Aaron Jones knew his mother, Vurgess, had flown in for the Minnesota Vikings’ game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. She goes to all the games. However, he was surprised to see her with the American flag in hand after he ran out of the tunnel.
Out he ran, with the 4.5 speed he uses to dodge defenders looking to smother his 5’8”, 210 lb. frame. First, he blasted out of the dragon-ship tunnel, like the fire that used to launch from the dragon’s mouth. He emerged from the faux smoke and waved the Red, White, and Blue, then blazed past his teammates and into his mother’s arms.
.@showtyme_33 was surprised by his mother, Vurgess, at the end of intros during today's #SaluteToService game.
She retired from the @usarmy as a sergeant major in 2016 and Aaron is our 2025 Salute To Service Award nominee.
🗳️: https://t.co/LCED9s0nHh pic.twitter.com/i3G5SvlFFU
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 9, 2025
“My mom said this was the best day ever,” Jones said, reflecting on the moment. “I was glad I was able to get in the end zone for her and make her day a little more special.”
Vurgess served 27 years in the Army, and his father, Alvin, served for 29. Jones was born in Savannah, Ga. However, the family moved often, calling Germany, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and eventually El Paso home.
Aaron Jones had to adapt constantly, adjusting to new people and surroundings. However, his current situation is particularly unique. Last season, Sam Darnold threw for 35 touchdowns and 4,319 yards. A year later, the Vikings have turned the franchise over to J.J. McCarthy, a first-year starter and, at 22, the youngest starting quarterback in the league.
In Week 1, McCarthy looked brilliant in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears. He looked poised and threw accurately upon his return from a high ankle sprain in Detroit. However, he was inaccurate against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2 and the Ravens last week. Such are the ups and downs every young quarterback experiences.
However, McCarthy has the unique pressure of leading a team that won 14 games last year, stepping in for Darnold, who leads the league in QBR. Jones says McCarthy has been diligent at practice and in the film room. He believes McCarthy has improved dramatically since the first Chicago game, despite his inconsistencies.
“Definitely took in a lot of snaps after that,” he said, regarding watching film with McCarthy. “A lot of film to watch and break down and just, ‘Hey, I could have done this better if I take better steps here,’ or ‘Hey, this is what we’re going to do on this one.’”
The running game is often a young quarterback’s best friend. Jones has proven he’s still elusive as he enters his ninth season in the league, even though he’s on the wrong side of 30.
Shoulder and hamstring injuries have limited Jones to five games this season. However, he had a career-high 1,138 rushing yards last year, his age-30 season. Perhaps more importantly, he had 408 receiving yards.
Aaron Jones is a capable route-runner with sure hands, making him a viable threat in the passing game. Beyond that, he’s capable of turning a checkdown into a first down. He’s an explosive outlet for a quarterback in duress, a vital ally for McCarthy as he navigates his first year under center.
The Vikings are 4-5 entering Sunday’s game against Chicago, and McCarthy’s performance in Detroit is his only complete-game effort. He struggled for three quarters in Chicago and played poorly against Atlanta and Baltimore. Still, McCarthy is 2-0 in the division, and Jones believes he will perform better against the Bears at home.
“Once you’ve played a team, you have your game plan,” Jones explained. “But then you kind of can adjust from there and, ‘Hey, this is what we saw on this situation and third-and-10 or third-and-five, or a got-to-have-it situation.
“You can kind of get tells from just watching film and familiarity with some of these division teams.”
It feels like Jones will have a big play this season, even though injuries have hampered him. Perhaps it’s a long run, or a toe-tap catch in the end zone. It could just be taking a checkdown past the sticks on a long third down. Anything that might help McCarthy in his first season as a starter.
However, even if Jones doesn’t, he’ll always have that moment with his mother. Her and his father’s service took him around the world. She’s always been there for him, even if this was the first time she was standing at the end of the tunnel during player introductions.