Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Jarvis Jones has been named the head coach of his alma mater, Carver-Columbus High School in Columbus, Georgia. Jones became a standout recruit before heading to USC and later, the University of Georgia at the high school, graduating in 2009.
Jones returned to Georgia in 2019 and graduated with his degree following the end of his NFL career. After graduating, Jones was the assistant outside linebackers coach for Georgia under Kirby Smart and now will have a chance to make an impact at the high school level. Jones won two National Championships as a coach on the Bulldogs staff.
Jones became one of the best pass rushers in college football while playing for the Bulldogs. He was named a two-time All-American, earning the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and Butkus Awards in 2012 with 14.5 sacks. That production put him on NFL radars.
The Steelers drafted him in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft to carry on the lineage of great pass rushers. He was expected to be a top-ten pick heading into the process but fell to No. 17 after poor testing numbers.
Jones flamed out with the Steelers, playing four years and having his fifth-year option decline. He eventually signed with the Arizona Cardinals and was released in 2017. After that, Jones transitioned into coaching.