American Football Player. After playing football at Steubenville (Ohio) High School, he decided to play collegiately at the University of Iowa. During his years at Iowa from 1953 to 1955, Jones was a dominant figure on the field. He was a consensus All-American in all of his three years. During the 1954 season, Jones became the first college football player ever to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. In 1955, he was named the team's captain. Also that year, Jones became the first black player to win the Outland Trophy, which goes to the nation's top lineman. After graduation, he signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Jones was named to the CFL All-Star Team in his rookie year. He was killed on December 9, 1956, when the airplane that he was traveling in crashed at Slesse Mountain in Canada. After his death, the University of Iowa football team presented the game ball from their 1957 Rose Bowl victory to his mother. Jones was inducted into the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. In 1989, the University of Iowa retired his number 62. To this day, he is considered one of the greatest players to ever wear the Hawkeye uniform.
American Football Player. After playing football at Steubenville (Ohio) High School, he decided to play collegiately at the University of Iowa. During his years at Iowa from 1953 to 1955, Jones was a dominant figure on the field. He was a consensus All-American in all of his three years. During the 1954 season, Jones became the first college football player ever to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. In 1955, he was named the team's captain. Also that year, Jones became the first black player to win the Outland Trophy, which goes to the nation's top lineman. After graduation, he signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Jones was named to the CFL All-Star Team in his rookie year. He was killed on December 9, 1956, when the airplane that he was traveling in crashed at Slesse Mountain in Canada. After his death, the University of Iowa football team presented the game ball from their 1957 Rose Bowl victory to his mother. Jones was inducted into the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. In 1989, the University of Iowa retired his number 62. To this day, he is considered one of the greatest players to ever wear the Hawkeye uniform.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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