Clinton Jones (American football)

Clinton Jones (born May 24, 1945) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings and the San Diego Chargers. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was selected by the Vikings in the first round (2nd overall) of the 1967 NFL/AFL draft.

Clinton Jones

No. 26
Position	Running back
Personal information
Born	(1945-05-24) May 24, 1945 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight	206 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school	Cathedral Latin (Chardon, Ohio)
College	Michigan State (1964–1966)
NFL draft	1967: 1st round, 2nd overall pick
Career history
Minnesota Vikings (1967–1972) San Diego Chargers (1973)
Awards and highlights
NFL champion (1969) 2× National champion (1965, 1966) Consensus All-American (1966) Second-team All-American (1965) 2× First-team All-Big Ten (1965, 1966) Michigan State Spartans No. 26 retired
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards 2,178 Rushing average 3.6 Receptions 38 Receiving yards 431 Kick return yards 2,426 Total touchdowns 21 Stats at Pro Football Reference
College Football Hall of Fame

Early life

Clinton Jones was born on May 24, 1945, in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School in Chardon, Ohio.

College career

After his graduation from Cathedral Latin School, Jones spent his college years at Michigan State University. He finished sixth in voting for the 1966 Heisman Award, the Michigan State Spartans second year in a row as national champions. He is featured in the documentary Through the Banks of the Red Cedar, written and directed by Gene Washington's daughter, Maya Washington.

NFL career

Jones was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1967 NFL/AFL draft. The pick used to draft Jones was one received by the Vikings from the New York Giants in exchange for the quarterback Fran Tarkenton.

Jones spent six seasons, 1967 to 1972, with Minnesota before moving on to the San Diego Chargers for one last season in 1973.

Clint Jones is a member of The Pigskin Club Of Washington, D.C., and National Intercollegiate All-American Football Players Honor Roll.

On January 9, 2015, Jones was named to the College Football Hall Of Fame.

Career statistics

NFL

Legend
	Won the NFL championship
	Led the league
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Rushing					Receiving
		GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1967	MIN	14	0	13	23	1.8	9	0	0	0	0.0	0	0
1968	MIN	12	12	128	536	4.2	43	1	4	26	6.5	14	0
1969	MIN	14	2	54	241	4.5	80	3	3	23	7.7	9	0
1970	MIN	14	7	120	369	3.1	23	9	9	117	13.0	72	0
1971	MIN	14	10	180	675	3.8	73	4	9	98	10.9	18	0
1972	MIN	7	3	52	164	3.2	33	2	6	42	7.0	10	0
1973	SDG	12	3	55	170	3.1	38	1	7	125	17.9	37	0
		87	37	602	2,178	3.6	80	20	38	431	11.3	72	0

Playoffs

Year	Team	Games		Rushing					Receiving
		GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1968	MIN	1	0	2	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0
1969	MIN	3	0	2	7	3.5	6	0	0	0	0.0	0	0
1970	MIN	1	1	15	60	4.0	12	0	1	5	5.0	5	0
1971	MIN	1	1	15	52	3.5	11	0	0	0	0.0	0	0
		6	2	34	119	3.5	12	0	1	5	5.0	5	0

College

• 1964: 72 carries for 350 yards and one touchdown. 1 catch for 15 yards and one touchdown.
• 1965: 185 carries for 900 yards and 10 TD. 27 catches for 314 yards and 2 TD.
• 1966: 159 carries for 784 yards and 6 TD. 6 catches for 85 yards.

Later life

He was one of the fifteen plaintiffs in Mackey v. National Football League in which Judge Earl R. Larson declared that the Rozelle rule was a violation of antitrust laws on December 30, 1975.

External links

• Clint Jones career statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com.