Wide receiver Julio Jones retires at age 36

Julio Jones (Lisa Ferdinando, Wikimedia Commons)

According to Charles Odum of the Associated Press on Friday, National Football League wide receiver Julio Jones of Foley, Alabama retired at the age of 36. Jones played 13 seasons in the NFL from 2011 to 2023. He was with the Atlanta Falcons from 2011 to 2020, and one year each with the Tennessee Titans (2021), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2022), and Philadelphia Eagles (2023).

Jones is considered the best Falcons receiver of all-time. He is Atlanta’s all-time leader in receptions (848), receiving yards (12 896), receptions in a season (136 in 2015), and receiving yards in a season (1871 in 2015). Jones also had the greatest single game by a Falcons wide receiver. He set the Falcons record for most receiving yards in one contest. Jones had 12 catches for 300 receiving yards and one touchdown in a 48-33 Falcons win over the Carolina Panthers on October 2, 2016.

In 166 NFL career games, Jones had 914 catches for 13 703 receiving yards, and 66 touchdown catches. In 2015, he led the NFL in receptions (136), and receiving yards (1871). Jones also led the NFL with 1677 receiving yards in 2018.

Jones was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2012. He was then selected to the Pro Bowl again for six straight seasons from 2014 to 2019.

It should be noted that Jones has not played since January 15, 2024. That was the NFC Wildcard game, a 32-9 Eagles loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jones had three catches for 32 yards. He did not play in the NFL in the 2024 regular season whatsoever.

Jones played his college football at the University of Alabama. He was the first round pick, sixth overall, in the 2011 NFL Draft.