Marcus Jones

Marcus Jones was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round (85th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Marcus Jones was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round (85th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Seasonal reviews

2024 (14/9)

• Finished with the second-highest punt return average in the NFL (12.5).
• Started as the nickel cornerback and returned one punt for 10 yards in the season opener at Cincinnati (9/8).
• Recovered a fumble on the New England 1-yard line forced by S Kyle Dugger, leading to a 17 yard return, leading to a K Joey Slye field goal and the 10-0 halftime lead at Cincinnati (9/8).
• Had 6 total tackles vs. Seattle (9/15), 5 solo and 1 assisted. Added a pass defensed in the third quarter on a third-and-15 situation, and returned two punts, one for 9 yards and one for 15 yards.
• Forced a field goal when he covered WR Jauan Jennings in the end zone on a third-and-3 situation at San Francisco (9/29). Returned three punts for a total of 39 yards and a long of 15 yards.
• Recorded his first interception of the season vs. Houston (10/13) in the second quarter, picking off QB C.J. Stroud in the end zone after a deflection by S Marte Mapu where he returned it for 35 yards. Added two punt returns with a long of 16 yards.
• Pushed WR Christian Kirk out of bounds on third-and-goal to prevent a touchdown and force a field goal in the third quarter at Jacksonville (10/20).
• Recorded the second-longest punt return of his career when he returned a punt 62 yards to the Jets 26-yard line in the third quarter in the win vs. the New York Jets (10/27), which positioned the Patriots for a 3-yard touchdown run by RB Rhamondre Stevenson. Also forced an incompletion on first-and-10 of the Jets final drive, aiding in securing the victory for the Patriots.
• Added a 44-yard punt return in the second quarter at Tennessee (11/3) and a 25-yard punt return in the fourth quarter to help set up the game-tying touchdown by RB Rhamondre Stevenson as time expired and forced overtime.
• Had a pass defensed on WR Keenan Allen in the fourth quarter at Chicago (11/10) on a fourth-and-10 situation to force a punt and further seal the victory. Also had three punt returns for 45 yards with a long of 24 yards in the second quarter. Played a key role in limiting the Bears to 142 total yards, the lowest total since holding the Jets to 103 total yards on Nov. 20, 2022. Additionally, held Chicago to 1-for-14 on third down.
• Played on offense for the first time in 2024 in the third quarter vs. the L.A. Rams (11/17) and had his first-career rushing attempt with a 5-yard run. Marked his first offensive snap since the 2023 season-opener vs. Philadelphia on Sept. 10, 2023, when he saw offensive action for one play. Played on offense in five games as a rookie in 2022, finishing with 4 receptions for 78 yards and a 48-yard touchdown reception. Also vs. the L.A. Rams (11/17), was in on a second offensive play in the fourth quarter. Also led the team with 9 tackles (6 solo, 3 assisted).
• Tied for the team lead in tackles with LB Jahlani Tavai at Miami (11/24) with 8 total, adding 3 passes defensed and three punt returns for 38 yards with a long of 20 yards in the fourth quarter.
• Had two passes defensed vs. Indianapolis (12/1), one in the end zone on a pass from QB Anthony Richardson intended for WR Adonai Mitchell on third-and-6 to force a field goal in the third quarter and one on a third-and-2 situation in the fourth quarter on a pass also intended for Mitchell. Saw snaps on offense when he was used as a decoy in a two-back shotgun formation. Added two punt returns for 31 yards with a long of 19 yards in the second quarter.
• Entered the game at Arizona (12/15) at wide receiver in the second quarter and caught an 18-yard reception from QB Drake Maye, his first reception since he caught a 15-yard reception on Dec. 24, 2022 vs. Cincinnati.
• Inactive at Buffalo (12/22) due to injury.
• Placed on Injured Reserve on Dec. 27.

2023 (2/1)

• Was limited to two games due to injury with one start and recorded 5 tackles (4 solo, 1 assist) and 1 fumble recovery. Also returned three punts for 21 yards.
• Played as a reserve cornerback and returned punts for New England vs. Philadelphia (9/10). He had 3 punt returns for 21 yards, averaging 7.0 yards-per-return, and 1 fair catch. On defense, recorded 1 tackle (1 assist) and a fumble recovery on a crucial forced fumble by Jabrill Peppers late in the fourth quarter to give the ball back into the offense's hands.
• Started at corner in place of an injured Jonathan Jones vs. Miami (9/17). Exited the game with an injury and did not return.
• Placed on injured reserve on Sept. 22.

2022 (15/4)

• Played in 15 regular season games with four starts, two in the nickel defense and two at cornerback.
• Saw action on the offensive, defensive and special teams units. Recorded 35 total tackles (31 solo, 4 assist), 2 interceptions, one of which he returned 69 yards for a touchdown, one fumble recovery, seven passes defensed and eight special teams tackles. Also recorded four receptions for 78 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown reception.
• Served as the primary punt and kick returner on special teams. Returned 29 punts for 362 yards including a 84-yard touchdown return. Returned 27 kickoffs for 645 yards.
• Finished second in the NFL with a 12.5-yard punt return average, second in total return yards with 1,007 yards and seventh in kickoff return average with a 23.9 yard average.
• He was named to the Associated Press All-Pro First Team as a punt returner, the first Patriots rookie to be named All-Pro First Team.
• Also named to the PFWA All-NFL Team (punt returner), PFWA All-AFC Team (punt returner) and PFWA All-Rookie Team (punt returner).
• Named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 11 vs. N.Y. Jets (11/20) after returning a punt 84 yards for a touchdown with five seconds to play to give the Patriots a 10-3 victory.
• Jones scored on offense - 48-yard touchdown reception vs. Buffalo (12/1), defense - 69-yard interception return vs. Cincinnati (12/24) and on special teams - 84-yard punt return vs. N.Y. Jets (11/20), to become the fourth player in NFL history to score on offense, defense and special teams in a season, joining Frank Bacon (1920), Bill Dudley (1947) and Tommy Harmon (1947).
• Jones is one of 10 NFL players to score on offense, defense and special teams through a career since 1970. Jones joins Deion Sanders, George Martin, Nolan Cromwell, Terence Newman, Bobby Humphrey, William White, Mike Fuller, Chris Moore and Dale Carter.
• Jones joins Deion Sanders as the only other player in the Super Bowl era to score a 40-plus yard touchdown on offense, defense and special teams in their entire career.
• Became just the second player since 1970 to record a receiving touchdown, a punt or kick return touchdown and an interception in the same season. The other was Deion Sanders in 1992.
• Jones started to play on offense in addition to defense and special teams vs. Buffalo (12/1) and scored on a 48-yard pass from QB Mac Jones on his first offensive play in the first quarter. He became the first defensive back to record a touchdown reception on offense since 2000 when S Marcus Coleman of the New York Jets caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from QB Vinny Testaverde against Buffalo on Sept 17, 2000. Jones joined LB Mike Vrabel (six 1-yard touchdowns and four 2-yard touchdowns from Tom Brady), LB Elandon Roberts (38-yard touchdown from Tom Brady vs. Miami on Dec. 29, 2019) and LB/DE John Tanner as the only defensive players to catch touchdowns. Tanner caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from QB Jim Plunkett on Nov. 24, 1974 at Baltimore. Jones is the first Patriots player to catch a touchdown on his first reception since Roberts touchdown pass. Jones's 48-yard touchdown on his first offensive play is the longest by a Patriots player on his first play since WR Stephen Starring caught a 73-yard touchdown pass from Steve Grogan on his first offensive play vs. Baltimore on Sept. 4, 1983.
• Made his NFL debut in the season opener at Miami (9/11), rotating in as a defensive back.
• Lined up to return kicks for the first time in the home opener vs. Baltimore (9/25). He had two returns for 45 yards.
• Lined up to return punts for the first time in 2022 at Green Bay (10/2). Averaged 24.5 yards on two returns. His first NFL punt return was for 29 yards in the second quarter, followed by a 20-yard punt return in overtime.
• Returned a fourth quarter punt 84 yards for a touchdown with five seconds remaining vs. N.Y. Jets (11/20) to win the game. It is tied with Julian Edelman (84-yard touchdown return vs. Denver on Nov. 2, 2014) for the fifth-longest punt return in team history. It is the second longest go-ahead 4th quarter touchdown in team history. The only longer return was the 91-yard missed field goal return for a touchdown by Ron Burton at Denver on Nov. 11, 1962. Jones was named the AFC Special Team Player of the Week for his performance. Jones is the fourth Patriots rookie to earn an AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award since 2000, joining Jake Bailey (Week 3 and 11 in 2019), Bethel Johnson (Week 13 in 2003) and Laurence Maroney (Week 7 in 2006).
• Had a season-long 46-yard kickoff return in the second quarter at Minnesota (11/24).
• Made his first NFL start as a defensive back in a nickel defensive alignment vs. Buffalo (12/1). He finished the game with one pass defensed. He also had one special teams tackle. Also lined up on offense for the first time and scored on a 48-yard touchdown pass from QB Mac Jones on his first play from scrimmage in the first quarter.
• Picked off QB Colt McCoy's pass in the third quarter for his first NFL interception at Arizona (12/12).
• Continued as a three-phase threat, playing on defense, offense and special teams vs. Cincinnati (12/24). He started at cornerback and recorded a team-high 14 total tackles, returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown, recovered a fumble at the Cincinnati 44-yard line in the fourth quarter, had one reception for 15 yards, returned two punts for 11 yards and returned three kicks for 65 yards.
• Returned to action at Buffalo (1/8) after missing the game vs. Miami (1/1) due to injury. Recorded six total tackles (5 solo, 1 assist). Returned three punts for 25 yards and four kickoffs for 82 yards.

College

• Began his college career at Troy and played there for two seasons (2017-18) before transferring to Houston for three seasons (2019-21).
• Overall, he played in 44 games during his college career and totaled 113 total tackles with ten interceptions and returned 63 punts for 875 yards and three touchdowns and 72 kicks for 2,075 yards and six touchdowns.
• Became the ninth Cougar to be named consensus All-American in 2021.
• 2021 Paul Hornung Award winner as the nation's most versatile player.
• First-Team All-American Athletic Conference as a return specialist and second-team as a cornerback.
• Led all of the NCAA with two punt return touchdowns in 2021 and tied for third in the nation with two kick return touchdowns.
• With five interceptions in 2021, he led the American Athletic Conference and finished third in the nation.
• Recorded a 73-yard punt return touchdown and the only receiving touchdown of his career against Navy (Sept. 25).
• Recorded a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown against East Carolina (Oct. 23).
• Recorded an interception and with just 17 seconds remaining returned an SMU kickoff 100 yards for a game-winning touchdown to upset then ranked number 17 SMU (Oct. 30).
• Earned first-team All-America honors from the FWAA, Phil Steele Magazine and CBS/247Sports as a punt returner as a junior in 2020.
• Redshirted in 2019 after transferring from Troy.
• Became Troy's second All-American since moving to the FBS level as a true freshman in 2018 when named to Phil Steele's All-America Third Team as a kick returner.
• Also named to the ESPN and FWAA Freshman All-America Teams.
• Named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year.
• Named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team as both a return specialist and an all-purpose player in 2017.
• Set the Troy single-season record and tied the Troy career record with three kickoff returns touchdowns.
• Tied the NCAA record with two kick return touchdowns in a game against Coastal Carolina.
• Added a 99-yard return for a touchdown in Troy's Sun Belt title-clinching win at Arkansas State.
• Returned 29 kicks for 879 yards.

Personal

• Three-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals.
• Named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association 7A All-State First Team and the AL.com Super All-State Team as a senior.
• As a junior, recorded 50 tackles, three interceptions, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and eight pass break ups; returned one interception for a touchdown.