Jarron Jones Announces Retirement After Resilient Pro Football Journey
Jarron Jones, the former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle and a standout in spring football leagues, has officially announced his retirement from professional football. It marks the end of a winding but impressive journey that spanned multiple leagues, positions, and cities - a career defined by resilience, adaptability, and flashes of dominance in the trenches.
Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing in at 320 pounds, Jones first caught the attention of the NFL after a stint in the XFL in early 2020. That spring performance earned him a spot with the Steelers later that year, where he spent the entire season on the practice squad.
Pittsburgh brought him back in 2021, but his time with the team came to an abrupt end following a domestic violence arrest, which led to a 10-game suspension from the league. He didn’t play that season.
But Jones didn’t let that setback be the final chapter. In 2022, he resurfaced in the USFL with the Tampa Bay Bandits, coached by former Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
That’s where Jones began to carve out a new identity. He earned All-USFL honors in his first season, anchoring the offensive line and showcasing the kind of power and footwork that made him a five-star recruit back in his Notre Dame days.
When the Bandits transitioned into the Memphis Showboats in 2023 as part of the USFL’s shift to hub cities, Jones stayed the course - and continued to shine. He remained a key starter as the league merged with the XFL to form the UFL in 2024, starting 28 games over three spring seasons between Tampa and Memphis. His consistent play at tackle made him one of the more reliable linemen in spring football, earning him a second All-USFL selection along the way.
Though the Showboats didn’t bring him back for the 2025 season, Jones found a new home with the Birmingham Stallions - the reigning UFL champions. He joined a roster that featured a slew of former Steelers, including T.J.
Carter, Nevelle Clarke, Tae Crowder, Carlos Davis, Christian DiLaurio, Madre Harper, Tre Norwood, Kenny Robinson, Jace Sternberger, and Kyahva Tezino. It was a fitting final stop for a player who had become a veteran presence in the spring football world.
Jones’ football story began long before his time in the pros. A native of Rochester, New York, he came up through the ranks as a defensive tackle at Notre Dame, where he recorded 45 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and two sacks during his 2016 redshirt junior season. He made the switch to offensive line after college - a transition that’s not easy, but one he managed with the kind of work ethic and athleticism that kept him on NFL radars for years.
After going undrafted in 2017, Jones bounced around NFL rosters, logging time with the New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, and Buffalo Bills before landing in Pittsburgh. His younger brother, Jamir Jones, also spent time with the Steelers, giving the Jones family a unique connection to the franchise.
Jarron Jones’ career might not have followed the traditional path of an NFL star, but it was a testament to perseverance. From switching sides of the ball to grinding through practice squads and spring leagues, Jones made a name for himself in every locker room he entered. Two All-USFL nods and nearly 30 spring football starts later, he walks away from the game with plenty to be proud of.
Congrats on a strong career, Jarron.