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26. Ed "Too Tall" Jones

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26. Ed "Too Tall" Jones

At 6’ 9”, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, had one of the coolest and appropriate nicknames in not just football, but in all of sports.

Jones was the first overall draft pick in 1974, making the product of Tennessee State the first player from an HBCU to go first overall.  The Defensive End was a sight to see, and whether or not he was the best player on the field in any game, he was a player you could not stop watching.  He would help Dallas win Super Bowl XII, and was one of the most popular players, on what was one of the most popular teams in all of sports.

Jones abruptly left the Cowboys in 1979, as he pursued a career in boxing.  He went 6-0, albeit with a controversial win his last fight.  He came back to football after one year, and not only was a bigger name than before, Jones was a better football player.

The big man went to the Pro Bowl in 1981, 1982, and 1983 and he was a First Team All-Pro in 1982.  Jones played until 1989, and like so many legendary Cowboys, his entire pro career was played in the heart of Texas.  While Sacks were not official until 1982, Jones is believed to have 106 in total.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Defensive End
  • Acquired: Selected in the 1st Round, 1st Overall in the NFL Draft.
  • Departed:

    Retired after the 1978 Season.                         

    Acquired (2): Returned before the 1980 Season.

    Departed (2): Retired after the 1989 Season.
  • Games Played: 224
  • Notable Statistics:

    203 Games Started
    2 Interceptions
    14 Interception Return Yards
    19 Fumble Recoveries
    0 Fumble Recovery Yards
    116.0 Quarterback Sacks*
    129 Approximate Value

    20 Playoff Games
    1 Interception
    0 Interception Return Yards
    1 Fumble Recovery
    0 Fumble Recovery Yards
    12.0 Quarterback Sacks*

    *Sacks were not an official stat until 1982 but were unofficially calculated by Pro Football Reference from 1960 to 1981.
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    Super Bowl Champion (XII)
    First Team All-Pro (1982)
    Second Team All-Pro (1983)
    Pro Bowl (1981, 1982 & 1983)
    All-Rookie (1974)

Last modified on Friday, 19 August 2022 11:50

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