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Mike Jones (football)
Encyclopedia
Michael Anthony Jones is an American football
coach and former player in the National Football League
(NFL). During his twelve-year NFL career he played linebacker
for three teams: the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
, the St. Louis Rams
, and the Pittsburgh Steelers
.
Jones attended college at the University of Missouri
, where he originally played as a running back
. He was converted to the linebacker position when he signed with the Raiders as a rookie
free agent
. Between his rookie and second seasons as a Raider, he played for the Sacramento Surge of the World League of American Football. He was the starting middle linebacker for that 1992 Surge team that won the WLAF championship.
He is well known for his actions during the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV
, known as The Tackle, when he tackled then-Titans
receiver Kevin Dyson
at the one-yard line to preserve a Rams victory. He also had a superb performance during the regular season that year, recording 1 sack
and 4 interception
s, which he returned for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also recovered 2 fumble
s, returning them for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Jones finished his 12 seasons with 9 sacks, 8 interceptions, 132 return yards, 5 fumble recoveries, 94 return yards, and 4 touchdowns (2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries) in 183 games.
After retiring as a player, Jones spent six seasons coaching high school football at Hazelwood East High School
in St. Louis, Missouri
. He led the team to a state title as the head coach
in 2008. In 2010, he coached the linebackers at Southern University
in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
. He is currently the head football coach at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach and former player in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). During his twelve-year NFL career he played linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for three teams: the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, and the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
.
Jones attended college at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, where he originally played as a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. He was converted to the linebacker position when he signed with the Raiders as a rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. Between his rookie and second seasons as a Raider, he played for the Sacramento Surge of the World League of American Football. He was the starting middle linebacker for that 1992 Surge team that won the WLAF championship.
He is well known for his actions during the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champion Tennessee Titans in an American football game to decide the National Football League champion for the 1999 regular season...
, known as The Tackle, when he tackled then-Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
receiver Kevin Dyson
Kevin Dyson
Kevin Tyree Dyson is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Tennessee Oilers 16th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Utah....
at the one-yard line to preserve a Rams victory. He also had a superb performance during the regular season that year, recording 1 sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
and 4 interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
s, which he returned for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also recovered 2 fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
s, returning them for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Jones finished his 12 seasons with 9 sacks, 8 interceptions, 132 return yards, 5 fumble recoveries, 94 return yards, and 4 touchdowns (2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries) in 183 games.
After retiring as a player, Jones spent six seasons coaching high school football at Hazelwood East High School
Hazelwood East High School
Hazelwood East High School is located at 11300 Dunn Road in St. Louis County. The school is one of three high schools in the Hazelwood School District, the others being Hazelwood West High School and Hazelwood Central High School.-History:...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. He led the team to a state title as the head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
in 2008. In 2010, he coached the linebackers at Southern University
Southern Jaguars football
The Southern Jaguars are the college football team representing the Southern University. The Jaguars play in NCAA Division I Football Championship as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.-National championships:*1948*1949*1950*1952*1954*1957...
in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. He is currently the head football coach at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
.