Eagles' Punter, Donnie Jones, retires at 37 ...
... after 14 NFL seasons, the last 5 with the Eagles.
Donnie owns the Eagles' career records for gross punting average (45.37), net average (40.5) and punts inside the 20 (138), as well as net punting average in a season (41.6, 2015) and single-season punts inside the 20 (34, 2014).
>> Eagles punter Donnie Jones retires after 14 NFL seasons
Tim McManus
ESPN
February 27, 2018
espn.com
Philadelphia Eagles punter Donnie Jones has decided to go out on top. He announced his retirement Tuesday after 14 seasons in the NFL, capped by a Super Bowl championship.
Jones had the only punt in the Eagles' 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, a game in which the teams combined to amass a record-breaking 1,151 total yards.
"I am grateful for all those who have supported me throughout the years," said Jones, who is retiring so he can spend more time with his family. "Specifically, I would like to thank Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman, Doug Pederson and the entire Eagles organization for allowing me to be a part of their family for the past five seasons. I will truly miss my teammates, coaches, friends and the best fans in the NFL.
"Although I am retiring, I will always be an Eagle and will forever have a special place in my heart for the city of Philadelphia. It is a great honor to be a part of the first Super Bowl championship team in Eagles history and there is no better way to finish my career."
Jones signed with the Eagles as a free agent in 2013 following stints with the Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams and Houston Texans. He owns the Eagles' career records for gross punting average (45.37), net average (40.5) and punts inside the 20 (138), as well as net punting average in a season (41.6, 2015) and single-season punts inside the 20 (34, 2014).
"We want to congratulate Donnie Jones on reaching the pinnacle of his career and retiring as a Super Bowl champion," the team said in a statement. "Donnie is a professional in every sense of the word and we wish him all the best in retirement. We owe much of our recent special teams success to Donnie, as evidenced by the numerous franchise punting records he set during his five-year run with the Eagles. We will miss Donnie's ability on the field, but will also miss his enthusiastic personality and the daily commitment he made to engaging with our community and our fan base."
Jones, 37, played in all 16 regular-season games dating back to the 2005 season and currently holds the third-longest streak of consecutive games played (208) behind Texans punter Shane Lechler (254) and Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (235). Jones, who averaged 45.5 yards on his punts over his career, received Associated Press All-Pro honors in 2008 and 2009 while with the Rams. <<
>> Donnie Jones was cut five times during his rookie year
Jeff Kerr
247 Sports
247sports.com
Before Donnie Jones became the greatest punter in Philadelphia Eagles history, the two-time All-Pro had issues keeping a roster spot in the NFL. Jones spent his rookie season with the Seattle Seahawks in 2004, struggling to make the team from week-to-week.
Matt Hasselbeck, current ESPN analyst and quarterback of that Seahawks team, admitted Jones was cut five times during his rookie season in 2004. Jones played in just six games for the Seahawks, averaging a career-low 38.0 yards per punt. The seventh-round pick lasted just one year with the Seahawks before being waived a final time in 2005, where the Dolphins picked him up.
Miami released him after 2005 training camp and resigned him to the practice squad. The Dolphins signed him to the active roster days prior to the season opener, starting his streak of 208 straight regular season games played.
Jones signed with the Eagles in 2013, spending his final five seasons in Philadelphia. He averaged 45.4 yards per punt during his Eagles and was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week twice (both in 2013). Jones retires as Philadelphia’s all-time leader in both gross punting average (45.37) and net average (40.5). He also owns the team records for most career punts inside the 20 (138), most single-season punts inside the 20 (34, 2014) and best net punting average in a season (41.6, 2015).
Jones set the record for most regular-season games played by an Eagles punter (80). Jones has played in all 16 regular-season games dating back to the 2005 season – his second year in the NFL – and at the time of his retirement, holds the third-longest consecutive-games-played streak (208) behind only Texans punter Shane Lechler (254) and Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (235).
Jones is the penultimate "never give up" story. All he needed was an opportunity.
He retires a Super Bowl champion. <<
- Eric L. - |
