On Friday, one of the Atlanta Falcons’ most iconic figures, Julio Jones, officially hung up his cleats, marking the end of a spectacular NFL career.
At 36, Jones shared his retirement news through the app Squad. Over his impressive 13-season stretch, he earned seven Pro Bowl selections and made the All-Pro first team twice. Notably, he led the league in receiving yards in both 2015 and 2018, cementing his status as the Falcons’ all-time leader with 848 receptions and 12,896 receiving yards.
It’s hard to forget his contribution of 60 receiving touchdowns, just three shy of surpassing the legendary Roddy White.
Jones expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’m announcing this today because Atlanta has been my home. Thank you all for the support and the love. Celebrating on 404 day, this journey was truly incredible. It’s all for you, Atlanta.”
Jones’ final stint was with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, where he caught 11 passes, gained 74 yards, and scored three touchdowns over 11 games.
He set an NFL record with three games exceeding 250 receiving yards each. Plus, his streak of five consecutive seasons with over 1,400 yards is unmatched in league history.
The Falcons originally picked Jones sixth in the 2011 draft from Alabama. Starting 13 games as a rookie, he quickly established himself as a standout, achieving over a thousand receiving yards and at least six touchdown catches in six seasons. Together with Matt Ryan, he formed the franchise’s most formidable quarterback-receiver duo.
During the 2016 season run to the Super Bowl, Jones tallied 19 catches, 334 yards, and three touchdowns across three playoff games.
Throughout his career, Jones amassed 914 receptions, covering 13,703 yards and claiming 66 touchdowns. His career also saw him playing briefly for teams like Tennessee in 2021 and Tampa Bay in 2022.
This article includes contributions from The Associated Press.
