Thomas Jones life and biography

Thomas Jones (born August 19, 1978 in Big Stone Gap, Virginia) is an American football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals seventh overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.

Jones has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears and New York Jets. He is the older brother of Seattle Seahawks' running back Julius Jones.

Jones' Career

Pro Career: Highly-respected running back joined the Chiefs as a free agent in 2010 ... Enters his 11th NFL season and his first campaign with Kansas City ... Consummate professional possesses a relentless work ethic and passion for the game ... Has registered five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, joining St. Louis RB Steven Jackson as the only other player to accomplish that feat every season from 2005-09 ... Pairs with third-year Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles to give the club a pair of 1,000-yard backs from the previous season for the first time in franchise history ... Finished third in the league with a career-high 1,402 rushing yards in 2009, trailing only Tennessee RB Chris Johnson (2,006) and Jackson (1,416) ... Earned a Pro Bowl berth with the Jets following the 2008 campaign ... Has recorded 32 career 100-yard regular season rushing games ... Also racked up 112 yards in Super Bowl XLI as a member of the Bears ... Ranks 28th in NFL history with 9,217 career rushing yards and needs only 480 more yards to move into the top 25 ... Is 783 yards shy of becoming the 25th player in league history to top the 10,000-yard yard plateau ... Playoff-tested veteran has started seven career postseason contests ... Accumulated 1,541 rushing attempts from 2005-09, the highest total in the NFL over that span ... Totaled 6,378 rushing yards from 2005-09, trailing only RB LaDainian Tomlinson (6,591) ... Tied for fourth in the NFL during that timeframe with 43 rushing TDs ... During his three-year tenure with the N.Y. Jets (2007-09), his 931 rushing attempts to pace the NFL, while his 3,833 rushing yards ranked behind only RB Adrian Peterson (4,484) ... Has combined with his brother, RB Julius Jones (Seattle), to compile 14,062 rushing yards, the second-highest combined total a pair of brothers once at least one rushing attempt. Walter and Eddie Payton (16,754) are the only such brother duo to accumulate more career rushing yards ... Has played in 148 games (107 starts) with the N.Y. Jets (2007-09), Chicago (2004-06), Tampa Bay (2003) and Arizona (2000-02) ... Owns 2,280 carries for 9,217 yards (4.0 avg.) with 62 TDs and 289 receptions for 1,858 yards (6.4 avg.) with three TDs ... Also has one pass completion for a four-yard loss and 17 kickoff returns for 271 yards (15.9 avg.) ... Has started seven postseason contests, including Super Bowl XLI vs. Indianapolis (2/4/07) ... Has rushed 120 times for 498 yards (4.2 avg.) with five TDs and caught 11 passes for 82 yards (7.5 avg.).

Transactions: Signed with Kansas City (3/9/10) ... Released by the N.Y. Jets (3/5/10) ... Signed with the N.Y. Jets (3/6/07) ... Traded to the N.Y. Jets along with a second-round pick (63rd overall) in exchange for a 2007 second-round pick (37th overall) from Chicago (3/6/07) ... Signed with Chicago as an unrestricted free agent from Tampa Bay (3/4/04) ... Traded to Tampa Bay in exchange for WR Marquise Walker from Arizona (6/17/03) ... Signed with Arizona (7/21/00) ... Originally entered the NFL as a first-round pick (seventh overall) of Arizona in the 2000 NFL Draft.

N.Y. Jets (2007-09): Played in 48 games (44 starts) ... Rushed 931 times for 3,833 yards (4.1 avg.) with 28 TDs ... Caught 74 passes for 482 yards (6.5 avg.) with three TDs ... His 3,833 rushing yards rank seventh in N.Y. Jets history ... Ranked third in team annals with 16 100-yard rushing games ... Also started three playoff games, carrying the ball 45 times for 117 yards with one TD and adding two receptions for 28 yards.

2009: Started all 16 games for the second time in his career ... Carried the ball a personal-best 331 times for 1,402 yards (4.2 avg.) with a career-high 14 TDs ... Also caught 10 passes for 58 yards ... Ranked second in the AFC and third in the NFL with a career-high 1,402 rushing yards ... Those 1,402 rushing yards were the fourth-highest single-season total in team history ... His 14 rushing TDs were the top seasonal total in Jets lore ... Finished fifth in the AFC and eighth in the NFL with 1,460 yards from scrimmage ... Recorded 405 rushing yards in the fourth quarter, the second-highest total in the NFL ... Tied for second in the NFL with 11 Red Zone rushing TDs ... His seven 100-yard rushing games tied for second in the NFL ... Rushed 20 times for 107 yards with two TDs at Houston (9/13) ... Compiled 13 rushes for 42 yards with two TDs at Miami (10/12) ... Registered 22 carries vs. Buffalo (10/18), setting a team record with a career-high 210 yards. Posted a career-long 71-yard TD run and finished the contest with a career-high 227 yards from scrimmage ... Posted 26 rushes for 121 yards with a TD at Oakland (10/25) ... Carried the ball 27 times for 102 yards vs. Miami (11/1) ... Amassed 21 carries for 103 yards at New England (11/22) ... Recorded 25 rushes for 75 yards with a TD vs. Carolina (11/29) ... Tallied 23 carries for 109 yards at Buffalo (12/3) ... Rushed 23 times for 99 yards with two TDs at Tampa Bay (12/13) ... Collected 23 carries for 105 yards with a TD at Indianapolis (12/27) ... Produced 27 rushes for 78 yards with two TDs vs. Cincinnati (1/3/10) ... Started three postseason games, rushing 45 times for 117 yards with one TD and catching two passes for 28 yards ... Tallied 15 carries for 34 yards with a TD in an AFC Wild Card Game at Cincinnati (1/9/10) ... Compiled 14 rushes for 21 yards in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game at San Diego (1/17/10) ... Carried the ball 16 times for 42 yards in the AFC Championship Game at Indianapolis (1/24/10).

2008: Saw action in 16 games (14 starts) ... Earned his first Pro Bowl invitation ... Voted the Curtis Martin Team MVP and Dennis Byrd Most Inspirational Player by his teammates ... Rushed 290 times for 1,312 yards (4.5 avg.) with 13 TDs and caught 36 passes for 207 yards (5.8 avg.) with two TDs ... Finished the season with a career-high 1,519 yards from scrimmage, ranking ninth in the NFL ... Led the AFC and ranked fifth in the NFL with 1,312 rushing yards ... His 15 total TDs were the top single-season mark in Jets history ... Rushed 22 times for 101 yards with a TD at Miami (9/7) ... Compiled 17 carries for 70 yards vs. New England (9/14) ... Produced 17 rushes for 65 yards with two TDs and a TD catch vs. Cincinnati (10/12) ... Registered 24 carries for 159 yards at Oakland (10/19) ... Tallied 14 rushes for 54 yards with a TD vs. Kansas City (10/26) ... Posted 12 carries for 69 yards with a TD at Buffalo (11/2) ... Rushed 26 times for 149 yards with a career-high three TDs vs. St. Louis (11/9), including 107 yards in the first half ... Amassed 30 carries for 104 yards with a TD at New England (11/13) ... Had 27 carries for 96 yards and three catches for 21 yards with a TD at Tennessee (11/23) ... Rushed 16 times for 138 yards with two TDs vs. Denver (11/30), including 108 yards in the first half ... Totaled 20 rushes for 78 yards with a TD vs. Buffalo (12/14), his eighth consecutive game with a TD, the longest streak in Jets history.

2007: Played in 16 games (14 starts) ... Finished with 310 carries for 1,119 yards (3.6 avg.) with one TD and 28 receptions for 217 yards (7.8 avg.) with one score ... Ranked sixth in the AFC and 10th in the NFL with 1,119 rushing yards ... His 310 carries were third in the AFC and fifth in the NFL ... Rushed 24 times for 67 yards at Baltimore (9/16) ... Tallied 25 carries for 110 yards vs. Miami (9/23) ... Posted 24 rushes for 130 yards vs. Philadelphia (10/14) ... Carried the ball 30 times for 117 yards vs. Pittsburgh (11/18) ... Produced 24 rushes for 75 yards with a TD at Miami (12/2) ... Totaled 24 carries for 106 yards vs. Cleveland (12/9) ... Rushed 25 times for 98 yards and a caught a 15-yard TD pass vs. Kansas City (12/30).

Chicago (2004-06): Started 45 games, carrying the ball 850 times for 3,493 yards (4.1 avg.) with 22 TDs and caught 118 passes for 724 yards (6.1 avg.) ... Also completed one pass for a four-yard loss ... Opened four postseason games ... Rushed 75 times for 381 yards (5.1 avg.) with four TDs and added nine receptions for 54 yards (6.0 avg.).

2006: Started all 16 games for the first time in his career ... Rushed 296 times for 1,210 yards (4.1 avg.) with six TDs and caught 36 passes for 154 yards (4.3 avg.) ... Registered 21 rushes for 63 yards at Green Bay (9/10) ... Tallied 21 carries for 64 yards vs. Detroit (9/17) ... Carried the ball 24 times for 98 yards with two TDs vs. Seattle (10/1) ... Amassed 21 rushes for 110 yards vs. Buffalo (10/8) ... Totaled 23 carries for 111 yards with a TD vs. San Francisco (10/29) ... Recorded 30 carries for 113 yards with a TD at the N.Y. Giants (11/12) ... Rushed 23 times for 121 yards at the N.Y. Jets (11/19) ... Registered 23 carries for 99 yards at New England (11/26) ... Tallied 11 rushes for 76 yards with a TD at St. Louis (12/11) ... Carried the ball 17 times for 68 yards with a TD vs. Tampa Bay (12/17) ... Started three postseason contests, rushing 55 times for 301 yards (5.5 avg.) with four TDs and catching six passes for 24 yards (4.0 avg.) ... Posted 21 rushes for 66 yards with two TDs in an NFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. Seattle (1/14/07) ... Tallied 19 carries for 123 yards with two TDs in the NFC Championship Game vs. New Orleans (1/21/07) ... Amassed 15 rushes for 112 yards in Super Bowl XLI vs. Indianapolis (2/4/07).

2005: Opened 15 games and was inactive for one game ... Rushed 314 times for 1,335 yards (4.3 avg.) with nine TDs and caught 26 passes for 143 yards (5.5 avg.) ... Joined RB Walter Payton as the only other player in Bears history to record 1,300 rushing yards or more in a season ... Recorded 1,478 yards from scrimmage ... Carried the ball 20 times for 139 yards with two TDs vs. Detroit (9/18) ... Totaled 27 rushes for 106 yards with a TD vs. Cincinnati (9/25) ... Posted 24 carries for 137 yards at Cleveland (10/9) ... Registered 23 rushes for 89 yards with two TDs ... Rushed 25 times for 139 yards vs. Baltimore (10/23) ... Was inactive with a rib injury vs. San Francisco (11/13) ... Tallied 25 rushes for 87 yards vs. Carolina (11/20) ... Amassed 19 rushes for 93 yards vs. Green Bay (12/4) ... Rushed 14 times for 72 yards with a TD vs. Pittsburgh (12/11) ... Carried the ball 27 times for 91 yards with a TD vs. Atlanta (12/18) ... Recorded 27 carries for 105 yards with a TD at Green Bay (12/25) ... Rushed 20 times for 80 yards and caught three passes for 30 yards in a starting role in an NFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. Carolina (1/15/06).

2004: Started 14 games and was inactive for two contests .... Led the club with 240 rushes for a team-high 948 yards (4.0 avg.) with seven TDs ... Paced the team with 56 receptions for 427 yards (7.6 avg.) ... Accumulated 1,375 yards from scrimmage, accounting for 36 percent of the Bears total offense, the second-highest total in the NFL ... Became the first player in team history to lead the Bears in rushing yards and receptions since RB Neal Anderson in ’89 ... His 56 catches were the top single-season total by a RB in Bears history, breaking the previous record held by RB Walter Payton (53) ... Rushed 21 times for 67 yards with two TDs vs. Detroit (9/12) ... Posted 23 carries for 152 yards with a TD at Green Bay (9/19) ... Tallied 22 rushes for 110 yards with a TD and caught a career-high eight passes for a career-best 71 yards at Minnesota (9/26) ... Carried the ball 24 times for 97 yards vs. Washington (10/17) ... Was inactive with a left foot injury at the N.Y. Giants (11/7) and at Tennessee (11/14) ... Produced 22 rushes for 109 yards at Detroit (12/26) ... Amassed 26 carries for 108 yards with two TDs vs. Green Bay (1/2/05).

Tampa Bay (2003): Played in 16 games (three starts), carrying the ball 137 times for 627 yards (4.6 avg.) with three TDs and catching 24 passes for 180 yards (7.5 avg.) ... Returned 17 kickoffs for 271 yards (15.9 avg.) ... Rushed nine times for a season-high 134 yards vs. Green Bay (11/16) ... Produced 20 carries for 89 yards at New Orleans (12/7) ... Rushed a career-high 34 times for 134 yards with a TD vs. Houston (12/14) ... Tallied 17 rushes for 73 yards vs. Atlanta (12/20) ... Recorded 13 carries for 68 yards at Tennessee (12/28).

Arizona (2000-02): Played in 39 games (15 starts) ... Rushed 362 times for 1,264 yards (3.5 avg.) with nine TDs and caught 73 passes for 472 yards (6.5 avg.).

2002: Started nine games and was inactive for two contests ... Rushed 138 times for 511 yards (3.7 avg.) with two TDs and caught 20 passes for 113 yards (5.7 avg.) ... Produced 17 carries for 54 yards at Washington (9/8) ... Tallied 24 rushes for 173 yards with a 58-yard TD run at Seattle (9/15) ... Amassed 17 carries for 73 yards vs. San Diego (9/22) ... Was inactive with an ankle injury at Carolina (10/6) ... Rushed 22 times for 68 yards vs. Dallas (10/20) ... Carried the ball 15 times for 54 yards with a TD at San Francisco (10/27) ... Was inactive with a broken hand vs. Oakland (11/24) ... Was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List on November 26th.

2001: Saw action in 16 games (two starts) ... Carried the ball 112 times for 380 yards (3.4 avg.) with five TDs and added 21 catches for 151 yards (7.2 avg.) ... Rushed 17 times for 65 yards with a TD vs. Denver (9/23) ... Caught five passes for 53 yards vs. Atlanta (9/30) ... Tallied seven carries for 26 yards with a TD vs. Kansas City (10/21) ... Had two rushes for three yards with a TD vs. Detroit (11/18) ... Amassed 10 totes for 36 yards with a TD at Oakland (12/2) ... Posted seven carries for 26 yards with a TD at Washington (1/6/02).

2000: Played in 14 games (four starts) and was inactive for two contests ... Rushed 112 times for 373 yards (3.3 avg.) with two TDs and caught 32 passes for 208 yards (6.5 avg.) ... Carried the ball 12 times for 16 yards in his first NFL game at the N.Y. Giants (9/3) ... Registered 23 rushes for 70 yards vs. Dallas (9/10) ... Totaled 10 carries for 36 yards with a TD at San Francisco (10/1) ... Had six rushes for nine yards with a TD vs. Cleveland (10/8) ... Rushed 11 times for 50 yards at Dallas (11/22) ... Tallied six carries for 26 yards vs. New Orleans (10/29) ... Was inactive at Cincinnati (12/3) ... Was inactive with walking pneumonia at Washington (12/24).

College: Finished his collegiate career at Virginia with 809 carries for 3,998 yards (4.9 avg.) with 31 TDs and 71 receptions for 571 yards (8.0 avg.) with four scores ... His 3,998 rushing yards were the top mark in school history ... Recorded 18 100-yard games and six 200-yard games ... As a senior in ’99, rushed 334 times for 1,798 yards with 16 TDs and caught 22 passes for 239 yards with a score ... His 334 rushing attempts and 1,798 yards were the top single-season totals in school history ... Amassed an Atlantic Coast Conference single-season record 2,054 all-purpose yards ... Earned All-America honors and was named the conference player of the year ... Produced 238 carries for 1,303 yards with 11 TDs and 28 receptions for 179 yards with two TDs as a junior in ’98 ... Rushed 201 times for 692 yards with four TDs and caught 17 passes for 127 yards with one TD his sophomore campaign in ’97 ... Added three punt returns for 41 yards and one kickoff return for 20 yards ... Recorded 36 carries for 205 yards and four catches for 26 yards as a freshman in ’96 ... Graduated from Virginia with a degree in Psychology.

Personal:

• Scored a state high school record 104 career rushing touchdowns at Powell Valley High School in Big Stone Gap, Virginia.

• Rushed for a Virginia single-season high school record 3,319 yards in ’94 and touchdowns in ’95.

• Earned four varsity letters in basketball and track.

• Uncle, Ed Clark, played football at Purdue and for the Hamilton TigerCats of the Canadian Football League.

• Owns a music production company, OuttaPocket Entertainment, featuring recording artist, Myko who sang the National Anthem before the N.Y. Jets vs. Kansas City game (10/26/08).

• Funds the Thomas Quinton Jones First Academic Scholarship for a student from Southwest Virginia to attend to the University for Virginia.

• Mother, Betty, worked the hoot-owl shift from midnight to 8:00 AM at the local coal mines while for 20 years his father, Thomas, also worked in the coal mines for one year.

• Full name: Thomas Quinton Jones.

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