Jones and his mother lived in various homeless shelters. Jones then lived with his paternal grandmother during his high school years and Janet Jean, Jone's mother, who paid their rent and purchased James Jones first suit. At Gunderson High School in San Jose, California, Jones played basketball, track, and football. During his senior year, Jones was his team's most valuable player as a quarterback. Jones credits his Pop Warner football coach, Marion Larrea, with turning his life around. Larrea saw potential in Jones and treated him as part of his own family. Jones fine-tuned his skills at San Jose State under the leadership of wideout coach Keith Williams. After winning Super Bowl XLV in 2011, Jones autographed and gave his game worn jersey to Larrea, saying he would not have achieved what he did without him.
College career
After three years at San Jose State University, Jones had a breakthrough 2006 senior season, where he caught 70 passes, good for 893 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jones capped off his senior season by catching six passes, two for touchdowns, en route to being named the offensive MVP of the inaugural New Mexico Bowl. His accomplishments his senior year earned him second team All-WAC honors along with an invite to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Professional career
Green Bay Packers
Jones was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 3rd round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Jones was a starter for the Packers in the first game of the 2007 season. He caught four passes for 29 total yards in a 16–13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Jones scored his first professional touchdown in a week four match-up vs. the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. With Green Bay leading 16–9, Brett Favre hit Jones on a pass down the right sideline that went 33 yards for a touchdown, giving Green Bay a 23–9 lead. The Packers would end up winning the game 23–16. Jones was announced as the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for games played on October 28–29, 2007. Jones had three receptions for 107 yards including a first-quarter 79-yard touchdown in the Packers' 19–13 win over the Denver Broncos. Jones finished the year with 47 receptions for 676 yards and two touchdowns. Throughout the 2009 season, Jones remained third on the depth chart, behind longtime veterans Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. In 2009, Jones caught 32 passes, had 440 receiving yards, and scored 5 touchdowns. Jones added 3 receptions, 50 yards, and 1 touchdown in Green Bay's Wild Card playoff overtime loss against the Arizona Cardinals. In 2010, Jones finished the season with 50 receptions for 679 yards and 5 touchdowns. He scored 2 touchdowns in the 2010-11 NFL Playoffs, one in the Wild Card and Divisional round vs the Philadelphia Eagles and another against Atlanta Falcons. The Packers would go on to win Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Jones catching 5 passes for 50 yards in Green Bay's 31-25 win. Jones became a free agent in 2011. During the off season, it was widely speculated that Jones would seek a higher salary with another team. However, he signed a three-year contract to remain with the Packers on July 31. In 2011, Jones accumulated 38 catches, 635 receiving yards, and scored 7 touchdowns. In 2012, Jones started all 16 regular season games for the first time in his career. He ended the season with a career-high 64 receptions, 784 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns. His 14 touchdown receptions led the entire NFL. On October 14, 2012, Jones caught two touchdown passes for the third consecutive game against the Houston Texans, tying a franchise record established by Don Hutson in 1943. On December 16, against the Chicago Bears, Jones had 3 touchdown catches in a game for the first time in his career. He also started both of Green Bay's games in the 2012-13 NFL Playoffs. In the Packers Wild Card playoff victory against the Minnesota Vikings, Jones posted 4 receptions for 51 yards. The following week, Jones had 4 catches, 87 yards and 1 touchdown in the Packers Divisional Round playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers. In 2013, after the departure of Jennings and Driver during the off season, Jones started in 14 games. With 59 receptions and 3 touchdowns, Jones had a then career high 817 receiving yards and career long 83-yard reception.
Oakland Raiders
On March 17, 2014, Jones signed a three-year deal with the Oakland Raiders. On November 20, Jones had the game-winning touchdown catch against the Kansas City Chiefs, winning the game for the Raiders, and ending their 16-game losing streak. In his single season with the Raiders he led them in catches and receiving touchdowns. The Raiders released Jones on May 5, 2015 after the 2015 NFL Draft and the selection of Amari Cooper along with the signing of Michael Crabtree from the San Francisco 49ers.
On July 30, 2015, Jones signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants. He was released by the Giants on September 5, 2015.
Green Bay Packers (second stint)
On September 6, 2015, a day after being released by the New York Giants, Jones agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Green Bay Packers. On November 22, 2015, Jones became an Internet sensation after wearing a green hooded sweatshirt underneath his jersey during a 34-degree game against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. On June 9, 2016, it was reported by multiple sources that the NFL had added a rule for its rulebook in 2016, banning players from having their hooded sweatshirts over their shoulderpads, as it blocks the nameplate of the player's jersey. This will apply as a uniform violation and did not require a vote amongst team owners. For the second year in a row, he led his team in receiving touchdowns, while also leading the Packers in receiving yards.
Jones signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Chargers on August 2, 2016. On August 29, 2016, he was released by the Chargers.
Retirement
On September 6, 2017, Jones announced his retirement from the NFL.He became an NFL Network Analyst, and broke the news of Jordy Nelson's signing to Oakland Raiders on March 15 via Twitter.
Statistics
Source:
Regular season
Postseason
Personal life
In 2014, after signing with the Oakland Raiders, Jones and his family moved to San Ramon, California.
