Zay Jones Bio
Isaiah Avery “Zay” Jones (born March 30, 1995) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates, where he became the NCAA Division I all-time leader in career receptions with 399 catches. He also set the single-season NCAA Division I record with 158 receptions during his senior year in 2016. Jones has since built a steady professional career as a reliable possession receiver across multiple NFL franchises.
Drafted in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Jones has spent time with the Buffalo Bills, Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Arizona Cardinals. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 200 pounds, he brings a sturdy frame and dependable hands to the receiver position. His combination of size, route-running, and football IQ has allowed him to remain a productive contributor throughout his professional career.
Zay Jones
Early Life and Background
Isaiah Avery Jones was born on March 30, 1995, in Dallas, Texas. He is the son of Robert Jones, a former NFL linebacker who spent ten seasons in the league, and Maneesha Jones. Growing up in a household shaped by professional football, Jones was exposed early to the demands and discipline required at the highest level of the sport. His father’s career served as both inspiration and a benchmark for the young receiver.
Jones has two brothers, Cayleb and Levi, and his uncle is former NFL quarterback Jeff Blake. This deep family connection to the game helped shape his understanding of professional football from a young age. He attended Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin, Texas, where he developed his skills as a wide receiver and earned recognition as a promising college prospect.
After high school, Jones committed to East Carolina University to play college football. His decision to join the Pirates allowed him to follow his own developmental path while carrying forward his family’s football legacy. The college choice also gave him the opportunity to showcase his talents in a pass-oriented offense that would later help him rewrite NCAA receiving records.
Path to American Football
Jones’s path to professional football began in earnest at East Carolina, where he quickly established himself as a productive target. As a true freshman in 2013, he played in 13 games and made eight starts, finishing second on the team with 62 receptions for 604 yards and five touchdowns. That immediate production signaled his potential and gave the Pirates confidence in his long-term role within the offense.
As a sophomore, Jones elevated his game with 81 receptions for 830 yards and five touchdowns. His junior season brought 98 receptions for 1,099 yards and five touchdowns, placing him among the most productive receivers in college football. These incremental improvements each year built the foundation for his record-setting senior campaign.
In 2016, Jones broke the East Carolina single-game receptions record with 22 catches and surpassed the school’s single-season record previously held by Justin Hardy. He then became the NCAA Division I all-time single-season leader with 158 receptions and the all-time career leader with 399 catches. His senior-year excellence earned him First-team All-American honors, First-team All-AAC recognition, and a spot as a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award. These accomplishments cemented his status as a top prospect heading into the 2017 NFL Draft.
Zay Jones Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
The Buffalo Bills selected Jones in the second round with the 37th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year, $6.77 million contract with $3.84 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $3.07 million. Jones made his NFL debut on September 10, 2017, against the New York Jets, recording one reception for 21 yards. Later that season, he caught his first career receiving touchdown against the Jets in Week 9 and finished his rookie year with 316 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 15 games.
Jones showed significant improvement in his second NFL season, finishing 2018 as Buffalo’s leading receiver with 56 receptions for 652 yards and seven touchdowns. He recorded his first multi-touchdown game in a Week 13 loss to the Miami Dolphins and posted a career-high 93 receiving yards against the Jets in Week 10. A 57-yard catch from rookie quarterback Josh Allen against the Los Angeles Chargers stood as the longest reception of his career at that point.
Buffalo Bills Era (2017–2019)
Jones spent his first two-plus NFL seasons with the Buffalo Bills after being selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he played through a torn labrum in his shoulder that required offseason surgery. His development was steady, and he became a regular contributor in the Bills’ passing game by his second year.
His most productive stretch in Buffalo came during the 2018 season, when he led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Jones became a reliable option for quarterback Josh Allen, particularly on intermediate routes. On October 7, 2019, he was traded to the Oakland Raiders, closing his time with the Bills after parts of three seasons.
Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders Era (2019–2021)
Jones joined the Oakland Raiders midway through the 2019 season and appeared in 15 games with nine starts, finishing with 27 receptions for 216 receiving yards. After the Raiders relocated to Las Vegas, he caught his first touchdown since 2018 during the team’s first home game at Allegiant Stadium, a 34–24 win over the New Orleans Saints. He appeared in all 16 games during the 2020 season, finishing with 14 receptions for 154 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Jones re-signed with the Raiders on a one-year contract in March 2021 and went on to play in all 17 games with nine starts. He finished the 2021 season with 47 receptions for 546 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. His most memorable moment that year came in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, when he caught a 31-yard overtime touchdown to seal a 33–27 Raiders victory.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2022–2023)
On March 16, 2022, Jones signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. His most productive performance as a Jaguar came in Week 15 against the Dallas Cowboys, when he recorded 109 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a 40–34 victory. He closed the 2022 regular season with 82 receptions for 823 receiving yards and five touchdowns across 16 games, then added eight receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown in a Wild Card win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Jones appeared in nine games with seven starts during the 2023 season, recording 34 receptions for 321 yards and two touchdowns. The Jaguars released him on April 30, 2024, ending his three-year tenure with the team. His time in Jacksonville represented his most productive statistical stretch in the NFL.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2024–Present)
Jones signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals on May 13, 2024. Shortly after, he was suspended five games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He appeared in 11 games during the 2024 season and recorded eight receptions for 84 yards. On March 11, 2025, he re-signed with the Cardinals on a one-year, $4.4 million contract.
During the 2025 season, Jones appeared in eight games and recorded 12 receptions for 183 yards. On November 10, it was announced that he had suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in Week 10 against the Seattle Seahawks. He was placed on injured reserve on November 12, ending his campaign.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Jones’s career came during his senior season at East Carolina, when he set the NCAA Division I single-season receptions record with 158 catches. He also became the all-time career receptions leader with 399 catches, surpassing his former ECU teammate Justin Hardy. In the NFL, his three-touchdown performance against the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 stands as one of his most explosive single-game efforts.
Zay Jones Career Wins
Across his NFL career, Zay Jones has contributed as a dependable possession receiver for four different franchises. Through the 2025 season, he has accumulated 307 receptions for 3,295 receiving yards and 18 receiving touchdowns. His career has been marked by consistency rather than flash, with steady production across multiple offenses and quarterback situations.
NFL Highlights
Jones recorded his first career touchdown in 2017 against the New York Jets and posted his first 100-yard, three-touchdown game in 2022 against the Dallas Cowboys. His most productive season statistically came in 2022 with the Jacksonville Jaguars, when he finished with 82 receptions for 823 yards and five touchdowns. He also contributed a touchdown in a Wild Card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers that same postseason.
Other Performances
Jones earned First-team All-American, First-team All-AAC, and NCAA receptions leader honors during his senior season at East Carolina in 2016. He was also a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to college football’s top receiver. His pre-draft performance at the Senior Bowl, where he led both teams with six receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown, helped solidify his second-round draft stock.
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Zay Jones Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Zay Jones comes from a deeply rooted football family. His father, Robert Jones, played linebacker in the NFL for ten seasons after being drafted in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Robert played for several teams during his career, including the Cowboys, Rams, Dolphins, Redskins, and Chiefs. His uncle, Jeff Blake, enjoyed a lengthy NFL career as a quarterback, most notably with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Personal Life
Jones has two brothers, Cayleb and Levi, both of whom share the family’s athletic background. Cayleb Jones also played wide receiver in the NFL after a college career at the University of Arizona. Zay Jones was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, where his football journey began under the guidance of his parents, Robert and Maneesha Jones.
2025 Season Performance
Jones entered the 2025 season with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year, $4.4 million contract after re-signing in March. Through eight appearances, he recorded 12 receptions for 183 yards, serving in a complementary role within the Cardinals’ receiving corps. His veteran presence provided leadership and reliable depth for a developing offensive unit.
His 2025 campaign was cut short on November 10, when it was announced he had suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 10 against the Seattle Seahawks. He was placed on injured reserve on November 12, ending his season. The injury marked an unfortunate conclusion to a year in which he had been a steady contributor for Arizona.
Looking ahead, Jones will look to recover fully from the Achilles injury and continue his professional career. His durability and consistency across multiple teams and offensive systems suggest he remains a valuable depth option at the wide receiver position. Whether he returns to the Cardinals or another franchise, his track record of production makes him a dependable veteran presence.
