Aaron Jones
GREEN BAY PACKERS
| Position | College | Years in the NFL |
|---|---|---|
| Running Back | University of Texas El Paso | 6 |
Excellence on the Field:
Since coming to the Packers, Aaron Jones has shared his infectious enthusiasm for football with fans and his teammates, personifying the joy of playing the game whether he's the one finding the end zone or one of his teammates is. He is one of only three players in NFL history to post 4,000-plus rushing yards (4,163) and 40-plus rushing TDs (41) with an average of 5.00-plus yards per carry (5.06) in their first five seasons. From 2019-21, he was one of only two players in the NFL to post 1,000-plus yards from scrimmage and 10-plus TDs. His 5.06 yards per carry ranks No. 7 in league history and No. 1 in team annals. Leading into this season, he ranks No. 5 in Packers history in rushing yards and No. 4 in rushing TDs, with 41. The ultimate unselfish team player, he makes his presence known on each snap. His incredible value both on the field and in the locker room is evident each time he comes out of the tunnel on game day.
Dedication & Commitment to Community Efforts This Year:
This year, Aaron has built upon the work of his foundation, the A&A All the Way Foundation, giving back to his communities in Wisconsin and Texas more than ever. The A&A All the Way Foundation is dedicated to making an impact in the lives of our nation's youth through charitable giving and action. The Foundation executes events that inspire, educate, and promote unity and diversity across multiple communities. They focus on addressing children's basic needs to they can reach their full potential, providing opportunities for recreation and fitness, and supporting children in military families. In just the last several months, he and his Foundation have hosted their first-ever Charity Softball Game in their native El Paso, Texas, in addition to hosting their fifth annual free football camp. They've also launched Aaron's third annual Yards for Shoes Campaign, pledging to donate a pair of shoes to elementary and middle school children for every rushing yard he gains up to 1,000 yards. The shoes are gifted to children at Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Wisconsin, and Aaron paid a visit in September to a Green Bay area club to spend time with some lucky kids to kick off this year's program. Aaron has also become the spokesperson for the Packers Salute to Service initiative for the month of November. He spoke at a press conference to launch the campaign, took photos with veterans and their service dogs, visited with military cadets at Challenge Academy at Fort McCoy in western Wisconsin, and will spend time with veterans and members of the military at the Patriot K9s of Wisconsin facility and the Packers' Huddle for Heroes event coming up later in November. Coming up yet this season, Aaron will host the 2nd Annual A&A All the Way Foundation Gala in Green Bay to raise funds for military families. He'll also hand out free Thanksgiving meals to families in need in Green Bay and El Paso, meet with military families who received experiences through the Foundation's "Freedom Is" Campaign, and give away bicycles and holiday gifts to kids in need in Green Bay and El Paso.
Dedication & Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past:
Like he does on the field, Aaron hit the ground running in the community when he arrived in Green Bay. After working with special education students and visiting schools while he was in college, he was eager to get to know his adoptive home in Green Bay and make an impact wherever he could. In his nearly six years with the Packers, Aaron has jumped at every opportunity to take part in community events. From knocking down pins at the Packers Give Back Celebrity Bowling event to hosting bingo with the Salvation Army, Aaron has been eager to promote charitable causes and lend his help however he can. Having grown up with two parents in the U.S. Army, causes affiliated with the military are particularly important to him. During his time in Green Bay, he's been a big part of the Packers' Salute to Service efforts, from sending videos to veterans to speaking to youth at military academies and taking part in events like the team's Huddle for Heroes aimed at honoring veterans. He's visited service members in the hospital and visited military bases, including Fort Bliss in his native El Paso. He was nominated for the NFL Salute to Service Award in 2018 for his dedication to saluting those who serve our country. Last year, Aaron built on this passion with the Freedom Is Campaign through his Foundation, which focuses on honoring military families by raising funds to provide joy-filled experiences to children who have parents serving in the military, such as a trip to the zoo or a family movie night. Each month, a different family in Wisconsin or Texas receives a special experience and a video feature on their website. Aaron has also been involved with numerous programs and charities that benefit kids. He has attended a variety of events at the Boys & Girls Club and he hosts football camps during the offseason in El Paso and Wisconsin. Aaron also has a special connection with kids battling illnesses, including cancer. He has taken part in numerous hospital visits, both in Texas and in Wisconsin. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, with hospital visits unsafe for both the patients and the players, Aaron found a way to reach the kids: by visiting them through "robots" and video screens, doing whatever he could to make them smile while dealing with a difficult situation.
Positive Character & a Lifestyle of Giving Back:
As Aaron has grown as a player and a man, he's continued participating in Packers community outreach efforts, but he's also begun carving his own path as a philanthropist with his A&A All the Way Foundation, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to his community to his fans of all ages. Known in the locker room and among all who interact with him as a kind, polite, respectful man, Aaron is a model football player and the epitome of a hard worker. Raised in a tight-knit military family, the special combination of Aaron's humility, toughness and trustworthiness makes him unique in the NFL and makes him an excellent teammate. Rarely is a player so universally known for his positive attitude and consideration, whether it's his four-time MVP quarterback or a Packers fan walking through the Lambeau Field parking lot, he shows the utmost courtesy to everyone. Perhaps most emblematic of Aaron's positive character was his special, albeit brief, connection in 2020 with a young boy named Ethan battling terminal cancer. Ethan, who turned to art to bring him comfort during his illness, entered a contest to design Aaron's cleats for the My Cause My Cleats campaign to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research. Aaron named Ethan the winner on a Zoom call by showing off the cleats and gifting Ethan his own matching pair. During the game, Aaron had the longest run of his career, a 77-yard touchdown, while wearing Ethan's shoes. Just weeks after watching the touchdown run, Ethan passed away. Aaron clearly is a special player both on and off the field, establishing a legacy of humility, respect and dedication. The Green Bay Packers are proud to select Aaron Jones as their 2022 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.