Falcons Legend Calls It a Career After 13 NFL Seasons.
Falcons Legend Calls It a Career After 13 NFL Seasons. Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones, regarded as one of the greatest players in the franchise’s history, officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Friday.
The 36-year-old, who made the announcement on the Squad app, enjoyed a remarkable 13-season career. Over his tenure, Jones was selected to the Pro Bowl seven times and earned first-team All-Pro honors twice. He led the league in receiving yards twice, in 2015 and 2018, and remains the Falcons’ all-time leader in receptions (848) and receiving yards (12,986).
With 60 receiving touchdowns, Jones ranks second in franchise history, just behind Roddy White, who has 63.
“I’m making this announcement today because of the city of Atlanta,” Jones said. “Thank you, man, I appreciate y’all. It’s nothing but love. I’m doing this on 404 day — it was a hell of a ride. … This was for the city, man, I appreciate you all.”
Jones’ most recent stint was with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, where he caught 11 passes for 74 yards and 4 touchdowns in 11 games.
A standout performer, Jones set multiple records, including three games with more than 250 yards receiving— the most in NFL history. He also made history with five consecutive seasons of 1,400 or more receiving yards, setting an NFL record.
Selected sixth overall by the Falcons in the 2011 NFL Draft from Alabama, Jones quickly became a cornerstone of the Falcons’ offense. He started 13 games as a rookie and went on to have six seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards and at least six touchdown receptions, forming one of the most dynamic quarterback-wide receiver duos in franchise history with Matt Ryan. Falcons Legend Calls It a Career After 13 NFL Seasons.
In the 2016 postseason, Jones helped lead the Falcons to the Super Bowl, recording 19 receptions for 334 yards and three touchdowns. Over his career, Jones caught 914 passes for 13,703 yards and 66 touchdowns. He also played for the Tennessee Titans in 2021 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022.
