 for the Falcons.
Rookie Season (2011)
Julio Jones signed a four-year contract with the Falcons. In his first NFL game, he caught five passes for 71 yards. In Week 3, he had his first game with over 100 yards, catching six passes for 115 yards. In Week 9, he scored his first two receiving touchdowns. One was a 50-yard catch, and the other was an 80-yard catch.
Jones finished his rookie season with eight touchdowns, which was the most among all rookies. He also had 54 catches for 959 receiving yards. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. The Falcons made the playoffs, but they lost in the first round.
First Pro Bowl (2012)
Jones started his second season strong with six catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns. He had several more games with over 100 receiving yards throughout the season. In Week 15, he caught two touchdowns against the New York Giants.
The Falcons had a great season, finishing with 13 wins and 3 losses. They earned the top spot in their conference for the playoffs. In the playoffs, Jones even caught an interception on the last play of a game! He had 11 catches for a career-high 182 yards and two touchdowns in the NFC Championship game, but the Falcons lost a close game.
In 2012, Jones had 79 catches for 1,198 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. This was his first season with over 1,000 receiving yards. He was chosen for his first Pro Bowl.
Injury and Comeback (2013-2014)
Jones started the 2013 season very well. He had 11 catches for 182 yards in Week 2, including an 81-yard touchdown. However, in Week 5, he broke his foot and missed the rest of the season. Even though he only played five games, he still had 41 catches for 580 yards.
In 2014, Jones came back strong. He had a 161-yard, two-touchdown game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Later, he set a new career-high with 10 catches for 189 yards. The next week, he broke that record again with 259 yards on 11 catches. This was his first game with over 200 receiving yards. He finished the season with 104 catches for 1,593 yards, leading his conference. He was named to the Pro Bowl again.
Record-Breaking Season (2015)
Before the 2015 season, the Falcons signed Jones to a big contract extension. He started the season with nine catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns. He had a career-high 13 catches in Week 2. In Week 3, he had 164 yards and two touchdowns.
Jones had many more great games throughout the season. He finished the 2015 season with 1,871 receiving yards. This was a Falcons team record and the third-highest in NFL history! He also had a Falcons record of 136 catches, tying for the most in the league that season. He was chosen for his third Pro Bowl and was named first-team All-Pro for the first time. His 2015 season is considered one of the best ever for a wide receiver.
Super Bowl Appearance (2016)
In Week 4 of 2016, Jones had an incredible game. He caught 12 passes for a Falcons-record 300 yards and a touchdown. This made him only the sixth player in NFL history to have at least 300 receiving yards in one game. He earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week for this performance.
Jones continued to play well, going over 100 yards five more times. He finished the season with 83 catches for 1,409 yards and six touchdowns. He was chosen for his fourth Pro Bowl and was named first-team All-Pro for the second year in a row.
The Falcons made it to the playoffs with 11 wins. They won their first two playoff games, including a big win in the NFC Championship. This led them to Super Bowl LI. In the Super Bowl, Jones had four catches for 87 yards. He made an amazing catch late in the game that put the Falcons in a great position. However, the Patriots made a huge comeback and won the game in overtime.
More All-Pro Seasons (2017-2019)
In 2017, Jones had another fantastic game in Week 12. He caught 12 passes for 253 receiving yards and two touchdowns. This made him the first player in NFL history with three games of at least 250 receiving yards. He was named to his fifth Pro Bowl and earned second-team All-Pro honors. He finished the season with 88 catches for 1,444 yards. The Falcons made the playoffs again, but lost in the second round.
In 2018, Jones continued to break records. He had 10 catches for 169 yards in the first game. In Week 10, he became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 10,000 career receiving yards. He did it in just 104 games! He finished the 2018 season leading the league with 1,677 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He was named to his sixth Pro Bowl and another second-team All-Pro.
In 2019, Jones signed a new contract, making him the highest-paid wide receiver at the time. In Week 2, he had five catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns. In that game, he became the Falcons' all-time leader in receiving yards. In Week 4, he became the fastest player to reach 11,000 career receiving yards. In Week 16, he became the fastest player to reach 12,000 career receiving yards, beating Jerry Rice's record. Jones finished the 2019 season with 99 catches for 1,394 yards and six touchdowns. He earned his seventh Pro Bowl nomination and another second-team All-Pro selection.
Final Falcons Season (2020)
In Week 1 of 2020, Jones caught nine passes for 157 yards. During this game, he passed 800 career receptions. In Week 4, he became the Falcons' all-time leader in career receptions. He played in nine games this season due to a hamstring injury. He still managed to have 51 catches for 771 yards and three touchdowns.
In May 2021, Julio Jones said he wanted to leave the Falcons and play for a team that was winning.
Tennessee Titans (2021)
On June 6, 2021, the Falcons traded Jones to the Tennessee Titans. He chose to wear jersey number 2 for the Titans. In Week 2, he had his only game of the season with over 100 receiving yards, catching six passes for 128 yards. He was placed on injured reserve in November due to a hamstring injury. He finished the season with 31 catches for 434 yards and one touchdown. The Titans made the playoffs, but lost in the Divisional Round. On March 16, 2022, Jones was released by the Titans.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2022)
On July 27, 2022, Jones signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He missed several games due to a knee injury. In Week 8, he scored his first touchdown with the Buccaneers from Tom Brady. In Week 10, he scored the first-ever touchdown in an NFL game played in Germany. Jones played in 10 games, recording 24 catches for 299 yards and two touchdowns. The Buccaneers made the playoffs but lost in the first round.
Philadelphia Eagles (2023)
On October 17, 2023, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Jones to their practice squad. He was later moved to the active roster. He scored his first touchdown as an Eagle in Week 8. In Week 17, he scored two touchdowns. In the 2023 season, Jones played in 11 games, catching 11 passes for 74 yards and three touchdowns. In the playoff game, he suffered a concussion and left the game.
NFL Career Statistics
These tables show Julio Jones's statistics during his professional career.
Regular Season
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Y/G | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2011 | ATL | 13 | 13 | 54 | 959 | 17.8 | 73.8 | 80 | 8 | 6 | 56 | 9.3 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 | ATL | 16 | 15 | 79 | 1,198 | 15.2 | 74.9 | 80 | 10 | 6 | 30 | 5.0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | ATL | 5 | 5 | 41 | 580 | 14.1 | 116.0 | 81 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2014 | ATL | 15 | 15 | 104 | 1,593 | 15.3 | 106.2 | 79 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2015 | ATL | 16 | 16 | 136 | 1,871 | 13.8 | 116.9 | 70 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 |
| 2016 | ATL | 14 | 14 | 83 | 1,409 | 17.0 | 100.6 | 75 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | ATL | 16 | 16 | 88 | 1,444 | 16.4 | 90.3 | 53 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | ATL | 16 | 16 | 113 | 1,677 | 14.8 | 104.8 | 58 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 6.0 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2019 | ATL | 15 | 15 | 99 | 1,394 | 14.1 | 92.9 | 54 | 6 | 2 | −3 | −1.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | ATL | 9 | 9 | 51 | 771 | 15.1 | 85.7 | 44 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | TEN | 10 | 10 | 31 | 434 | 14.0 | 43.4 | 51 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | TB | 10 | 5 | 24 | 299 | 12.5 | 29.9 | 48 | 2 | 5 | 45 | 9.0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | PHI | 11 | 4 | 11 | 74 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 22 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 166 | 153 | 914 | 13,703 | 15.0 | 82.5 | 81 | 66 | 24 | 163 | 6.8 | 19 | 0 | 11 | 6 | |
Postseason
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Y/G | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2011 | ATL | 1 | 1 | 7 | 64 | 9.1 | 64.0 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | ATL | 2 | 2 | 17 | 241 | 14.2 | 120.5 | 46 | 2 | 1 | −1 | −1.0 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | ATL | 3 | 3 | 19 | 334 | 17.6 | 111.3 | 73 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | ATL | 2 | 2 | 18 | 195 | 10.8 | 97.5 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | TEN | 1 | 1 | 6 | 62 | 10.3 | 62.0 | 16 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | TB | 1 | 0 | 7 | 74 | 10.6 | 74.0 | 30 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | PHI | 1 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 7.3 | 22.0 | 14 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Career | 11 | 10 | 77 | 992 | 12.9 | 90.2 | 73 | 7 | 3 | 25 | 8.3 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
NFL Records and Achievements
Julio Jones holds many impressive NFL records:
- Most games with 250+ yards receiving (3)
- Fastest player to reach 7,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000, 12,000, and 13,000 career receiving yards.
- Most consecutive seasons with 1,300+ yards receiving (6)
- Most consecutive seasons with 1,400+ yards receiving (5)
- Most seasons averaging 100+ yards per game (5)
- The only player to average 100+ yards per game for four seasons in a row.
- Most 100+ yard games in his first eight seasons (49).
- Most receiving yards per game average in a career (91.9).
- Most receiving yards in a single game against the Carolina Panthers (300).
- Most receiving yards in a single game against the Green Bay Packers (259).
- Most receiving yards in a single game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (253).
Atlanta Falcons Team Records
Julio Jones also holds many records for the Atlanta Falcons team:
- Most career receiving yards (12,896).
- Most career receptions (848).
- Most career games with at least 100 receiving yards in the regular season (58).
- Most career games with at least 100 receiving yards in the playoffs (3).
- Most seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards (7).
- Most receiving yards in a single game (300, in 2016).
- Most receiving yards in a single playoff game (182, in 2013).
- Most receptions in a single season (136, in 2015).
- Most receiving yards in a single season (1,871, in 2015).
- Most games with at least 100 receiving yards in a single season (10, in 2018).
- Most consecutive regular season games with at least 100 receiving yards (6).
- Most consecutive seasons with at least 75 receptions (6).
Awards and Honors
- NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
- 7× Pro Bowl selections (2012, 2014–2019)
- 2× First-team All-Pro (2015, 2016)
- 3× Second-team All-Pro (2017, 2018, 2019)
- 2× NFL receiving yards leader (2015, 2018)
- NFL receptions co-leader (2015)
- NFC Offensive Player of the Month (September 2015)
- Pro Football Hall of Fame All-2010s Team
- 2008 AP SEC Freshman of the Year
- 2009 SEC Championship
- 2010 BCS National Championship
- AP All-SEC Team (2010)
- AP All-American Team (2010)
See also
In Spanish: Julio Jones para niños
