Jones played eight seasons as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers during the 1980s.

He earned several honors as a tight end, including the Ben Hustle Award (1981) and All-Missouri Valley Conference recognition (1983).

Following his second consecutive eight-win season (8-2), Jones was one of three finalists for the 2001 Eddie Robinson Coach of the year Award along with Doug Williams (Grambling State) and Rick Comegy (Tuskegee).

With his 79–47 record while at Alabama A&M, Jones' 79 wins at A&M rank second all-time behind legendary A&M coach Louis Crews, who won 93 games at A&M.

Alabama A&M remains the only visiting team to have beaten Tennessee State in the John Merritt Classic's history.

On April 2, 2018, Jones was named as the head football coach for the Elizabeth City State University Vikings.

Jones' son Julian was a top football recruit out of Hazel Green High School in Alabama.

Several Division I college football programs recruited him and two schools (Mississippi and South Carolina) had already extended scholarship offers to him.