Deion Jones is an American football linebacker who plays in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Falcons in the second round, as the 52nd overall pick.
Jones was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on 4th August 1994, and did his high schooling at Jesuit High School there. After graduating as a three-star recruit Jones committed to Louisiana State to play his college football for the Tigers between 2012-2015. In his senior year, Jones enjoyed a flourishing campaign with the Tigers recording a hundred tackles, five sacks, two interceptions, three passes defended, and a forced fumble. He was named a finalist for the Butkus Award that year and declared for the 2016 NFL Draft shortly after.
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Jones was picked up by the Atlanta Falcons on 5th May 2016 on a 4-year rookie contract worth $4.54 million that included $2.16 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $1.50 million.
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He made his NFL debut and first career start in the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 31-24 loss, recording six tackles in that game. He finished his Russian campaign with 108 tackles (75 solo), 11th pass deflections, three interceptions, and two touchdowns in the 15 games he played of which 13 were starts. The Falcons make the playoffs that year, and Jones made his playoff debut in the NFC divisional round win against the Seattle Seahawks, in which he recorded five tackles broke up a pass, and made an interception. His rookie season ended with a heartbreaking 28-34 overtime loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl LI.
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In the 2017 season, Jones was named to his first Pro Bowl, and Pro Football Focus gave him an overall rating of 89.6, ranking him sixth amongst all quarterbacks for the year. In July 2019, Jones was rewarded with a four-year $57 million extension of which $34 million were guaranteed.