Jones played college football at the University of Pittsburgh where he finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1941.

Upon his discharge in 1945, he joined the Bears for one game before he was banned by the NFL's commissioner because he had signed a contract to play for the Browns in the rival AAFC.

In 1950, Jones played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union and set a league scoring record.

[6] Jones was drafted in December 1941 by the Chicago Bears of the National Football League but delayed his professional career to join the U.S. Navy during World War II.

[9] After playing in just one game for the Bears, Elmer Layden, the NFL's commissioner, barred him from further participation in the league because of his AAFC contract.

[12] In 1947, Jones missed five games due to injury but still led the AAFC in average yards per carry, with 6.4, as the Browns won the championship again.

[14] In a 1949 game against the Los Angeles Dons, Jones suffered a broken collarbone and missed the remainder of the regular season.

[15] The Browns again reached the championship, and Jones returned to play in the game, which Cleveland won for the fourth straight time.

[16] Jones played most of his professional career as a second fiddle to Motley, a fullback, and Otto Graham, the Browns' star quarterback.