On March 17th, 2021, the Miami Dolphins announced that cornerback Byron Jones had decided to retire from the NFL after nine seasons. Jones was a first-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2015 and spent five seasons with the team before signing a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Dolphins in 2020.
Jones was a standout player for the Cowboys, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2018 and 2019. He was also named to the All-Pro team in 2018. In his nine seasons in the NFL, Jones recorded 10 interceptions, three forced fumbles, and one touchdown. He also had an impressive run-stopping ability, recording over 100 tackles in three of his nine seasons.
The Dolphins released a statement thanking Jones for his contributions to the team and wishing him well in his future endeavors. Dolphins head coach Brian Flores also commented on Jones’ retirement, saying “Byron was an incredible teammate, leader and competitor. He was a great example for our younger players and we are grateful for his contributions to our organization. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
Jones’ retirement is a significant loss for the Dolphins, as he was one of the team’s most reliable defensive players. His retirement leaves a void in the Dolphins’ secondary that will need to be filled by another talented player.
Jones’ retirement marks the end of an impressive career that spanned nine seasons and included two Pro Bowl appearances and one All-Pro selection. He will be remembered as one of the best cornerbacks of his generation and will be missed by Dolphins fans.