Julio Jones will be eligible for consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the Class of 2029 after announcing his retirement on Friday.
The former Alabama star did not play during the NFL’s 2024 season.
“Today, I’m announcing my retirement,” Jones said during a social-media video. “Started when I was 8 years old, just a kid from Foley, Alabama. It was an amazing ride.”
The Atlanta Falcons traded five draft picks to the Cleveland Browns to move up to No. 6 in the 2011 NFL Draft to acquire Jones, and over the next 10 seasons, he became the franchise’s career leader in receptions and receiving yards.
Jones said he chose to announce his retirement on Friday because it was “404 Day.” The area code for Atlanta is 404.
“I’m making this announcement today because of the city of Atlanta,” Jones said. “Thank y’all. I appreciate y’all. It’s nothing but love.”
Jones completed his career with one-season stops with the Tennessee Titans in 2021, Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022 and Philadelphia Eagles in 2023.
In addition to thanking his NFL teammates and each of the organizations he played for, Ryan singled out former Falcons Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Harry Douglas and Eric Weems and coaches Mike Smith and Terry Robiskie.
Jones totaled 914 receptions for 13,703 yards and 66 touchdowns in 166 regular-season games. He also had 77 receptions for 992 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 postseason contests.
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Jones ranks 16th in receiving yards and 27th in receptions in NFL history.
Through his first nine seasons with the Falcons, Jones had 12,125 receiving yards – more than any other player in NFL history had collected at that point in his career. But injuries affected the remainder of the wide receiver’s career as he missed seven games annually in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and six in 2023.
Jones earned seven Pro Bowl invitations – 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 – and was a first-team All-Pro pick in 2015 and 2016. In 2015, Jones led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,871 – at the time, the second-highest single-season total in league history. Jones also led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,677 in 2018. Jones led the NFC in receiving yards annually from 2014 through 2019.
On Oct. 2, 2016, Jones recorded one of the six games in NFL history in which a player has reached 300 receiving yards when he had 12 receptions for 300 yards and one touchdown in Atlanta’s 48-33 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
The game was one of Jones’ three with at least 250 receiving yards. No other NFL player has had more than two.
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At Foley High School, Jones was Alabama’s Mr. Football for the 2007 season. He also earned All-State selection in 2006 and 2007 and was the Class 6A Back of the Year and a Parade All-American in 2007.
Jones won the long-jump and triple-jump championships twice apiece at the AHSAA Class 6A state outdoor track and field meet and the Class 6A high-jump title at the 2007 state indoor championships for the Lions. He earned the Gatorade Boys’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year Award for Alabama in 2007.
Jones thanked his high school teammates, his Foley receivers coach Shane Jones and coaches Todd Watson and Joel Williams for converting him from a running back to a receiver when he was a sophomore.
During his three seasons at Alabama, Jones set school records for single-season receptions and receiving yards and single-game receiving yards. He also helped the Crimson Tide win the 2009 BCS national championship in an undefeated season.
“Coach (Nick) Saban was a great father figure to me for those three years in college,” Jones said.
The receiver also thanked his Crimson Tide teammates, wide receivers coach Curt Cignetti and strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran.
“I know what hard work is,” Jones said. “I just needed the guidance to hone it to be the best version of myself.”
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
