Justin Jones
CHICAGO BEARS
| Position | College | Years in the NFL |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive Tackle | N.C. State | 6 |
Demonstrates Excellence on the Field
Justin Jones is in his sixth NFL season and second with the Bears after spending previous time with the Los Angeles Chargers. He has appeared in 77 games in his NFL career with 61 starts, totaling 196 tackles (106 solo), 8.5 sacks, 28 QBHs, 30 TFLs, nine passes defensed, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries.
Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the third round (84th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft, Jones' smooth transition to the Bears demonstrated his excellence and love for the game. The Bears are fortunate to have a player that is excellent and passionate on and off the field.
Jones started in all nine games as of the time of this writing. In Week 2 against the Buccaneers, he recorded his 25th career tackle-for-loss. In Week 6 against the Vikings, he reached 100 solo tackles for his career and recorded his 25th quarterback hit. In Week 7, he logged his first sack of the season. His nine-game totals include 26 tackles (15 solo), 8 quarterback hits, 6 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and 3 passes defensed.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts this Year
Jones continually supports Bears community programs while also independently planning community appearances for himself and his teammates. The Bears have witnessed Jones' inspiring power, his recognition of his personal responsibility, and how he consistently uses it to champion wins and move communities of fans.
He organized a visit for his teammates to spend time with children at Allendale Association, a not-for-profit organization where youth restore their lives and discover a better future. Allendale is dedicated to the care, treatment, education, and advocacy of families, children, and youth with serious emotional, mental, and behavioral health challenges.
He regularly supports youth guidance program Becoming a Man, participating in conversions with middle school and high school boys with the goal of guiding them to make responsible decisions for their future. This is also the charity Jones supported this season through the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative.
Recently, Jones and a few teammates joined Bears Care, Amazon Studios, and Warriors @ Amazon for an event at Halas Hall with students and members of BUILD, Inc. and Youth Guidance. BUILD, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that works with at-risk and underprivileged youth in Chicago. The organization focuses on empowering young people to pursue education and career opportunities with the aim of breaking the cycle of violence and poverty in their lives. Youth Guidance is a nonprofit organization that provides school-based programs and counseling services to at-risk and underprivileged youth in Chicago, helping young individuals develop skills needed to succeed in school and life.
Jones generously invests his time, actively forming connections and delving into the background stories of those he engages with. He always goes out of his way to spend time with special guests who attend practice at Halas Hall, whether it's a child who is having their wish granted or a social justice organization.
This year, for the second year in a row, Jones and his wife attended the Bears Care Gala, a charity black-tie gala, to help raise funds in support of breast and ovarian research.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past
During Christmas time last year, Nicole Mitchell – a deaf single mother of three kids in Cook County – received a package. She opened it to find various gift cards for everyday essentials like groceries, gas, and electronics as well as Bears gear for her, her son Myles, and her daughters Mynayla and Myangela. That's when Nicole discovered that Jones had chosen to adopt her family for the holidays. In the past year, her family had experienced periods of homelessness or lived in subsidized housing.
While Nicole was studying to earn her master's degree in social work, she reached out to Bears Care in the fall in hopes of finding support for her and her family's basic needs. Around the same time, Jones was searching for more ways to give back to the community. Having personal experience with families and kids not being able to give or receive Christmas gifts, Jones said he "just wanted to help out." It was that simple.
Nicole and her family had the chance to meet Jones in person during a visit to Chicago Bears Training Camp this past summer. Nicole also had the opportunity to serve as the sign language interpreter during the National Anthem of a Bears home game this season.
Additionally, he was the honorary captain for the 2022 Chicago Public League city championship. In its second year as a sport in the Chicago Public League, girls high school flag football nearly doubled in size, jumping to 48 teams. The City Championship was sponsored by the Chicago Bears, NFL Flag, and Nike. Following Jones' support of the league in its inception, the girls' flag is on a path to being a sanctioned sport in Illinois next year, just two years after its start.
Demonstrates Consistency in Positive Character and Models a Lifestyle of Giving Back
Currently in his sixth season in the NFL, Jones has established himself as a veteran leader on the team. He is consistent, kind, and leads by example.
"We're extremely proud of Justin and the impact he's making within the community," said Bears head coach Matt Eberflus. "His commitment to excellence both on and off the field embodies what the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award stands for. Justin is a consummate professional day-in and day-out. He's a leader on defense and an outstanding teammate inside the locker room."
