| No. 88, 84 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Tight end | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | (1963-02-12)February 12, 1963 (age 62) San Jose, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Leland (San Jose, California) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Santa Clara (1981–1985) | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1986 (round: 5 • pick: 135) | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
As a player: | |||||||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
As a coach: | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Brent Michael Jones (born February 12, 1963) is an American former professionalfootball player, business executive, businessman, coach, andsports analyst. As a player, he was atight end for theSan Francisco 49ers during his entire 11-year career in theNational Football League (NFL) from 1987 to 1997. Jones is listed among the top players in franchise history, and helped revolutionize the concept of the pass-catching tight end.[1]
After playingcollege football atSanta Clara University, Jones was selected 135th overall by thePittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the1986 NFL draft. Cut after one season with the Steelers, he joined the 49ers during training camp in 1987. He went on to become the team's starting tight end in his third season after the retirement ofJohn Frank and played with the 49ers for 11 seasons.[2] He finished his 49ers career as the franchise's all-time leader in receptions (417), receiving yards (5,195) and receiving touchdowns (33) by a tight end, untilVernon Davis surpassed all three of those records. In the regular season, Jones played in 143 career games, winning 110 of them. In the playoffs, Jones played in 21 career games, starting 19 games, and winning 14 of them. Jones won nine NFC West titles with the 49ers. Jones finished his playoff career with 60 receptions for 740 receiving yards. Jones won three Super Bowls and was named All-Pro three times (1992–1994) and was selected to four Pro Bowls (1992–1995). These are all franchise records by a tight end. Jones never experienced a losing season and has one of the highest winning percentages in NFL history.
Brent Michael Jones was born on Tuesday, February 12, 1963, to Barbara and Mike Jones inSan Jose, California.[3] His father Mike is a formerquarterback drafted by theOakland Raiders in the1961 AFL Draft. Mike Jones played college football atSan Jose State University for theSpartans and is a formerhigh school football coach and teacher. Before going to bed, Jones would play a game with his father and his brother called 100 catches where they would each have to catch 100 straight passes. If they dropped one they would have to start all over. Jones attendedLeland High School inSan Jose, California, where he played football andbaseball. In high school, he was awide receiver in football and was acatcher in baseball. Due to a back injury, he did not play football his junior year and was a third-string football player his senior year.[4] Despite his limited play, Leland's head football coach said at his team banquet, that he felt Jones had the most potential to play in thePacific-10 Conference. In baseball, he was a First-team All-BVAL selection and his dream was to playMajor League Baseball.
Jones did not find out he was going to attend Santa Clara University until he came back from his senior class trip to Hawaii. A standout high school baseball player, he was initially recruited to SCU with a baseball scholarship, but also playedwide receiver on the football team. Due to injury, he was cut from the baseball team his second year and his focus and athletic scholarship was shifted to football.[5]
Jones served as both a key blocker and primary receiving target in four years with Santa Clara. During his sophomore season, Jones made the shift from wide receiver to tight end. By the conclusion of his collegiate career, he had led the Broncos to two Western Football Conference championships. A three-time all-conference selection, Jones ranks second all-time in school history with 137 career receptions, fourth with 2,267 receiving yards, fourth in scoring with 200 points and third with 24 touchdown receptions.
NCAA Collegiate Career statistics | |||||||||||||
| Brent Jones[6] | Receiving | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | GP | Rec | Yards | TDs | ||||||||
| 1982 | Santa Clara | 11 | 331 | 5 | |||||||||
| 1983 | Santa Clara | 10 | 599 | 7 | |||||||||
| 1984 | Santa Clara | 11 | 672 | 8 | |||||||||
| 1985 | Santa Clara | 10 | 665 | 4 | |||||||||
| Total | 42 | 2,267 | 24 | ||||||||||
| Height | Weight | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 230 lb (104 kg) | |||||||||||
| All values fromNFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Jones flew toNew Orleans, Louisiana to participate in the NFL Combine. ThePittsburgh Steelers selected Jones with the 135th overall pick in the fifth round of the 1986 NFL Draft.[7]
On Sunday, May 11, while driving home onMother's Day, Jones and his girlfriend Dana were both injured in a car accident after being hit by a drunk driver. The driver drove down the wrong side of the road in a massivehead-on collision. Jones suffered aherniated disc in his neck and Dana broke her jaw on thesteering wheel and dislocated her shoulder. The Steelers kept him on the roster until about a month into the regular season.The team would finish the 1986 NFL season 6–10 and third in theAFC Central under Hall of Fame head coachChuck Noll, failing to qualify for the1986–87 NFL playoffs. Due to his later success in professional football with the San Francisco 49ers, Jones is considered the worst cut in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise.[8]
Jones joined his hometown team, the San Francisco 49ers, as a rookie backup during training camp. On Sunday, December 6, atLambeau Field, in a 23–12 win over theGreen Bay Packers, Jones made his NFL regular season debut, won his first career NFL regular season game, and recorded his first career reception on a 13-yard pass from quarterbackJoe Montana.[9]The team finished the strike-shortened 1987 NFL season 13–2 and first in theNFC West under Hall of Fame head coachBill Walsh. Jones appeared in the last four games, finishing with two receptions for 35 receiving yards inWalsh's West Coast offense. On Saturday, January 9, 1988, atCandlestick Park, Jones made his NFL playoff debut in the1987–88 NFL playoffs against theMinnesota Vikings and recorded his first career reception on a seven-yard pass from quarterback Joe Montana.
On Sunday, November 6, atSun Devil Stadium, Jones caught his first career receiving touchdown against thePhoenix Cardinals. It was a three-yard pass from quarterbackSteve Young that put the Niners up 23–0 in the third quarter.The team finished the1988 NFL season 10–6 and first in the NFC West. Jones appeared in 11 games, finishing with eight receptions for 57 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. On Sunday, New Year's Day, January 1, 1989, at Candlestick Park, in a 34–9 win over theMinnesota Vikings, Jones won his first career playoff game. On Sunday, January 22, atJoe Robbie Stadium, in a 20–16 win over the AFC ChampionCincinnati Bengals inSuper Bowl XXIII, the 49ers won their third Super Bowl in franchise history, giving Jones his first. For the1988–89 NFL playoffs, Jones made two starts and appeared in three games, finishing with two receptions for 17 receiving yards.
Jones emerged as a starter in the1989 season, following the retirement of John Frank.The team finished the1989 NFL season 14–2 and first in the NFC West under new head coachGeorge Seifert. Jones started all 16 games, finishing with 40 receptions for 500 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. On Saturday, January 6, 1990, at Candlestick Park, in a 41–13 win over theMinnesota Vikings, Jones recorded his first career playoff receiving touchdown on an eight-yard pass from quarterback Joe Montana that put the Niners up 14–3 in the second quarter. On Sunday, January 28, at theLouisiana Superdome, in a 55–10 win over the AFC ChampionDenver Broncos inSuper Bowl XXIV, Jones and the 49ers won their second consecutive and fourth Super Bowl. Jones chipped in with his first Super Bowl reception and receiving touchdown on the same play; a seven-yard pass from quarterback Joe Montana to put the Niners up 13–3 in the first quarter. For the1989–90 NFL playoffs, Jones made three starts, finishing with eight receptions for 77 receiving yards and a career-high three receiving touchdowns.
On Sunday, September 23, at Candlestick Park, in a 19–13 win over theAtlanta Falcons, Jones recorded a career-high 125 receiving yards from quarterback Joe Montana in a single game.The team finished the1990 NFL season 14–2 and first in the NFC West. Jones again started all 16 games, finishing with 56 receptions for a career-high 747 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. On Saturday, January 12, 1991, at Candlestick Park, in a 28–10 win over theWashington Redskins, Jones caught a career-long 47-yard pass from quarterback Joe Montana. It was the longest reception for yards in Jones’ career in the playoffs. For the1990–91 NFL playoffs, Jones made two starts, finishing with seven receptions for a career-high 149 receiving yards.
The team finished the1991 NFL season 10–6. Jones made nine starts and appeared in ten games, finishing with 27 receptions for 417 receiving yards.
The team finished the1992 NFL season 14–2 and first in the NFC West. Jones started 15 games, finishing with 45 receptions for 628 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. He was selected to play in his first career Pro Bowl. For the1992–93 NFL playoffs, Jones made two starts, finishing with seven receptions for 104 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
On Sunday, October 3, at Candlestick Park, in a 38–19 win over theMinnesota Vikings, Jones caught a career-high eight receptions from quarterback Steve Young.The team finished the1993 NFL season 10–6 and first in the NFC West. Jones started all 16 games for the third time in his career, finishing with a career-high 68 receptions for 735 yards and three touchdowns, and played in his second consecutive Pro Bowl. For the1993–94 NFL playoffs, Jones made two starts, finishing with seven receptions for 65 receiving yards.
On Sunday, November 6, atRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, in a 37–22 win over theWashington Redskins, Jones caught a career-long 69-yard pass from quarterback Steve Young to put the Niners up 10–0 in the first quarter. It was the longest reception for yards and longest receiving touchdown in Jones’ career in the regular season.The team finished the1994 NFL season 13–3 and first in the NFC West. Jones started 15 games, finishing with 49 receptions for 670 receiving yards and a career-high nine receiving touchdowns. He was selected to play in his third consecutive Pro Bowl. On Sunday, January 29, 1995, at Joe Robbie Stadium, in a 49–26 win over the AFC ChampionSan Diego Chargers inSuper Bowl XXIX, Jones won his third Super Bowl as a player, giving the 49ers their fifth in the last 14 seasons. He became the second tight end afterMarv Fleming to win at least three Super Bowl championships and the first tight end in NFL history to win three titles without losing one.Jay Novacek would accomplish the feat the following year by winning his third without losing one and shortly after byShannon Sharpe as well.Rob Gronkowski has since become the fifth tight end to win at least three Super Bowls. For the1994–95 NFL playoffs, Jones made three starts, finishing with a career-high ten receptions for 104 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
The team finished the1995 NFL season 11–5 and first in the NFC West. Jones started all 16 games, finishing with 60 receptions for 595 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. He was selected to play in his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl. On Saturday, January 6, 1996, at3Com Park, Jones made the start against theGreen Bay Packers and recorded playoff career-highs in a single game for the1995–96 NFL playoffs with eight receptions and 112 receiving yards.
The team finished the1996 NFL season 12–4. Jones made 10 starts and appeared in 11 games, finishing with 33 receptions for 428 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. For the1996–97 NFL playoffs, Jones made two starts, finishing with six receptions for 54 receiving yards.
The team finished the 1997 NFL season 13–3 and first in the NFC West under new head coachSteve Mariucci. Jones made 12 starts and appeared in 13 games, finishing with 29 receptions for 383 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. On Monday, January 12, 1998, Jones appeared on the cover ofSports Illustrated. For the1997–98 NFL playoffs, Jones made one start and appeared in two games, finishing with four receptions for 51 receiving yards.
| Legend | ||
|---|---|---|
| Won the Super Bowl | ||
| Bold | Career high | |
| Underline | Incomplete data | |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Long | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 1987 | SF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 35 | 17.5 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | SF | 11 | 0 | 8 | 57 | 7.1 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | SF | 16 | 16 | 40 | 500 | 12.5 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | SF | 16 | 16 | 56 | 747 | 13.3 | 67 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | SF | 10 | 9 | 27 | 417 | 15.4 | 41 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 1992 | SF | 15 | 15 | 45 | 628 | 14.0 | 43 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 1993 | SF | 16 | 16 | 68 | 735 | 10.8 | 29 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | SF | 15 | 15 | 49 | 670 | 13.7 | 69 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | SF | 16 | 16 | 60 | 595 | 9.9 | 39 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 1996 | SF | 11 | 10 | 33 | 428 | 13.0 | 39 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | SF | 13 | 12 | 29 | 383 | 13.2 | 33 | 2 | 1 | — |
| Career[10] | 143 | 125 | 417 | 5,195 | 12.5 | 69T | 33 | 12 | 3 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Long | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 1987 | SF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | SF | 3 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | SF | 3 | 3 | 8 | 77 | 9.6 | 20 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1990 | SF | 2 | 2 | 7 | 149 | 21.3 | 47 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | SF | 2 | 2 | 7 | 104 | 14.9 | 22 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | SF | 2 | 2 | 7 | 65 | 9.3 | 13 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | SF | 3 | 3 | 10 | 104 | 10.4 | 33 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1995 | SF | 1 | 1 | 8 | 112 | 14.0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | SF | 2 | 2 | 6 | 54 | 9.0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | SF | 2 | 1 | 4 | 51 | 12.8 | 16 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Career | 21 | 19 | 60 | 740 | 12.3 | 47T | 5 | 2 | — | |
By a tight end:
By a tight end:
Jones was inducted into the Division II Football Hall of Fame in 2001, theCollege Football Hall of Fame in 2002, and theBay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
| Award / Honor | Time(s) | Date(s) | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl champion | 3 | XXIII, XXIV, XXIX | |
| Super Bowl | 3 | XXIII, XXIV, XXIX | |
| NFC champion | 3 | 1988, 1989, 1994 | |
| NFC Championship Game | 7 | 1988–1990, 1992–1994, 1997 | |
| NFL playoffs | 10 | 1987–1990, 1992–1997 | |
| All-Pro | 3 | 1992–1994 | |
| First-team All-Pro | 1 | 1992 | |
| Second-team All-Pro | 2 | 1993–1994 | |
| NEA First-team All-Pro | 1 | 1992 | |
| PFW First-team All-Pro | 2 | 1993–1994 | |
| UPI First-team All-Pro | 2 | 1993–1994 | |
| AP Second-team All-Pro | 2 | 1993–1994 | |
| NFC West Champion | 9 | 1987–1990, 1992–1995, 1997 | |
| Pro Bowl | 4 | 1992–1995 | |
| Bart Starr Award | 1 | 1998 | |
| Pro Football Reference Second-team All-Decade Team | 1 | 1990s | |
| Kodak, Associated Press, Football News All-American | 1 | 1985 | |
| Western Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year (1985) | 1 | 1985 | |
| First-team All-WFC | 2 | 1983–1985 | |
| East-West Shrine Game All-Star | 1 | 1985 | |
| Division II Football Team of the Quarter Century | 1 | 1975–2000 | |
| Division II Football Hall of Fame | 1 | 2001 | |
| College Football Hall of Fame | 1 | 2002 | |
| Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame | 1 | 2013 | |
| First-team All-BVAL | 1 | 1981 |
Brent and Dana Jones met while attending Santa Clara University and were married in 1987. They have two daughters, Rachel andCourtney, who are both formerNCAA Division Istudent athletes and played soccer. Rachel played for theCal Poly Mustangs and Courtney played at theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, helping theTar Heels win two consecutiveNCAA Championships in her freshman and second years in 2008 and 2009.[11] Courtney was drafted sixth overall by theBoston Breakers in the2013 NWSL Supplemental Draft. She played professional soccer as aforward anddefender for the new Breakers andFC Kansas City in theNWSL.
Shortly after his playing career ended, Jones became an analyst forThe NFL Today. Jones worked for theNFL on CBS from 1998 to 2005. Jones decided to leaveCBS Sports during the2005 NFL season to spend more time with family, and to focus on his business in California,Northgate Capital, which he founded with former teammatesMark Harris andTommy Vardell.[12]
In 2000, upon retiring from football, Jones and former teammatesSteve Young,Tommy Vardell, andMark Harris co-founded Northgate Capital, aventure capital andprivate equity investment firm with approximately $4.9 billion ofassets under management and offices in San Francisco,Danville, Mexico City, and London and served as its managing director and founding partner.[13][14] He sold a majority stake in Northgate to Indian financial services companyReligare Enterprises in 2010 and continued to manage the firm as a partner. In 2016, after Religare and Northgate's management team sold the firm to The Capital Partnership, an investment advisor with offices in London andDubai, he became an advisor.[15][16] Jones is a former member of the board of directors forSan Jose Sports & Entertainment Enterprises, which owns theSan Jose Sharks of theNational Hockey League.[17][18]
Jones is a Christian and found his faith when he attendedYoung Life as a sophomore in high school.[19] His Young Life leader Tom Raley was instrumental in his life and told him that he would have a career in sports. Jones was one of the first players to startprayer circles in the NFL.[20][21]
Jones's coaching career began in 2007 atMonte Vista High School, who compete in theEast Bay Athletic League. Coaching the tight ends, he mentoredZach Ertz.[22][23][24][25][26]
Jones is aRepublican. In the past he has been rumored to be a potential political candidate. At one time, he was considered by many pundits to be a potential candidate for the US Congressional seat held by freshman Rep.Jerry McNerney in northernCalifornia's 11th congressional district. On March 19, 2009, theSan Francisco Chronicle reported that Jones was being recruited to run in a special election to replace U.S. RepresentativeEllen Tauscher, who was appointed to a position in the State Department, inCalifornia's 10th congressional district.[27] On March 4, 2010, David Harmer, a Republican candidate running for California's 11th congressional district, announced that Jones had endorsed Harmer's campaign.
