Texans rookie looks ahead to NFL after dad beats COVID-19.
Rookie LB Jones sees father beat virus while embarking on NFL career
Jamir Jones’ scary ordeal with the coronavirus pandemic ultimately transformed into relief and triumph.
One month before the Notre Dame outside linebacker signed a contract as an undrafted free agent, however, the Texans rookie had good reason to be extremely worried about his family.
His parents, Matthew and Lakiescha Jones, are private-duty nurses. When his father returned from work to his Rochester, N.Y., home one day, he complained about a sore throat and was running a fever. He was immediately quarantined in his room away from the rest of the family. When his condition quickly worsened, Matthew
Jones learned he had tested positive for COVID-19.
Two weeks before the NFL draft, the elder Jones’ condition deteriorated drastically. His oxygen levels dropped, and he was hospitalized in the intensive care unit. He was placed in a medically induced coma, waking up the first night of the draft. He moved out of the ICU recently and is expected to make a full recovery.
Days later, still out of it a bit and in the hospital, Matthew Jones got the good news on a FaceTime call. His son had joined the Texans via a threeyear contract over offers from the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants.
“As time went on, my dad became himself again,” Jones said. “At first, he was a little dizzy and
confused and dazed. He’s doing great. His spirits are up. He just knows he has to get stronger. Once he’s able to walk, he can come home. That’s what he’s fighting for.”
This global health crisis has stricken thousands of people, with death totals mounting daily. For the Jones family, there was a time when they were deeply concerned about whether they would lose a loved one.
“There was a time when things weren’t looking so good,” Jones said. “He was having some trouble getting his lungs to work by themselves. He’s doing great now, but it was scary.”
They don’t know how Jones got exposed to the virus, but the family feels like it was probably through his job and his contact with patients.
“That’s what we think. That’s what he thinks as well,” Jones said. “It’s really hard to prove that.”
When a family member gets COVID-19, it affects everyone he comes into contact with. In Matthew Jones’ case, he has underlying health conditions because he struggles with diabetes.
Jamir Jones never got COVID-19, but he had to quarantine for two weeks and was unable to work out virtually for NFL teams.
“I was lucky,” Jones said. “Just knowing I had been potentially exposed to it as well, it’s something that scared me, although I knew the health risks for me were far less severe than my dad.
“I was thinking about the rest of my family, my grandma and my great grandma. Being in upstate New York, we’re five hours from the city. Some would call that the ‘hot zone’ for the virus. It was a very scary time.”
Now, the fear has turned into happiness.
Jones has joined his older brother, Jarron Jones, in the NFL. Jarron is a former Notre Dame player who plays offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“This is something I’ve been dreaming about for a very long time,” Jamir Jones said. “I was just happy to be able to share it with my mom and my dad and my sister and both my brothers. It was just awesome to be able to share that moment with the people who mean the most to me in the world.”
Prior to the draft, Jones didn’t have any contact with the Texans. He had heard primarily from the Cowboys, Giants and Indianapolis Colts. During the seventh round, with the Texans out of draft picks, Jones got the call from his agent, Carlos Hudson.
“He called me and told me the Texans had reached out and were very interested,” Jones said.
Jones then got on the phone with Texans outside linebackers coach Chris Rumph, Texans security director Brent Naccara, and coach and general manager Bill O’Brien.
“He’s a real down-to-earth guy,” Jones said of O’Brien. “He knows what it takes to win games. He’s been improving every year. I’m just eager and happy to have such a great coach and be in such a great culture and a winning program in my first year in the NFL.”
Jones (6-3, 248) emerged as a starter in his final season for the Fighting Irish. He recorded 26 tackles, 6½ tackles for losses, 4½ sacks, four quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
“I’m just a humble and hungry guy,” Jones said. “I’m someone who’s very versatile in what I do, very athletic. I know how to play in space. I know how to rush the passer, and I’m tough in the run game as well. I bring my hard hat every single day. Anything that’s been given to me has been earned.
“I’m just someone who’s loved the game of football ever since I was 5 years old. Growing up, my dad coached. My brothers, all three of them have had great success in this game, and they’re the reason I fell in love with it at such a young age.”
Because he was quarantined before the draft and his pro day was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Jones feels like his chances of being drafted were damaged.
“To an extent, I feel like it limited what I was able to do as far as showing teams how quick I am, how fast I am,” Jones said. “I’m just happy I’ve been given this tremendous opportunity to prove myself with the Texans. I’m so happy to get there, meet my teammates, meet all the coaches and just learn under some guys I’ve been watching for a very long time in my life. There’s no way to put it into words. I’m just super excited to get down there to Houston.”
Jones is eager to start soaking up knowledge from veterans like J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus.
“I just can’t wait to learn from those guys and fit into the winning culture in Houston,” Jones said. “It’s unbelievable. It doesn’t even feel real yet. When I get into that locker room and get to shake J.J. Watt’s hand and learn under him and see how he approaches each and every day, then it will be real to me.”
If the season isn’t impacted by the pandemic, the Texans will play the Steelers in the third game of the regular season. If both brothers make their respective rosters, they could face each other at Heinz Field.
“That’s something we’ve already talked about,” Jamir Jones said. “For my parents to have two of their sons on an NFL field at the same time, it’s going to be a surreal day. I can’t wait for it.”