It’s the end of an era. Legendary wide receiver Julio Jones has officially announced his retirement after 13 years as a professional player. His final season, spent with the Philadelphia Eagles, marked one of the most bittersweet farewells in recent NFL history.
Jones entered the NFL as the sixth overall pick in the 2011 Draft, selected by the Atlanta Falcons. Over his illustrious career, he was named First-Team All-Pro in 2015 and 2016 and earned seven Pro Bowl selections. Notably, Jones led the league in receiving yards in 2015 and 2018 and was the co-leader in receptions in 2015.
After 10 seasons with the Falcons, Jones played for the Tennessee Titans in 2021 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. In 2023, he signed with the Eagles’ practice squad and was later promoted to the main roster in October. Tragically, a concussion sustained during the wild-card game against Tampa Bay effectively ended his playing career.
A farewell to a legend
Although he had not played since the injury, Jones made his retirement official on Friday, April 4. The former wide receiver shared an emotional video on social media, saying:
“Today, I’m announcing my retirement. It started when I was just an 8-year-old kid in Foley, Alabama. It’s been an amazing ride.”
In the heartfelt video, Jones expressed gratitude to his family, teammates, former coaches-including Nick Saban at the University of Alabama, Mike Smith with the Falcons, and quarterback Matt Ryan. He also thanked the city of Atlanta and the four NFL teams that gave him opportunities throughout his remarkable career.
A career for the history books
In 2016, Jones played a crucial role in the Falcons’ historic Super Bowl LI matchup against Tom Brady’s New England Patriots. Despite a heartbreaking 34-28 loss, Jones led Atlanta with four receptions for 87 yards.
While that Super Bowl defeat remains a painful memory, Jones’s numerous accolades stand as a testament to his extraordinary career.
Though his departure leaves fans with a bittersweet feeling, Julio Jones’s legacy-especially his impact with the Falcons-will endure for years to come. In time, he is expected to become a strong contender for induction into the NFL Hall of Fame.
Read the full article here
