Jones attended University of Southern California (USC) for his freshman year in 2009, during which he saw action as a special teams and backup player for the USC Trojans Football team. In the first eight games, he recorded 13 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. During the game against Oregon, Jones suffered a neck injury. He was later diagnosed with spinal stenosis and the USC medical staff would not clear him to play for the team again.[6]
After the USC medical staff would not allow Jones to practice in the spring of 2010, Jones asked for and was granted a release to transfer. His high school coach contacted Georgia, Auburn, and Florida State to discuss the possibility with the teams' coaches. After meeting with Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, Jones underwent medical testing by the Georgia staff and was cleared to play football for the University of Georgia.[7] He would have to redshirt during the 2010 season in compliance with NCAA transfer rules.
On January 13, 2012, head coach Mark Richt announced that Jones would return for his senior year.[11] In 12 games, Jones recorded 85 tackles (52 solo), 24.5 tackles-for-loss (best in NCAA), 14.5 sacks, one interception, seven forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered.[12] He missed the games against Kentucky and Florida Atlantic,[13][14] but played an integral role in wins over Missouri and Florida.[15][16] Jones was named an AFCA First-team All-American and the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press and voted The 2012 Premier Player of College Football by sports fans.[17] On January 4, 2013, Jones declared for the NFL draft.[18]
He began competing for a position at right outside linebacker with starter Jason Worilds and Terence Garvin. At the beginning of the season he was used as a back-up and rotated with Worilds. On September 8, 2013, he played in his first career game and recorded 2 solo tackles against the Tennessee Titans. The following week on September 16, he received his first start in place of Worilds and racked up a total of 8 tackles. The next four games he started in place of Worilds until Week 7.[25] On October 29, 2013, head coach Mike Tomlin announced that Jones would be benched following the team's Week 8 loss against the Oakland Raiders.[26]
On November 10, 2013, he got his first career sack in a 23–10 victory over the Buffalo Bills.[27] Jones came in to replace starting left outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley for the next three games, after he went down with an injury in Week 10. When the Steelers played the Browns during the last game of the 2013 season, he had a season-high 9 total tackles, 8 solo tackles, and a pass deflection. He finished his rookie season with 40 total tackles, 30 solo tackles, a sack, and 4 pass deflections in 14 games and 8 starts.[28]
2014
Jones began the 2014 season as the Steelers' starting right outside linebacker after the departure of LaMarr Woodley. On September 7, 2014, during the season opener against the Cleveland Browns, he had 6 tackles and registered his first sack of the year, matching his sack total from the year before (1). Over the first 3 games he had 14 tackles and 2 sacks.
On September 21, 2014, on Sunday Night Football against the Carolina Panthers, Jones suffered a cluttered wrist after forcing Cam Newton to fumble and left the game after recording his first career forced fumble and 2 tackles.[29] Jones underwent wrist surgery the very next day and was placed on the injured/designated for return list.[30] To replace Jones, the Steelers signed James Harrison on September 23.[31]
In his first game back from his injury he had 3 tackles and a solo tackle in a Week 14 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. On January 3, 2015, after the Steelers finished atop the AFC North with an 11–5 record, Jones played in his first career postseason game as the Steelers' lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 17–30. He finished his second season with 18 total tackles, a career-high 2 sacks, and a forced fumble.[28]
2015
Jones played in 15 games, all starts, for the team during the 2015 season, totaling fifteen solo tackles, fourteen tackle assists, two sacks, three pass breakups, one interception, and one forced fumble.[32]
2016
On May 2, 2016, the Steelers declined the fifth-year option on Jones, making him a free agent after the 2016 season.[33] He played in 14 games, had 42 combined tackles, 29 solo tackles, 13 tackle assists, 1 sack, 3 pass breakups, 1 interception, and 2 forced fumbles.[28]
In week 10, after the Steelers 35-30 loss to the Cowboys, he was replaced by James Harrison in the starting lineup for Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns.[34]
Jones has recorded 6 sacks throughout his career with the Steelers. However, he has struggled to develop into an effective pass rusher and live up to expectations as a first-round draft pick. He has been labeled as a "bust" by fans and other media outlets following his performance with the team.[35] The selection of Jones has been labeled as the Steelers worst draft pick by Pro Football Focus dating back to 2006.[36]
Arizona Cardinals
On March 14, 2017, Jones signed with the Arizona Cardinals.[37][38] On September 2, 2017, the Cardinals released Jones with an injury settlement.[39]
His older brother, Darcell Kitchens, was murdered outside of a bar in Richland, Georgia, on January 9, 2005.[40] Jones signed an endorsement deal for Subway just days before he was selected.[41] He later unveiled a statue bust of himself along with other Subway sandwiches, following in the footsteps of quarterbackRobert Griffin III.[42] In 2019, he returned to the University of Georgia and graduated with a degree in Human Development and Family Science.[43]
^DeArdo, Bryan (November 16, 2016). "James Harrison to replace Jarvis Jones in starting lineup". CBSSports. Mark Kaboly. Retrieved November 16, 2016. James Harrison is back in the Pittsburgh Steelers starting lineup. Initially reported by Mark Kaboly of DKPittsburghSports.com, Harrison will replace Jarvis Jones
