Falcons franchise-leading receiver Julio Jones announces retirement after 13-year NFL career
Julio Jones #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA - Julio Jones, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and the leading receiver in Atlanta Falcons history, announced his retirement on Friday.
Jones, 36, did not play in 2024 after playing in 11 games, including four starts, and catching 11 passes for 74 yards and four touchdowns in 2023 with Philadelphia.
The backstory:
Jones played for Atlanta from 2011-2021, setting franchise records with 848 catches for 12,896 yards. He had 60 touchdown catches with the Falcons and was a two-time first-team All-Pro. He earned three second-team All-Pro honors.
Only Roddy White’s 63 touchdown catches tops Jones’ total with Atlanta.
The Falcons congratulated Jones on his retirement with a tribute posted on X on Friday.
In his announcement on the social media app Squad, Jones thanked Alabama and his former college coach, Nick Saban, as well as Atlanta.
"I’m making this announcement today because of the city of Atlanta," Jones said. "Thank you man, I appreciate y’all. It’s nothing but love. I’m doing this on 404 day — it was a hell of a ride. ... This was for the city, man, I appreciate you all."
Dig deeper:
Overall, Jones caught 914 passes for 13,703 yards and 66 touchdowns in 13 NFL seasons. He played for Tennessee in 2011 and Tampa Bay in 2022.
Jones led the NFL with career-best totals of 136 catches for 1,871 yards for Atlanta in 2015. He had 113 catches for the Falcons in 2018 and again led the NFL with 1,677 receiving yards.
The Source: This article is an original report by the Associated Press.