Brent Jones
No. 88, 84 | |||||||
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Position: | Tight end | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | San Jose, California, U.S. | February 12, 1963||||||
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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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||
Brent Michael Jones (born February 12, 1963) is an American former professional football player, business executive, businessman, coach, and sports analyst. As a player, he was a tight end for the San Francisco 49ers during his entire 11-year career in the National 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 playing
Early life
Brent Michael Jones was born on Tuesday, February 12, 1963, to Barbara and Mike Jones in
College career
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 played wide 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.[4]
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.
Statistics
NCAA Collegiate Career statistics
| |||||||||||||
Brent Jones[5] | 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 |
Professional career
1986 NFL Draft
Height | Weight | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
230 lb (104 kg) | |||||||||||
All values from NFL Combine |
Jones flew to New Orleans, Louisiana to participate in the NFL Combine. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Jones with the 135th overall pick in the fifth round of the 1986 NFL Draft.[6]
Pittsburgh Steelers
1986
On Sunday, May 11, while driving home on
San Francisco 49ers
1987
Jones joined his hometown team, the San Francisco 49ers, as a rookie backup during training camp. On Sunday, December 6, at Lambeau Field, in a 23–12 win over the Green 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 quarterback Joe Montana.[8] The team finished the strike-shortened 1987 NFL season 13–2 and first in the NFC West under Hall of Fame head coach Bill Walsh. Jones appeared in the last four games, finishing with two receptions for 35 receiving yards in Walsh's West Coast offense. On Saturday, January 9, 1988, at Candlestick Park, Jones made his NFL playoff debut in the 1987–88 NFL playoffs against the Minnesota Vikings and recorded his first career reception on a seven-yard pass from quarterback Joe Montana.
1988
On Sunday, November 6, at
1989
Jones emerged as a starter in the
1990
On Sunday, September 23, at Candlestick Park, in a 19–13 win over the Atlanta Falcons, Jones recorded a career-high 125 receiving yards from quarterback Joe Montana in a single game. The team finished the 1990 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 the Washington 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 the 1990–91 NFL playoffs, Jones made two starts, finishing with seven receptions for a career-high 149 receiving yards.
1991
The team finished the 1991 NFL season 10–6. Jones made nine starts and appeared in ten games, finishing with 27 receptions for 417 receiving yards.
1992
The team finished the 1992 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 the 1992–93 NFL playoffs, Jones made two starts, finishing with seven receptions for 104 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
1993
On Sunday, October 3, at Candlestick Park, in a 38–19 win over the Minnesota Vikings, Jones caught a career-high eight receptions from quarterback Steve Young. The team finished the 1993 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 the 1993–94 NFL playoffs, Jones made two starts, finishing with seven receptions for 65 receiving yards.
1994
On Sunday, November 6, at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, in a 37–22 win over the Washington 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 the 1994 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 Champion San Diego Chargers in Super 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 after Marv 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 by Shannon Sharpe as well. Rob Gronkowski has since become the fifth tight end to win at least three Super Bowls. For the 1994–95 NFL playoffs, Jones made three starts, finishing with a career-high ten receptions for 104 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
1995
1996
The team finished the 1996 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 the 1996–97 NFL playoffs, Jones made two starts, finishing with six receptions for 54 receiving yards.
1997
The team finished the 1997 NFL season 13–3 and first in the NFC West under new head coach Steve 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 of Sports Illustrated. For the 1997–98 NFL playoffs, Jones made one start and appeared in two games, finishing with four receptions for 51 receiving yards.
NFL career statistics
Regular season
Legend | ||
---|---|---|
Won the Super Bowl | ||
Bold | Career high |
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Long | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Long | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
1987 | SF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 35 | 17.5 | 22 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
1988 | SF | 11 | 0 | 8 | 57 | 7.1 | 18 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
1989 | SF | 16 | 16 | 40 | 500 | 12.5 | 36 | 4 | 0 | ||||||
1990 | SF | 16 | 16 | 56 | 747 | 13.3 | 67 | 5 | 2 | ||||||
1991 | SF | 10 | 9 | 27 | 417 | 15.4 | 41 | 0 | 2 | ||||||
1992 | SF | 15 | 15 | 45 | 628 | 14.0 | 43 | 4 | 1 | ||||||
1993 | SF | 16 | 16 | 68 | 735 | 10.8 | 29 | 3 | 2 | ||||||
1994 | SF | 15 | 15 | 49 | 670 | 13.7 | 69 | 9 | 1 | ||||||
1995 | SF | 16 | 16 | 60 | 595 | 9.9 | 39 | 3 | 3 | ||||||
1996 | SF | 11 | 10 | 33 | 428 | 13.0 | 39 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
1997 | SF | 13 | 12 | 29 | 383 | 13.2 | 33 | 2 | 1 | ||||||
Career[9] | 143 | 125 | 417 | 5,195 | 12.5 | 69T | 33 | 12 |
Playoffs
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Long | TD | Att | 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 |
NFL records
By a tight end:
- 1.000 NFL Championship / Super Bowl winning percentage (minimum 3 Super Bowls – tied with Jay Novacek and Shannon Sharpe)
- 1.000 NFL Championship / Super Bowl winning percentage with one team (minimum 3 Super Bowls – tied with Jay Novacek)
- First player to win 14 career playoff games
- First player to win 14 career playoff games with one team
- First player to play 21 career playoff games
- First player to play 21 career playoff games with one team
- First player to go 3–0 in Super Bowl career
- First player to go 3–0 in Super Bowl career with one team
- First player to start Super Bowl career 3–0
- First player to start Super Bowl career 3–0 with one team
- One of two players to win at least three NFL Championships / Super Bowls with one team without losing one (Jay Novacek)
- One of four players to win at least three NFL Championships / Super Bowls with one team (Jay Novacek, Rob Gronkowski, and Travis Kelce)
- One of three players to win at least three NFL Championships / Super Bowls without losing one (Jay Novacek and Shannon Sharpe)
- One of six players to win at least three NFL Championships / Super Bowls (Marv Fleming, Jay Novacek, Shannon Sharpe, Rob Gronkowski, and Travis Kelce)
- One of four players to win at least 14 career playoff games (Marv Fleming, Rob Gronkowski, and Travis Kelce)
San Francisco 49ers franchise records
By a tight end:
- Three NFL / Super Bowl championships
- Three NFL / Super Bowl appearances
- 110 career regular season wins
- 14 career playoff wins
- 0.769 regular season winning percentage
- 0.666 playoffs winning percentage
- 143 career regular season games played
- 19 career playoff games started
- 21 career playoff games played
- 60 career playoff receptions
- 740 career playoff receiving yards
- Three-Time All-Pro (tied with George Kittle)
- First player to make four career Pro Bowls
Career highlights
Honors
Jones was inducted into the Division II Football Hall of Fame in 2001, the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
Awards
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 |
Off the field
Personal life
Brent and Dana Jones met while attending Santa Clara University and were married in 1987. They have two daughters, Rachel and
Broadcasting career
Shortly after his playing career ended, Jones became an analyst for The NFL Today. Jones worked for the NFL on CBS from 1998 to 2005. Jones decided to leave CBS Sports during the 2005 NFL season to focus on his business in California, Northgate Capital, which he founded with former teammates Mark Harris and Tommy Vardell.[11]
Business ventures
In 2000, upon retiring from football, Jones and former teammates Steve Young, Tommy Vardell, and Mark Harris co-founded Northgate Capital, a venture capital and private equity investment firm with approximately $4.9 billion of assets under management and offices in San Francisco, Danville, Mexico City, and London and served as its managing director and founding partner.[12][13] He sold a majority stake in Northgate to Indian financial services company Religare 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 and Dubai, he became an advisor.[14][15] Jones is a former member of the board of directors for San Jose Sports & Entertainment Enterprises, which owns the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League.[16][17]
Christianity
Jones is a Christian and found his faith when he attended Young Life as a sophomore in high school.[18] 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 start prayer circles in the NFL.[19][20]
Coaching career
Jones's coaching career began in 2007 at Monte Vista High School, who compete in the East Bay Athletic League. Coaching the tight ends, he mentored Zach Ertz.[21][22][23][24][25]
Politics
Jones is a Republican. 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 northern California's 11th congressional district. On March 19, 2009, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Jones was being recruited to run in a special election to replace U.S. Representative Ellen Tauscher, who was appointed to a position in the State Department, in California's 10th congressional district.[26] On March 4, 2010, David Harmer, a Republican candidate running for California's 11th congressional district, announced that Jones had endorsed Harmer's campaign.
See also
References
- ^ "San Francisco 49ers: The Top 50 Greatest 49ers of All Time". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ "Archives". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ Vaccarello, Skip (January 2, 2014). "Brent Jones, Former All Pro With The 49ers — Perseverance And Faith". Finding God in Silicon Valley. Skip Vaccarello. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ Vaccarello, Skip (January 2, 2014). "Brent Jones, Former All Pro With The 49ers — Perseverance And Faith". Finding God in Silicon Valley. Skip Vaccarello. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "Brent Jones". Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ "1986 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
- ^ "The Worst Cuts All 32 NFL Teams Have Ever Made". August 28, 2018. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- ^ "December 6th 1987 - San Francisco 23, Green Bay 12". Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
- NFL.com. Archivedfrom the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ "Courtney Jones - Defender/Forward #84 - Boston Breakers". Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
- ^ "Where are they now: Brent Jones". National Football League. Archived from the original on July 14, 2007. Retrieved April 11, 2007.
- ^ "Tommy Vardell". LinkedIn.
- ^ "Northgate promotes one to CFO, hires head of IR". March 22, 2019. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
- ^ Cromwell Schubarth (April 19, 2016). "Northgate says co-founding ex-NFLers Brent Jones, Tommy Vardell expected to stay after sale". Sillicon Valley Business Journal. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ "Brent Jones | Northgate". Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
- ^ "Staff". San Jose Sharks. Archived from the original on March 15, 2007. Retrieved April 11, 2007.
- ^ "Brent Jones | TLC for Kids". Archived from the original on August 31, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
- ^ "Brent Jones, former All Pro with the 49ers — Perseverance and Faith | Finding God in Silicon Valley". January 2, 2014. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- ^ "First NFL postgame prayer circle: 25 years later". December 3, 2015. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- ^ "Former 49ers TE Brent Jones reminisces on first postgame prayer huddle". January 27, 2020. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- ^ "For Zach Ertz, the Eagles have Brent Jones to thank". Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
- ^ "Eagles on the Record - EIP 19: Zach Ertz Interview | Listen via Stitcher for Podcasts". Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
- ^ "Passing it forward". October 24, 2018. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
- ^ "Sports Stars Making a Social Impact: Zach Ertz of the Philadelphia Eagles is supporting youth sports, education, and family enrichment · Ertz Family Foundation". February 11, 2019. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
- ^ "Eagles' Zach Ertz starts virtual coaching and mentoring program for young tight ends". July 12, 2020. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
- ^ "Tauscher's job move opens up coveted seat". March 19, 2009. Archived from the original on January 28, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Pro Football Reference