Detroit Lions star Marvin Jones Jr. has abruptly brought an end to his eleven-year-long stint in the NFL. Jones, who was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals back in 2012 announced his retirement just a few hours ago. However, while some fans speculate about Jones’ drastic decision, others believe it has to do with his son’s passing away in 2019.
Back in December 2019, Jones’ six-month-old son Marlo tragically passed away. Although there wasn’t much information made available about the reason behind his son’s death. Following the unfortunate incident, Jones stated that he wanted to take a break and leave the country. He explained how he and his wife wanted to be shielded from the outside world in a letter he penned for his children.
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In the letter, Jones had also expressed his gratitude towards several of his teammates for their support. He thanked Matthew Stafford, Danny Amendola, and Kenny Golladay. He also thanked former Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia for his suppport. After the incident, the Detroit Lions paid a tribute to baby Marlo before a game.
Jones’ entire family were present at the stadium wearing jerseys with Marlo’s name on it. Although it appears as if the incident has finally taken toll on Jones. After expressing his desire to quit football in his letter back in 2020, Jones has finally made up his mind three years later.
Marvin Jones Jr quits NFL after 11 years
Last night, Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. announced that he is quitting football. After starting his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, Jones joined the Lions and also had a brief stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars before joining the Lions again. After spending more than decade in the NFL, Jones stated that he was leaving due to some personal reasons. The 33-year-old star announced his decision via an Instagram post.
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Jones stated how he wanted to take a break from football and invest more time behind his family. He explained that it was difficult for him to tend to his family and honor his professional commitments. The former Jaguars star also thanked his teammates, coach, and the Ford Family for their love and support. Lastly, he stated that he would be continuing to root for the Lions and even urged them to bring home the championship this year.