After spending 10 years with the Atlanta Falcons, and one year each with the Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles, wide receiver Julio Jones has officially retired from the NFL.
Jones was one of those rare talents, like Randy Moss and Calvin Johnson, who redefined the position with once-in-a-lifetime physical traits. Even though Jones fell short of winning a Super Bowl, he will remain in Falcons lore for eternity.
Only five receivers in team history have accounted for over 5,000 receiving yards. Jones stands all alone at the top with a franchise-record 12,893 receiving yards. This is 2,000 more than Roddy White and almost 6,000 more than the third best receiver.
Jones averaged 96 receiving yards per game during his 10 seasons in Atlanta.. To put that in perspective, White, who is second to Jones in total yards, averaged 64 yards per game. Drake London, who is the Falcons' current No. 1 wide receiver, averages 61 yards per game.
The only franchise receiving record that Jones doesn't currently hold is touchdowns. White's 63 career touchdown receptions barely bested Jones' 60.
After leaving Atlanta, Jones never again finished with over 500 yards in a season. He netted 431 receiving yards for the Titans in 2021, 299 for the Buccaneers in 2022, and then had just 74 during his final season with the Eagles in 2023.
Going beyond the Falcons history books, Julio Jones ends his career 16th all time in receiving yards, behind Henry Ellard and in front of Torry Holt. Both Ellard and Holt have been in Hall of Fame conversation for the last few years.
You can expect Jones to join those Hall of Fame discussions in a few years, as it should.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: Julio Jones retires as top WR in franchise history
