Ernest Jones IV has come a long way since entering the league as a third-round pick. On Sunday, he didn’t just play linebacker - he orchestrated the Seattle Seahawks’ defense like a seasoned field general.
Against the New England Patriots, Jones wasn’t just reacting; he was anticipating. He was diagnosing plays pre-snap, calling them out before they unfolded, and directing traffic like a coach in pads.
One particular moment stood out: Jones motioned for his defensive linemen to stay low and prepare for the run. The Patriots handed the ball off - and Seattle shut it down cold, with Jones right in the thick of the tackle.
It was a sequence that spoke volumes. Not just about Jones’ athleticism, but about the mental side of his game - the film study, the instincts, the preparation.
That football IQ didn’t come out of nowhere. Back in 2022, Jones had the chance to share a locker room with Bobby Wagner during their time with the Los Angeles Rams.
Wagner, a future Hall of Famer and the heartbeat of Seattle’s Super Bowl-winning defense over a decade ago, was known for his smarts as much as his hits. Jones soaked it in.
During that 2022 season, Jones was still finding his footing in the league. But lining up next to Wagner, he posted 114 tackles and started to show flashes of the complete linebacker he’s since become. Fast forward to now, and Jones isn’t just following in Wagner’s footsteps - he’s carving his own path in front of the 12s, and doing it with his own voice.
And that voice? It’s loud, proud, and unfiltered.
At Seattle’s Super Bowl victory parade, Jones made it clear just how much this second ring meant to him. Standing in front of a roaring Lumen Field crowd, he delivered a fiery, uncensored message that left no doubt about where his loyalties lie - with his quarterback, his defense, his offensive line, and the city of Seattle.
“Quite frankly, if you got anything to say about my quarterback, you got anything to say about my defense, you got anything to say about my O-Line, and you got anything to say about the city of Seattle, I got two words for you: F- YOU!” Jones shouted, drawing a thunderous reaction from the fans.
It was raw. It was real. And it was a moment that captured the emotion of a player who’s grown into one of the loudest - and most respected - voices in the Seahawks’ locker room.
Jones was more subdued after his first Super Bowl win with the Rams. But this time around, he’s not the young guy soaking it all in. He’s a leader under new head coach Mike Macdonald, a tone-setter for a defense that just shut down one of the league’s most storied franchises.
Two rings in, and Jones is still ascending. He’s not just a linebacker anymore - he’s the heartbeat of Seattle’s defense, and he’s making sure everyone knows it.