June Jones, former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons and offensive coordinator for the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons, was arrested on suspicion of DUI on Friday night in Honolulu, according to reports from Stephen Tsai of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. The football veteran was subsequently released after posting a $500 bail. The arrest came as a surprise given Jones’ reputable standing in the world of football.
“I was speeding, and got stopped,” Jones admitted to Tsai. “I was coming from eating dinner. That’s all I need to say right now.”
Jones, now 70, began his football journey as a quarterback. He played four seasons in the NFL and an additional season in the Canadian Football League (CFL) before transitioning to a coaching role. Jones took on various roles as an offensive assistant both in college football and the NFL before landing the job of head coach for the Atlanta Falcons from 1994 to 1996.
After his time with the Falcons and a brief stint as the interim head coach for the San Diego Chargers in ’98, Jones returned to his alma mater. The Rainbow Warriors of the University of Hawaii entrusted Jones with the head coaching position in 1999, where he led them to a 76-41 record along with four bowl wins over nine seasons.
Jones’ successful stint at Hawai’i culminated in the 2007 season when the team boasted a 12-1 record. Following that season, Southern Methodist University (SMU) hired Jones to fill their head coaching vacancy. While Jones struggled to replicate his Hawai’i success at SMU, posting a 36-43 record over seven seasons, his career remained far from over.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL became Jones’ next home where he worked as head coach for two seasons. Later, he took the reins as head coach of the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks. In 2023, Jones served as the offensive coordinator of the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons.
Despite the arrest, Jones’ impact on football remains undeniable. As the investigation proceeds, many in the football world are watching closely to see how this unexpected incident may affect the esteemed coach’s future in the XFL. Jones’ has been angling for the head coaching spot for the Vegas Vipers after Rod Woodson and the XFL parted ways.
