Bertram Hays “Bert” Jones (born September 7, 1951) is an American former professional football quarterback who played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Baltimore Colts (1973–1981) and the Los Angeles Rams (1982). He was the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1976 and a two‑time Pro Bowl selectee (1976, 1977).
Early life and education
Jones was born in Ruston, Louisiana, the son of former NFL running back Dub Jones. He attended Ruston High School, where he earned the nickname “the Ruston Rifle.” He played college football at Louisiana State University (LSU), becoming the Tigers’ starting quarterback in 1972. That season he led LSU to a 12–2–1 record, earned consensus All‑American honors, and was named the Sporting News College Football Player of the Year.
Professional career
Selected second overall in the 1973 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts, Jones quickly became the franchise’s starting quarterback. He guided the Colts to the AFC Championship Game in the 1975 season and won the league MVP award in 1976 after leading the team to a 12‑2 record and a Super Bowl X appearance (the Colts lost to the Dallas Cowboys). Jones was also the NFL’s passing‑yardage leader in 1976 and earned first‑team All‑Pro honors that year, followed by second‑team All‑Pro recognition in 1977. Injuries, particularly to his shoulder and knee, limited his effectiveness in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He finished his NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams in 1982 before retiring.
Career statistics (regular season)
- Games played: 102 (starts: 96)
- Passing attempts: 2,551
- Completions: 1,430 (56.1 % completion)
- Passing yards: 18,190
- Touchdowns–interceptions: 124–101
- Passer rating: 78.2
Awards and honors
- NFL Most Valuable Player (1976)
- NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1976)
- First‑team All‑Pro (1976)
- Second‑team All‑Pro (1977)
- Pro Bowl (1976, 1977)
- NFL passing‑yards leader (1976)
- George Halas Award (1979)
- Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (2016)
Post‑football life
After retiring, Jones returned to Louisiana, where he has been involved in various business ventures, including a lumber company. He remains a prominent figure in LSU and Baltimore Colts history and is frequently cited for his 1976 MVP season.
This entry is based on publicly available encyclopedic sources, chiefly the Wikipedia article on Bert Jones and associated sports reference data.