The NFL Scouting Combine begins this week in Indianapolis, the site of Byron Jones' incredible leap that set the world record in the broad jump drill back in 2015
06:30 ET, 27 Feb 2026
Byron Jones played for both the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins in his nine-year career
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Byron Jones played for both the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins in his nine-year career(Image: Getty Images)
Former NFL star Byron Jones warned future players about the effects of playing in the league during his retirement announcement.
The annual NFL Scouting Combine rolls into Indianapolis this week, where hundreds of prospects will be desperate to show off their game and impress. Each NFL franchise will be represented, with front-office figures and staff set to assess future talent while speaking to the media.
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NFL franchises use the event to understand, scout, and evaluate talent ahead of the draft, with this year’s edition set to take place from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. Jones made an impression during his class, breaking a world record in the process.
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At the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine, Jones set the all-time world record for the Broad Jump with a stunning leap of 12’3”. He also finished first among all combine participants in the vertical leap, and his performance gave him an immediate rise on draft boards and made him a top defensive back prospect.
As a result, Jones was selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He finished his rookie season with 67 combined tackles and nine pass deflections through 11 starts in 16 games.
However, just over a decade on from his remarkable combine performance, Jones claimed he cannot “run or jump” due to NFL medical practices. Ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, he took to social media to warn others to avoid his plight.
“Much has changed in eight years,” Jones wrote while reposting the NFL’s Tweet from 2015 celebrating his incredible Broad Jump. “Today I can’t run or jump because of my injuries sustained playing this game.
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Byron Jones was selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft after setting a world record in the broad jump
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Byron Jones was selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft after setting a world record in the broad jump(Image: X @NFL)
“DO NOT take the pills they give you. DO NOT take the injections they give you. If you absolutely must, consult an outside doctor to learn the long-term implications.
“It was an honour and privilege to play in the NFL but it came at a regrettable cost I did not foresee. In my opinion, no amount of professional success or financial gain is worth avoidable chronic pain and disabilities. Godspeed to the draft class of 2023.”
After leaving the Cowboys, Jones signed a five-year deal worth $82 million with the Miami Dolphins in 2020 to become the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. He missed the entire 2022 season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon, and his recovery hit several obstacles as his body crumbled.
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Across his career, Jones recorded four interceptions, 444 tackles, three quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and 57 pass deflections in 109 career games with the Cowboys and Dolphins.
The NFL Scouting Combine runs from February 26 to March 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.