Nathan Jones (football player)
Encyclopedia
Nathan "Nate" Jones is an American football
cornerback
who is currently with the New England Patriots
. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
in seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Rutgers
.
Jones has also played for the Miami Dolphins
and Denver Broncos
.
and defensive back
at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
in Scotch Plains, New Jersey
, where he was a first-team all-state selection as a senior
, rushing for 2,474 yards and 36 touchdowns and was named the Offensive Player of the Year in Union County
, he also recorded six interceptions. In a North Jersey 2 Group III quarterfinal playoff game, Jones rushed for 362 yards and six touchdowns.
at Rutgers. His first collegiate interception came against Boston College
as a sophomore in 2001 when he intercepted a pass and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown. He also lettered in track team as a sprinter, in 2001. He was named the Big East Conference
co-Special Teams Player of the Year as a junior in 2002 when he had a pair of 100-yard kickoff returns, including one at Syracuse and another at Tennessee
. Against Syracuse, he also blocked a field goal attempt that was returned 90 yards for a touchdown. Jones was sixth in the nation in 2002 with a 28.3-yard average on 26 kickoff returns, while also blocking two kicks. In addition, he recorded a career-high 84 tackles that year. He finished his career with 219 tackles, five interceptions, 18 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He also returned 82 kickoffs for a 23.2, yard average with three touchdowns and blocked three kicks. He graduated with a degree in finance.
Nate Jones was "one of eight Division I-A members named to College Football’s 2003 National Scholar-Athlete Class by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame"
by the Dallas Cowboys.
As a rookie in 2004
, Jones played in all 16 games with one start. He recorded 31 tackles and a sack. On special teams, he had a pair of tackles while also returning two kickoffs averaging 21.5-yard average. He had four tackles in games against the Cleveland Browns
, the Detroit Lions
, the Chicago Bears
and at the Seattle Seahawks
. Against the Lions, Jones recorded the first sack of his NFL career when he sacked Joey Harrington
for a 10-yard loss. The first start of his professional career came against the Philadelphia Eagles
when the Cowboys opened in nickel package.
In 2005
, Jones played in all 16 games in as a backup. He recorded two tackles on defense and 12 on special teams, ranking second on the team. He had a season-high three special teams tackles at the Eagles. He also had two tackles at the Carolina Panthers
.
In 2006
, Jones appeared in four regular season games, all as a backup. He was inactive for each of the first 12 games of the season. He recorded eight tackles on defense and three more on special teams. He recorded four tackles on defense and one on special teams in the regular season finale against the Lions. He also had one kickoff return for 13 yards in the game. He appeared in the Cowboys' wildcard game in Seattle (famous for Tony Romo
's botched snap on a field goal attempt) and was credited with one special teams tackle.
In 2007
, Jones played in 15 regular season games as a backup, and was inactive for one game. On defense, he recorded 17 tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles. On special teams, he recorded nine tackles and six kickoff returns averaging 20.3 yards. He recorded two special teams tackles in each of the first two games; against the eventual Super Bowl XLII
champion New York Giants
and on the road against his future team the Miami Dolphins
. He was released by the Cowboys on September 18, 2007. He was re-signed one day later after the team placed Tank Johnson
on the reserved/suspended list. Jones had his best game of the season against the undefeated New England Patriots
. On defense, he recorded seven tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles. He also recorded two tackles on special teams. Jones also had a two-yard sack of Tom Brady
, which was the second of his career and the first since his rookie season. He also appeared in Divisional Playoff game against the Giants when he had one kickoff return for 21 yards and a tackle on special teams.
After the 2007 season
, Jones became a free agent
and on March 14, 2008, signed a two-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. The move reunited him with various coaches and front office personnel from the Cowboys, including Bill Parcells
who drafted Jones as the Cowboys' head coach in 2004.
He was released on August 29, 2011.
in Dallas, ChildCareGroup, NFL United Way Hometown Huddle and the Salvation Army
.
During the 2005 offseason, Jones worked in financial management with Merrill Lynch
. During the 2006 offseason Jones took classes at the Harvard Business School
as part of the NFL’s Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program.
Jones is currently working on a sitcom called Jock Itch, which is a sports version of the television show, Friends
. While he is the executive producer
, he is working closely with Andre Barnwell, a producer, director and writer for such television shows as Comic View, BET Live and Steve Harvey’s Big Time Challenge, as well as the movie The Way We Do It.
In addition, each year participated in The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program in which he donates Christmas gifts for underprivileged children in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
who is currently with the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represents Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision play...
.
Jones has also played for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Jones played running backRunning back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School is a comprehensive regional four-year public high school in Union County, New Jersey, which serves students in Grades 9 through 12 from the Township of Scotch Plains and the Borough of Fanwood, operating as part of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School...
in Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Scotch Plains is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the township population increased to a record high of 23,510.-History:...
, where he was a first-team all-state selection as a senior
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
, rushing for 2,474 yards and 36 touchdowns and was named the Offensive Player of the Year in Union County
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
, he also recorded six interceptions. In a North Jersey 2 Group III quarterfinal playoff game, Jones rushed for 362 yards and six touchdowns.
College career
Jones was a four-year lettermanVarsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
at Rutgers. His first collegiate interception came against Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
as a sophomore in 2001 when he intercepted a pass and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown. He also lettered in track team as a sprinter, in 2001. He was named the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
co-Special Teams Player of the Year as a junior in 2002 when he had a pair of 100-yard kickoff returns, including one at Syracuse and another at Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
. Against Syracuse, he also blocked a field goal attempt that was returned 90 yards for a touchdown. Jones was sixth in the nation in 2002 with a 28.3-yard average on 26 kickoff returns, while also blocking two kicks. In addition, he recorded a career-high 84 tackles that year. He finished his career with 219 tackles, five interceptions, 18 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He also returned 82 kickoffs for a 23.2, yard average with three touchdowns and blocked three kicks. He graduated with a degree in finance.
Nate Jones was "one of eight Division I-A members named to College Football’s 2003 National Scholar-Athlete Class by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame"
Dallas Cowboys
Jones was selected in the seventh round (205th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
by the Dallas Cowboys.
As a rookie in 2004
2004 Dallas Cowboys season
Even before 2004 season began, the Cowboys would face adversity and be forced to adjust. Coming off their first winning season in 5 years, the team, under Bill Parcells direction, would continue to bring in veteran talent and draft promising prospects. In the off-season, the Cowboys would sign...
, Jones played in all 16 games with one start. He recorded 31 tackles and a sack. On special teams, he had a pair of tackles while also returning two kickoffs averaging 21.5-yard average. He had four tackles in games against the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and at the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. Against the Lions, Jones recorded the first sack of his NFL career when he sacked Joey Harrington
Joey Harrington
John Joseph "Joey" Harrington, Jr. is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions third overall in the 2002 NFL Draft, where he played for most of his professional career. He ranks third all-time in Detroit history in pass completions, with 986...
for a 10-yard loss. The first start of his professional career came against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
when the Cowboys opened in nickel package.
In 2005
2005 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2005 Dallas Cowboys season began with the team trying to improve on their 6–10 record in 2004. Despite a 7–3 start, the Cowboys ended the season with a 9–7 record and narrowly missed the playoffs.-Offseason:...
, Jones played in all 16 games in as a backup. He recorded two tackles on defense and 12 on special teams, ranking second on the team. He had a season-high three special teams tackles at the Eagles. He also had two tackles at the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
.
In 2006
2006 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2006 Dallas Cowboys season began with the team trying to improve on their 9–7 record in 2005. The base offense was changed to a 2-TE formation. Several high profile free agents were signed including controversial wide receiver Terrell Owens and kicker Mike Vanderjagt...
, Jones appeared in four regular season games, all as a backup. He was inactive for each of the first 12 games of the season. He recorded eight tackles on defense and three more on special teams. He recorded four tackles on defense and one on special teams in the regular season finale against the Lions. He also had one kickoff return for 13 yards in the game. He appeared in the Cowboys' wildcard game in Seattle (famous for Tony Romo
Tony Romo
Antonio Ramiro "Tony" Romo is a professional American football quarterback in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys. Romo's career passer rating - at 95.8 - ranks third-best all time. Tony Romo didn't play in the regular season in 2003, 2004, or 2005...
's botched snap on a field goal attempt) and was credited with one special teams tackle.
In 2007
2007 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2007 Dallas Cowboys season was the 48th season for the team in the National Football League. The Cowboys finished the regular season tied for the best record in the NFC , and earned a first round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs...
, Jones played in 15 regular season games as a backup, and was inactive for one game. On defense, he recorded 17 tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles. On special teams, he recorded nine tackles and six kickoff returns averaging 20.3 yards. He recorded two special teams tackles in each of the first two games; against the eventual Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
champion New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and on the road against his future team the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was released by the Cowboys on September 18, 2007. He was re-signed one day later after the team placed Tank Johnson
Tank Johnson
Terry "Tank" Johnson is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington....
on the reserved/suspended list. Jones had his best game of the season against the undefeated New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. On defense, he recorded seven tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles. He also recorded two tackles on special teams. Jones also had a two-yard sack of Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
, which was the second of his career and the first since his rookie season. He also appeared in Divisional Playoff game against the Giants when he had one kickoff return for 21 yards and a tackle on special teams.
Miami Dolphins
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
, Jones became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
and on March 14, 2008, signed a two-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. The move reunited him with various coaches and front office personnel from the Cowboys, including Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
who drafted Jones as the Cowboys' head coach in 2004.
Denver Broncos
On March 5, 2010, Jones signed with the Denver Broncos as an unrestricted free agent.He was released on August 29, 2011.
Second stint with Dolphins
Jones re-signed with the Miami Dolphins on September 20, 2011. However, he was released on October 5.Personal
As a member of the Cowboys 2004 Rookie Club, a program designed to introduce rookies to community service in the Dallas area, Jones visited several non-profit organizations that serve children and adults, including the Play It Smart program at Lincoln High SchoolLincoln High School (Dallas, Texas)
Lincoln High School is public secondary school located in South Dallas, Texas . Lincoln High School enrolls students in grades 9-12 and is a part of the Dallas Independent School District...
in Dallas, ChildCareGroup, NFL United Way Hometown Huddle and the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
.
During the 2005 offseason, Jones worked in financial management with Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch is the wealth management division of Bank of America. With over 15,000 financial advisors and $2.2 trillion in client assets it is the world's largest brokerage. Formerly known as Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., prior to 2009 the firm was publicly owned and traded on the New York...
. During the 2006 offseason Jones took classes at the Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
as part of the NFL’s Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program.
Jones is currently working on a sitcom called Jock Itch, which is a sports version of the television show, Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
. While he is the executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
, he is working closely with Andre Barnwell, a producer, director and writer for such television shows as Comic View, BET Live and Steve Harvey’s Big Time Challenge, as well as the movie The Way We Do It.
In addition, each year participated in The Salvation Army Angel Tree Program in which he donates Christmas gifts for underprivileged children in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.