When players come to Notre Dame, one of the big focuses is preparing them for when they have to take off the pads for good. For Tony Jones Jr., the career after his playing days didn’t take him that far off the field. In fact, the ex-Irish running back is starting his coaching career.
Last week, Jones’ high school alma mater, St. Petersburg Catholic, announced the former running back had joined the Barons as the team’s running backs coach. The homecoming begins with Jones still not out of his 20s and is a great place for a player to start learning the ropes of leading and shaping young men.
“Really excited to add a guy who went out and did it at the highest level, Notre Dame, the NFL,” St. Petersburg Catholic head football coach Jesse Chinchar told Rivals when the school announced Jones’ hiring. “Bringing that kind of experience and work ethic back into our building is huge for our players. He knows what it takes to compete at every level, and now he gets to pour that into our running backs. Excited to have him home!”
Tony Jones Jr. played for the Fighting Irish from 2016-2019, and while sitting out his first season in South Bend, he played in 12 games and had 44 carries for 232 yards and three touchdowns in his redshirt freshman season. In 2018, he played in 13 games and had 392 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns.
Tony Jones Jr. begins coaching career after Notre Dame football and NFL run
Jones Jr. took over as the starting running back his redshirt junior year in 2019, and despite missing some time with an injury, still ran for 857 yards and 6 touchdowns in his senior season.
After his days in South Bend were over, Jones played five seasons in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals. With those teams, he ran for 329 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also played one season in the UFL with the Arlington Renegades and attempted to catch on this year with the CFL BC Lions.
Now that his playing days appear over for good, the former Notre Dame running back will attempt to teach and mold the next generation of players who might one day play in South Bend themselves.
His coaching career will start with an offensive power. St. Petersburg Catholic is slated to bring back one of the state’s top quarterbacks in Class of 2027 Chase Burrill, who completed 210 of 313 passes for 3,677 yards, 53 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions last year.
The former Notre Dame football star’s new team should have quite a bit of success, as the high school went 12-1 in 2025.
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