Thomas Jones - #20 - RB - Virginia - Profile

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

◊ Ranks 42nd all-time with 7,815 career rushing yards (49^th back to surpass 7,000 yards) on 1,949 carries (4.0) with 48 rushing touchdowns...1,800 career receiving yards on 279 catches (6.5) with three receiving touchdowns, all three coming with the Jets.

◊ Second in NFL in rushing over last four seasons with 4,976 yards to LaDainian Tomlinson (5,861 yards).

◊ His 1,312 rushing yards in 2008 were the fifth-highest total in Jets history and the second highest in his career (1,335 yards in 2005), as he became the first Jets player to lead at least the AFC in rushing since RB Curtis Martin led the NFL in 2004 with 1,697 yards.

◊ Named to his first Pro Bowl in 2008, becoming one of only three running backs in NFL history to be named to his first Pro Bowl over age 30.

◊ Set Jets franchise records in 2008 with 15 total touchdowns, 13 rushing touchdowns and eight consecutive games with a touchdown...Jets are 10-2 in games Jones has scored.

◊ The fifth Jets running back to post a 1,000-yard rushing season (13th and 14th 1000-yard seasons in franchise history) and has now recorded four consecutive 1,000- yard rushing seasons.

◊ Posted the first receiving touchdown in his career vs. KC, 12/30/07, on a 15-yard shovel pass from Kellen Clemens.

◊ Owns 25 career 100-yard rushing games in the regular season (two in postseason), including nine in two seasons with the Jets.

◊ Named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for Nov. 2008 when he led the AFC in rushing yards (556, 111.2 yards per game) and rushing touchdowns (7) as the Jets posted a 4-1 record, including three road wins at BUF, NE and TEN.

◊ Posted a career-high 1,335 rushing yards in 2005 to become the second CHI player (Walter Payton) to eclipse the 1,300 yard plateau.

◊ Ran for back-to-back 100 yard games for CHI at the Meadowlands vs. NYG and NYJ in 2006.

◊ Averaged 1,427 yards from scrimmage between 2004- 05, which made up 36 percent of the CHI offense – the second-highest rate in the NFL during that time (Tiki Barber, NYG, 42.7 percent).

◊ In 2004, became first CHI player since Neal Anderson (1989) to lead the team in both rushing yards and receptions.

◊ Posted a career-high 173 rush yards with a 58-yard touchdown run on 24 carries vs. SEA, 9/15/02, which was also the first 100-yard game of his career

◊ Recorded the longest touchdown run of his career on a 59-yard run vs. DEN, 11/30/08.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

◊ 3/7/07, NYJ, Trade, CHI, with D2 (63), 2007, for D2 (37), 2007

◊ 3/4/04, CHI, Signed, UFA (TB)

◊ 6/17/03, TB, Trade, ARI, for Marquise Walker

◊ 4/15/00, ARI, D1 (7)

SEASON-BY-SEASON REVIEW

◊ 2008 (JETS) Led the AFC and ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,312 yards on 290 carries (4.5 average), with franchise records of 15 overall touchdowns and 13 rushing touchdowns...Added 36 receptions for 207 yards and two touchdowns...Logged 75 first downs, second in the AFC...Voted the 2008 Curtis Martin Team MVP and 2008 Dennis Byrd Most Inspirational Player by his teammates... Voted to his first Pro Bowl...Set a Jets franchise record with eight consecutive games with a touchdown...Rushed for over 100 yards five times...First running back in 2008 to rush for over 100 yards in the first half multiple times (108, 11/30 vs. DEN; 107, 11/9 vs. STL)...Scored three touchdowns in a game twice: 10/12 vs. CIN (two rushing, one receiving) and 11/9 vs. STL (three rushing). SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/14 vs. BUF)...Scored a touchdown in his eighth consecutive game, a new Jets record. The score, a two-yard run, was his 13th on the ground and 15th overall, both Jets franchise records. (11/30 vs. DEN)...Set a career-best with a 59-yard touchdown run, the longest touchdown run of his career, which also put him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season...Jones had 108 yards in the first half, marking the second time this season he gained over 100 yards in the first half. (11/23 at TEN)...Caught he 500th touchdown pass of Brett Favre’s career, a 10-yarder. (11/13 vs. NE)...Recorded back-to-back 100 yard rushing games for the first time since 2006. (11/9 vs. STL)...Notched best performance of the week in the NFL with 149 yards on a season-high 26 carries and career-high three rushing touchdowns scores. (10/19 at OAK)...Rushed for a season-high 159 yards on 6.6 yards per rush. (10/12 vs. CIN)...Scored three touchdowns for the first time in his career...Scored on a two-yard reception from Brett Favre, and on runs of seven yards and one yard. (9/7 at MIA)...Rushed for 101 yards, marking the first time he rushed for over 100 yards in a regular-season opener...Named Jets offensive player of the game.

◊ 2007 (JETS) Finished with 1,119 rushing yards (10th in the NFL) on 310 carries (fifth in NFL)…The 310 carries were the second largest single-season total of his career…With Jerricho Cotchery, first pair of Jets to exceed 1,000-yards rushing and receiving in the same season since Curtis Martin and Santana Moss in 2003…Posted four 100-yard rushing efforts. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/30 vs. KC)…Took a shovel pass from Kellen Clemens 15 yards for a touchdown, the first receiving touchdown of his career. (12/23 at TEN)…Became the fifth player in franchise history to rush for more than 1,000-yards in a season, while posting the 13th 1,000-yard rushing season in franchise history and his third consecutive 1,000-yard season… He is only the second player in franchise history (Curtis Martin, 1998) to rush for more than 1,000 yards in his first season with the team. (12/2 at MIA)…Recorded his first rushing touchdown (one-yarder) as a Jet. (11/18 vs. PIT)…Became the first back in 34 games to rush for at least 100 yards against the Steelers defense, rushing for 117 yards on 30 carries, his third 100-yard rushing game of the season…Eclipsed the 6,000-yard rushing mark for his career…Named Jets Offensive Player of the Week. (10/14 vs. PHI)…Ran for 130 yards on 24 carries, including a 36-yard run on the first play from scrimmage, which was the Jets longest run of the season and Jones’ longest regular season run since 12/11/05. (9/23 vs. MIA)…Recorded his first 100-yard rushing effort as a Jet and 17th of his career by carrying the ball 25 times for 110 yards…Named the Jets Offensive Player of the Week.

◊ 2006 (CHI) Rushed for 1,210 yards and six touchdowns, and caught 36 passes for 154 yards as the Bears won the NFC Championship and advanced to Super Bowl XLI…Put up back-to-back 100-plus-yard rushing efforts in the Meadowlands vs. NYG and NYJ…Averaged 78 rush yards per game as CHI started off 7-0. POSTSEASON: (2/4 vs. IND at Miami) …Rushed for 112 yards on 15 carries, including a 52-yard run and caught four passes for 18 yards in the 29-17 loss. (1/21 vs. NO)…Logged 123 rushing yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns in NFC Championship victory. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (11/19 at NYJ)…Ran for 121 yards, topping 100 for the second consecutive week on the road. (11/12 at NYG)…Put up 113 yards and a touchdown in the Bears’ win. (10/1 vs. SEA)… Posted the fifth multi-touchdown effort of his career.

◊ 2005 (CHI) Logged a career-high 1,335 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, added 143 yards receving on 26 catches. POSTSEASON: (1/15 vs CAR)...Rushed for 80 yards on 20 carries and caught three passes for 30 yards in a NFC Divisional loss. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (10/23 vs. BAL)…Tied his season-high with 139 yards on 25 carries against a stout Ravens defense. (10/16 vs. MIN)…Posted two rushing touchdowns for the fourth time in his career. (9/18 vs. DET)…Burned division-rival Lions for 139 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

◊ 2004 (CHI) In 14 games, rushed for 948 yards and seven touchdowns, also recorded a career-high 56 receptions for 427 yards…Posted two multiple touchdown games, on the first and last weeks of the regular season. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (1/2 vs. GB)…Gained 108 yards and two touchdowns, the second two-touchdown effort in his career. (12/12 at JAC) …Recorded his career-best 45 yard reception on a pass from Chad Hutchinson. (9/26 at MIN)…Posted 110 yards and a touchdown, plus a career-high eight catches for 71 yards. (9/12 vs. DET)…Recorded his first two-score game of his career.

◊ 2003 (TB) In 15 games with three starts, tallied 627 yards rushing and 180 yards receiving…Returned 17 kickoffs for 271 yards (15.9) with a long of 25. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/14 vs. HOU)…Ran for 134 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries. (11/16 vs. GB)…Ran for 134 yards on nine carries, including runs of 61 and 51 yards.

◊ 2002 (ARI) Started all nine games in which he played, rushing for 511 yards and two touchdowns, adding 20 receptions for 113 yards. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (9/15 at SEA)…Posted a career-high 173 rushing yards with a 58-yard touchdown run on 24 carries, the first 100-yard game of his career.

◊ 2001 (ARI) Played in 16 games, starting only the season’s first two games…Rushed for 380 yards and caught 21 balls for 151 yards.

◊ 2000 (ARI) As a rookie, played in 14 games, starting the first four games of the season…Logged 373 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and 208 receiving yards on 32 catches. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (10/1 at SF)…Scored his first NFL touchdown on four-yard run.

BEFORE THE NFL

◊ Finished his career at Virginia with 3,998 yards, topping Tiki Barber’s UVA record.

◊ Scored 40 total touchdowns, 36 rushing…Put up 18 100- yard games and six 200-yard games.

◊ Eighth in Heisman voting, a Doak Walker finalist, ACC Player of the Year in 1999 and finished with 1,798 yards and 16 touchdowns on 334 carries…Amassed 2,054 all-purpose yards.

◊ Set single season state records at Powell Valley HS for yardage (3,319 in 1994), touchdowns (49 in 1995) and set the career scoring record with 104 touchdowns.

◊ Rushed for 462 yards in a single game as a junior.

OFF THE FIELD

◊ Earned his Bachelor’s degree in psychology before his senior season in May 1999.

◊ Four-year letterwinner at Powell Valley HS in track and basketball.

◊ Six of the seven Jones’ siblings have graduated college, with the youngest sister currently attending the University of Virginia.

◊ Younger brother, Julius, is a RB for SEA.

◊ Uncle, Ed Clark, played football at Purdue, and with Hamilton of the CFL.

◊ Featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” in January 1996.

◊ Website: TJones20.com

◊ His music production company, OuttaPocket Entertainment, has taken off with the debut single, Late Night Creep, from his first recording artist, Myko, who sang the National Anthem before the game vs. KC, 10/26/08.

◊ Contributes efforts to Operation Hope (John Hope) in Harlem, which helps children and teaches people about money management and finances.

◊ Funds the Thomas Quinton Jones First Academic Scholarship to UVA, which goes to a student from Southwest VA, which is where he is from.