Jones played both basketball and football in high school, and continued with both sports while attending college at Norfolk State University. He began his professional career in 1973 with the Edmonton Eskimos (now the Elks) in the Canadian Football League (CFL), where he spent three seasons. Jones was selected in the second round of the 1975 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams, who traded him in 1976 to San Diego, where he played through 1983.
Jones also played football for the Spartans, and he was named All-CIAA as a defensive end in 1971 and 1972.[4][7] Before the 1973 football season, he learned that he would be academically ineligible to play due to poor grades. Jones dropped out of Norfolk State and signed a three-year contract to play football professionally in Canada.[8][9] In 1983, he was a member of the inaugural class of Norfolk State's sports hall of fame.[10]
Having left Norfolk State early, Jones was not eligible for the 1974 NFL draft. In the summer of 1973, pro scouts had projected him as a first-round pick in 1974, rating him near or on par with Ed "Too Tall" Jones, who became the first overall pick in 1974.[12] Ruled eligible for the 1975 NFL draft,[12] Leroy Jones was selected in the second round by the Los Angeles Rams with the 48th overall pick.[4] He became the highest-drafted player in Norfolk State football history.[1] Jones reportedly wanted to play for the Rams, but the Eskimos had an option year remaining on his contract. He missed the start of Edmonton's training camp before reporting three days later.[13] In 1975, the Eskimos placed him on the injured reserve list in October.[14] He was cut in November before the Western Football Conference championship game while still on the injured list.[15] Edmonton won the 63rd Grey Cup that season with Bill Stevenson taking over Jones' former position at left defensive end.[16][17]
During the 1981 season, Jones blocked a 35-yard field goal by Miami kicker Uwe von Schamann at 11:27 into overtime, allowing San Diego to drive for its own field goal and win 41–38 in the playoff game known as the Epic in Miami, considered by many to be among the greatest NFL games ever.[24][25] Jones played as a backup in his final season in 1983.[23] He ended his career ranked third all-time in Chargers' history in career sacks with 43+1⁄2.[26][27]
^Overend, Riley (June 19, 2021). "Remembering Amanda Elzy Legend And NFL Great Leroy Jones". The Greenwood Commonwealth. Retrieved June 19, 2021. Already towering at 6-foot-4 in seventh grade, Jones soared through the air for a slam dunk that sent the Panthers' student section into a frenzy.
^"No. 16: Chargers' best draft class". ESPN.com. March 28, 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2011. The 2001 class was good, but the 1975 class ranks the best. San Diego had four of the first 33 picks in the draft, and the Chargers selected three defensive linemen that would form the nucleus of "The Bruise Brothers" and once formed three-fourths of the AFC Pro Bowl defensive line.(subscription required)
