JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Fullback Greg Jones signed a free-agent contract with the Houston Texans in 2013 after nine seasons with the Jaguars because he wanted a chance to win a Super Bowl.
He was back in Jacksonville on Thursday, though this time it was on a one-day contract so he could retire from the NFL as a member of the team that drafted him in 2004.
"The city has meant so much to me and my family and the team and I just felt like it was the right thing to do," Jones said. "My kids love the Jaguars. Even when we were in Houston and I was playing there they still were Jaguars fans. When Jacksonville came they came to the game in Jaguar gear.
"My heart will always be here."
He later posted a tweet in which he also expressed his gratitude to the Jaguars and the city of Jacksonville.
— Greg Jones #33 (@leadblock33) January 15, 2015
Jones ran for 913 yards and 10 touchdowns in his 10-year career (he missed the 2006 season with a torn ACL) but is known more for his work as a blocker for Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, the top two rushers in Jaguars history. Jones helped Taylor and Jones-Drew reach a combined four Pro Bowls and was the lead blocker when Jones-Drew led the NFL in rushing with a franchise-record 1,606 yards in 2011.
In Jones' nine seasons in Jacksonville, the Jaguars finished in the top 10 in the NFL in rushing four times and the Jaguars averaged less than 120 yards per game rushing only three times. They were second in 2007 and third in '10. Jones was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2007.
The Jaguars selected Jones in the second round of the 2004 draft after he ran for 2,535 yards in four seasons at Florida State, and they made him a full-time fullback in 2005.
"Selflessness and humility are two character traits that come to mind when I think of G [Jones]," Taylor said. "He could have easily rebelled when the coaches decided to move him to fullback. There's no real glory in that position but G swallowed his pride and always gave 100 percent effort and attention to detail in the classroom and on the practice field. A huge piece of my success from over a five-year span was due to Greg."
Jones signed a one-year contract with the Texans on March 27, 2013. Arian Foster and Ben Tate battled injuries all season and the Texans went 2-14 and averaged just 108.9 yards rushing per game. Jones went to training camp with the New Orleans Saints in 2014 and was waived in the final round of cuts.