Julio Jones, the Atlanta Falcons’ all-time leading receiver and one of the most dominant wide receivers of his generation, has officially announced his retirement from the National Football League after an illustrious 13-year career. The 36-year-old shared the news on Friday, April 4, via a heartfelt video posted on the social media app Squad, choosing “404 Day”—an unofficial holiday celebrating Atlanta’s area code—to honor the city where he forged his legendary status.
“Today, I’m announcing my retirement,” Jones said in the video. “Started when I was eight years old, just a kid from Foley, Alabama. It was an amazing ride.” Reflecting on his journey, Jones expressed gratitude to his family, coaches, teammates, and the cities and teams that shaped his career, with a special nod to Atlanta. “I’m making this announcement today because of the city of Atlanta. Thank you, man, I appreciate y’all. It’s nothing but love.”
Jones retires as one of the NFL’s most decorated receivers, finishing his career with 914 receptions, 13,703 receiving yards, and 66 touchdowns across 166 regular-season games. His 12,896 yards and 848 receptions with the Falcons are franchise records, while his 60 touchdown catches rank second only to Roddy White. A seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro, Jones also earned three second-team All-Pro honors and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s.
Drafted sixth overall by the Falcons out of Alabama in 2011, Jones quickly established himself as a force on the field. His combination of size, speed, and physicality made him a matchup nightmare for defenses. He led the NFL in receiving yards twice—1,871 in 2015 and 1,677 in 2018—and holds the league record for five consecutive seasons with at least 1,400 yards (2014-2018). Jones also has more games with 250+ receiving yards (three) than anyone in NFL history, including a staggering 300-yard performance against the Carolina Panthers in 2016.
Perhaps his most iconic moment came in Super Bowl LI, where he made a spectacular 27-yard toe-tap catch late in the fourth quarter—a play that could have sealed a Falcons victory had Atlanta not famously relinquished a 28-3 lead to the New England Patriots. Despite the loss, Jones’ postseason prowess was undeniable, with 77 catches for 992 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 playoff games.
Jones spent a decade with the Falcons, forming one of the league’s most dynamic quarterback-receiver duos with Matt Ryan. In his retirement announcement, he gave a special shoutout to Ryan, recalling how the quarterback welcomed him as a rookie during the 2011 lockout: “You took me to your home, showed me the playbook, went over plays. Thank you, I appreciate you, man.” He also thanked former Alabama coach Nick Saban, whom he called a “father figure,” and the Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Philadelphia Eagles for giving him opportunities late in his career.
After leaving Atlanta in a 2021 trade to Tennessee, Jones’ production declined due to injuries. He played one season with the Titans (434 yards, one touchdown), followed by a year with the Buccaneers (299 yards, two touchdowns) and his final stint with the Eagles in 2023 (74 yards, three touchdowns in 11 games). Jones did not play in the 2024 season, making him eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2028—a destination widely considered inevitable.
The Falcons organization quickly honored their former star. Less than an hour after his announcement, the team sent an email to fans thanking Jones for his contributions and posted a tribute on X: “Julio Jet Jones. Congratulations on your retirement, @juliojones_11!” Owner Arthur Blank, known for welcoming back franchise legends, is expected to celebrate Jones’ return to the Falcons family.