Former LSU, Catholic High punter Donnie Jones announces retirement

Donnie Jones picked the perfect time to hang up the cleats following a Super Bowl win. For 14 seasons in the NFL, the Catholic-Baton Rouge product punted for four teams – Eagles, Rams, Houston and Seattle – and averaged an impressive 4.5.5 yards per punt.

The World Champion Eagles announced Tuesday that Jones has retired from football.

Selected by the Seahawks in the seventh round following his career at LSU, Jones later earned a pair of Pro Bowl appearances while with the Rams in 2008-09. His 208 consecutive games played ranked third behind active players at season’s end. Only Texans punter Shane Lechler (254 games) and Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (235 games) had longer streaks going.

The 37-year old Jones made history by being the only punter to have booted in a BCS National Championship (with the Tigers in the ’04 contest against Oklahoma) and also in a Super Bowl.

Jones also had a forgotten moment on Nov. 9, 2002 during the Bluegrass Miracle game at Kentucky when he booted the LSU all-time record long punt that traveled 86 yards.

EAGLES RELEASE:
After playing 14 seasons in the NFL and capturing a Super Bowl championship in 2017, punter Donnie Jones announced that he will retire from the NFL.

Originally a seventh-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2004, Jones went on to play in 214 regular-season games, including the final 80 with the Philadelphia Eagles, and earned Associated Press All-Pro honors in 2008 and 2009 while punting for the St. Louis Rams. Over the course of his career, Jones registered a 45.5-yard average on 1,110 career punts.

Jones retires as Philadelphia’s all-time leader in both gross punting average (45.37) and net average (40.5). He also owns the team records for most career punts inside the 20 (138), most single-season punts inside the 20 (34, 2014) and best net punting average in a season (41.6, 2015).

“After 14 seasons in the NFL, I have decided to retire so that I can spend more time with my family,” said Jones. “I am grateful for all those who have supported me throughout the years. Specifically, I would like to thank Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman, Doug Pederson, and the entire Eagles organization for allowing me to be a part of their family for the past five seasons. I will truly miss my teammates, coaches, friends, and the best fans in the NFL. Although I am retiring, I will always be an Eagle and will forever have a special place in my heart for the City of Philadelphia. It is a great honor to be a part of the first Super Bowl championship team in Eagles history and there is no better way to finish my career.”