Tyrone Jones (August 3, 1961 – June 10, 2008) was a gridiron football all-star and Grey Cup champion linebacker in the Canadian Football League.[1]

Tyrone Jones
No. 35, 69
Born:(1961-08-03)August 3, 1961
St. Mary's, Georgia, U.S.
Died:June 10, 2008(2008-06-10) (aged 46)
Brunswick, Georgia, U.S.
Career information
CFL statusAmerican
Position(s)LB
CollegeSouthern University
Career history
As player
1983–1987Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1988Phoenix Cardinals (NFL)
1989–1991Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1992Saskatchewan Roughriders
1993British Columbia Lions
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
Awards1984 - Grey Cup Most Valuable Player
1985 - CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award
Career stats

Born in St. Mary's, Georgia, Ty's football career began at Camden County High School, Camden County, Georgia. Jones played his college football at Southern University. He started his 9-year CFL career in 1983, eventually playing eight seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1983–1987, 1989–1991), one with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1992) and one with the B.C. Lions (1993). Though not drafted by the NFL, he tried out with the Phoenix Cardinals in 1988, playing one game for them.

He was a four-time CFL and five-time division All-Star. He still holds the Winnipeg career sack record (98) along with Grey Cup records for most sacks in a game (four) and most career Grey Cup sacks (five). He won the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award in 1985 and was on winning Grey Cup teams in 1984 and 1990 (winning the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player in 1984).[1][2]

Jones was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer (a teratoma) in August 2005 and fought the disease for nearly three years, dying on June 10, 2008, at the age of 46.[3][4][2] His teratoma was discovered when he blew a tooth from his tumor out of his nose.[3] Jones had three sons.[5]

In 2012, he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

References

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  1. ^ a b Maki, Allan (June 11, 2008). "Former CFL star Jones, 46, dies of cancer". Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Friesen, Paul (June 11, 2008). "Milked life to the Max". Winnipeg Sun. Archived from the original on April 1, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ a b Maki: Jones returns to say goodbye, The Globe and Mail, November 16, 2006
  4. ^ Maki, Allan (April 3, 2008). "Tyrone Jones takes a downturn". The Globe and Mail.
  5. ^ "Former CFL, Southern linebacker Tyrone Jones dies at 46". Associated Press. June 10, 2008. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

Further reading

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