Ernest Jones IV was in the right place at the right time when he intercepted the brutal pass that he would, in turn, bolt for the endzone with. It was another Seattle Seahawks defensive special that propelled them to a 26-0 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Jones was exceptional, as he has been all season long, but his pick-six (thanks to DeMarcus Lawrence) reverberated something thunderous within the NFL’s most deafening stadium. Jones’ stat line was also outstanding, as he recorded 12 tackles, leading the team in that category.
This season is without question one of Jones’s best to date. After spending four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans, Jones certainly appears to have found a home in Seattle in his second year, and the way he feels about the guys in the locker room surely echoes how he must think about being a Seahawk.
Ernest Jones IV on Seahawks teammates: “I love each and every guy in that locker room”
Set aside the explosive offensive numbers, the 10 wins, and the elite defense. The Seahawks are one of the best teams in the league because of those factors, but the one factor that may be shining brightest is the locker room’s connectivity. In other words, the players all seem to love each other.
We’ve seen several examples of this throughout the season. How many times have we watched defensive and offensive players step up to the podium after a game — win or lose — to have Sam Darnold’s back? And there have been moment after moment in press conferences of guys speaking up on behalf of others, praising their talent, recognizing their game, and simply encouraging each other.
It’s apparent the Seahawks have a tight-knit locker room, and you can argue that all the winning they are doing this year has come out of it. Jones, for example, is the most recent Seahawks player to stand behind the podium and speak about his teammates.
After the win over the Vikings, Jones reflected not just on the win but also on the internal factors that led to victories and his internal growth.
“…you know, once football is over, not too many people are gonna remember the football player,” Jones said. “I want everybody to remember the person. I want everybody to know, man, I love each and every guy that’s in that locker room. I’ll put my life on the line for them, and that’s no exaggeration. So, that means everything to me. Yeah, I’ll take that with me forever.”
Jones was responding to being told what one of his teammates said about him in this moment, and if you didn’t know Jones appreciates how his teammates view him, you do now. Jones would also comment that turning back to his faith recently has helped him not just on the football field but also as a team leader.
Personal faith plays an integral role among approximately 35% to 40% of NFL players. It’s common to hear any of them speak publicly about it, just as Jones did. If faith is his guide to being the level of player, teammate, and defensive leader Seahawks fans have seen this season, then Jones is walking in the right direction.
There’s no doubt that Seattle’s acquisition of Jones via trade last year has contributed a major spark to Seattle’s defense. The Seahawks have other significant defensive contributors, of course, but Jones in particular has surged to the top of the list.
Seattle now sits at 9-3 on the season, and with signs that Darnold could be slowing down a bit, Seattle will need to rely heavily on Jones and the rest of the defense to finish out the season. The playoffs are still in the picture, but there is no room for even the slightest slip-up.