He played college football for the Syracuse Orange and was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.

[5] As a senior in 2011, Jones played in only seven games due to injury, but still was an All-Big East selection after recording 39 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

In Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans, Jones strip-sacked quarterback Jake Locker, with fellow rookie teammate Dont'a Hightower recovering the ball and returning it for a touchdown.

[16] A week later Jones sacked Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb, forcing a fumble that was recovered by the Patriots.

[18] Jones made his sixth career sack in Week 8 against the St. Louis Rams by dropping Sam Bradford to the turf in London, England.

[19] In 14 games (13 starts) of his rookie season in 2012, Jones produced 45 tackles, six sacks, five passes defended, and three forced fumbles.

[21] In a game against the Baltimore Ravens, quarterback Tyrod Taylor fumbled the snap and Jones recovered it in the end zone for the first touchdown of his career.

[24] In Week 2, against the Minnesota Vikings, Jones recorded two sacks; he also blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown in the 30–7 victory.

[28] Through the first eight games, Jones racked up 9.5 sacks, including two in an October 29 win over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football to help the Patriots move to 7–0.

[32] Six days before the Patriots took on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round, Jones was hospitalized after showing up at the Foxborough Public Safety Building in a disoriented but cooperative state.

Jones still played in the following Divisional Round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs and the AFC Championship against the Denver Broncos.

[33][34][35] On March 15, 2016, Jones was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for Jonathan Cooper and a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft.

[51] During a Week 7 27–21 road victory over the New York Giants, he sacked rookie Daniel Jones four times, one of which resulted in a forced fumble which he recovered.

[53] During Week 16 against the Seattle Seahawks, Jones sacked Russell Wilson four times and forced a fumble on David Moore which was recovered by teammate Jordan Hicks during the 27–13 road victory.

His performance tied the franchise single game sack record, and he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

[73] The following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jones suffered an elbow injury after colliding with teammate Maxx Crosby while attempting to sack Kenny Pickett and was carted off the field.

[84] On September 26, Jones announced that the previous day the fire department admitted him into a hospital against his wishes and was later taken to a behavioral health center.

[85] On September 29, Jones was arrested in Las Vegas on two counts of violating a protection order, with arraignment scheduled for December 4.