Clinton Jones (American football)

Last updated

Clinton Jones
No. 26
Position Running back
Personal information
Born (1945-05-24) May 24, 1945 (age 80)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight206 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school Cathedral Latin (Chardon, Ohio)
College Michigan St. (1964–1966)
NFL draft 1967: 1st round, 2nd overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards2,178
Rushing average3.6
Receptions 38
Receiving yards431
Kick return yards 2,426
Total touchdowns 21
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Clinton Jones (born 24 May 1945) [1] is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings and the San Diego Chargers. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was drafted by the Vikings in the first round (2nd overall) of the 1967 NFL/AFL draft.

Contents

College career

After his graduation from Cathedral Latin School in Cleveland, Ohio, Jones spent his college years at Michigan State University. He finished sixth in voting for the 1966 Heisman Award, the Michigan State Spartans second year in a row as national champions. He is featured in the documentary Through the Banks of the Red Cedar, written and directed by Gene Washington's daughter, Maya Washington.

College statistics

NFL career

Jones was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1967 NFL/AFL draft. The pick used to draft Jones was one received by the Vikings from the New York Giants in exchange for the quarterback Fran Tarkenton.

Jones spent six seasons, 1967 to 1972, with Minnesota before moving on to the San Diego Chargers for one last season in 1973.

Clint Jones is a member of The Pigskin Club Of Washington, D.C., and National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll.

On January 9, 2015, Jones was named to the College Football Hall Of Fame. [3]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Won the NFL championship
Led the league
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesRushingReceiving
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
1967 MIN 14013231.890000.000
1968 MIN 12121285364.24314266.5140
1969 MIN 142542414.58033237.790
1970 MIN 1471203693.1239911713.0720
1971 MIN 14101806753.873499810.9180
1972 MIN 73521643.23326427.0100
1973 SDG 123551703.1381712517.9370
87376022,1783.680203843111.3720

Playoffs

YearTeamGamesRushingReceiving
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
1968 MIN 10200.000000.000
1969 MIN 30273.560000.000
1970 MIN 1115604.0120155.050
1971 MIN 1115523.5110000.000
62341193.5120155.050

Later years

He was one of the fifteen plaintiffs in Mackey v. National Football League in which Judge Earl R. Larson declared that the Rozelle rule was a violation of antitrust laws on December 30, 1975. [4] [5]

References

  1. "Archived copy". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Archived from the original on November 2, 2007. Retrieved March 8, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Clinton Jones College Stats".
  3. "Clinton Jones Elected to College Football Hall of Fame - Michigan State Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  4. Wallace, William N. "Rozelle Rule Found In Antitrust Violation," The New York Times, Wednesday, December 31, 1975. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  5. Mackey v. National Football League, 407 F. Supp. 1000 (D. Minn. 1975) Justia.com. Retrieved December 12, 2023.