MIAMI GARDENS — Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones, the four-year veteran who has made some of Miami’s biggest defensive plays this season, is a fascinating sort. Just when you think you know him, you learn more. Jones, the wiry 5-foot-11, 175-pounder who is in his first season with Miami, comes at you with statements that are both entertaining and eye-opening.
Most of my conversations with Jones, the 2022 fourth-round pick by New England out of Arizona State, feature laughs and lots of four-letter words. His football story includes anecdotes about Snoop Dogg and Bill Belichick, arrests, an appointment with the Hall of Fame and a rare spot in NFL history.
During training camp he bluntly told us he was torched by Detroit All Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. After being penalized in this season’s Carolina loss, he offered candid thoughts on the advantage offensive players have over defensivre players. He appeared on ESPN and humorously explained wearing his “grill” (dental jewelry) during the Buffalo win.
In short, Jones, a 27-year-old Los Angeles native, is interesting.
“Jack is interesting to say the least,” defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said with a big smile. “I tease him because sometimes he just has some crazy questions for me. He’ll be like, ‘Coach, I know you like that defense, but what if it’s a night game?’
“I’m like, ‘Jack, it’s still going to be the same.’ No, I tease. I love Jack. He keeps it interesting, let’s say that. And again, he loves the game. He’s energetic, he’s passionate about it, so he’s a fun guy to be around.”
Jones is one of nine players in NFL history to have four interceptions returned for a touchdown in his first three seasons.
I mentioned to Jones that three of those pick 6s are against future Hall of Fame quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers and Joe Burrow. He’s unimpressed.
“I ain’t really worried about the quarterback and that s—,” he said matter-of-factly. “It don’t really mean nothing to me…players f— up, you know what I’m saying? It’s not like they never threw a pick. It’d be different if we were going against a Hall of Fame quarterback who, hypothetically, Tom Brady, don’t have no interceptions, and then I’m the only one. That’s big time.”
Jones, who grew up playing in the Snoop Youth Football League and was a five-star recruit coming out of Long Beach Poly High School, committed to USC on Snoop Dogg’s podcast. It was a big deal. But then again it wasn’t a big deal.
“I really wasn’t too star-struck or anything,” Jones said of Snoop. “I’ve been around him my whole life. My pops and my uncle grew up with him.”
It’s all part of the compelling life Jones has lived.
On the high end, Jones’ No. 23 Dolphins jersey, the one he was wearing last month when he recorded the NFL’s first interception in Spain, is scheduled to be displayed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame soon.
“That’s amazing,” he said. “It’s a blessing, man.”
On the low end, he’s flunked out of college (USC), been arrested for burglary (after flunking out of USC) and arrested for having guns in his carry-on bag at Boston’s Logan Airport. He was waived by the Patriots in November 2023, about a week after missing curfew, and a year and a half after being drafted.
Despite that, Jones holds Belichick, the future Hall of Famer, in high regard.
“He molded me and he helped me,” Jones said. “Me and him don’t have the best relationship. I ain’t gonna lie. He probably hates me. I don’t know.
“But I still appreciate what he did for me, giving me the opportunity.”
Jones, who signed with the Dolphins in July, three months after being released by Las Vegas, has become a top playmaker for a Miami defense badly in need of playmakers.
Jones caused a fumble near the goal line when he stripped New York Jets running back Braelon Allen in the first quarter in a play he said is symbolic of his life.
“Just never quit, you know what I’m saying?” Jones said in assessing the play that helped the 0-3 Dolphins defeat the Jets, 27-21, for their first win of the season.
Jones caused a fumble by Buffalo running back James Cook that helped Miami preserve its 13-0 lead in a 30-13 victory.
“At that point, I’m thirsty for the rock,” Jones said. “I’m like, ‘Man, I ain’t got my hand on no interception, man. I got to go get that ball. I got to find that pill.’ That’s all that was.”
His biggest turnover of the season, however, was his overtime interception against Washington that led to a 16-13 Dolphins win in Madrid.
“Man, that interception I gotta give credit to the defense, you know what I’m saying?” he said, adding everybody on the field was doing their jobs, leaving him to make the play.
Jones has earned game balls this season for his performances. But he said he doesn’t care about that kind of stuff.
“Man, I don’t even count those, man,” he began. “I don’t know, that s— don’t matter to me. I just want to win, play ball.”
Intrigued, I asked Jones what matters to him in his career, what’s important to him.
“I just want to win, bro,” he said. “Win, go far, and I want to be somebody people look up to.
“Like when they look at me, they’ll be like, ‘Damn, Jack is good on and off the field. Jack is cool on and off the field. Jack is a good football player. Jack is a good father. Jack is a good whatever it may be.’ ”