National Football League

Maurice Jones-Drew will retire with the Jaguars on Tuesday

Published Apr. 24, 2015 7:27 p.m. ET

foxsports

By David Levin

It’s only fitting that Maurice Jones-Drew retire as a Jacksonville Jaguar, as a member of the team that drafted him into the NFL.

The Florida Times-Union has announced that Jones-Drew, the team’s second all-time leading rusher, will sign a one-day contract to officially retire from the NFL. Jones-Drew played his first eight NFL seasons for the Jaguars – the running back was named to three Pro Bowls – before leaving as a free agent last year for the Oakland Raiders. He announced his retirement last month.

Jones-Drew rushed 1,847 times for 8,167 yards, totals that rank 46th and 45th, respectively, in league history. He won the 2011 rushing championship with a Jaguars’ single-season record 1,606 yards.

Known for his bowling ball approach to the game, Jones-Drew was the second round pick of the Jaguars back in 2006, the same year when his UCLA teammate Marcedes Lewis was picked by the team in the first round. He said he wore the No. 32 on his jersey as a reminder of the 32 teams who passed on him in the first round and had used that as motivation during his playing days.

At times, Jones-Drew was known as an outspoken and sometimes misunderstood player who never backed away from telling people in football or the Jaguars organization exactly how he felt when it came to topics of the Jaguars, his contract situation with the franchise or on topics in the NFL.

Those subjects may have been controversial, but when it came to on-field performance and skill, there have been few as dedicated to helping the team win as the 5’7” back.

As Ryan O’Halloran of the Times-Union reported, When Jones-Drew signed with Oakland last March, the Jaguars said: “We look forward to honoring him in Jacksonville at the appropriate time in the future.”

Jones-Drew is the Jaguars record holder with total touchdowns (81) and rushing scores (68) and second to Taylor in career yards (8,071), attempts (1,804) and 100-yard games (27).

Jones-Drew played a complimentary role to Fred Taylor in his first three years, starting only four games and never eclipsing 200 carries and 950 yards. He did score 34 touchdowns during those seasons.

Once Taylor departed before the 2009 season, Jones-Drew went to work, posting years of 1,391 yards-15 touchdowns, 1,324-five and a league-best 1,606 yards (and eight touchdowns).

Jones-Drew held out of training camp for 38 days in 2012 in hopes of getting a new contract. But new owner Shad Khan didn’t budge. He reported in time for the season opener in the Game 3 at Indianapolis, scored on a 59-yard run.

Jones-Drew’s official retirement will take place Tuesday at EverBank Field.

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