Ed "Too Tall" Jones didn't just stand above his peers at six feet nine inches; he changed how defensive linemen moved, batted down passes, and disrupted offenses. Long before modern edge rushers dominated Sunday afternoons, Jones was a towering anomaly who blended basketball-style agility with brute strength. Selected first overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1974 NFL Draft, he went on to anchor one of the most dominant defensive units in football history, earning three Pro Bowl nods and a Super Bowl ring.
Yet, numbers alone don't capture the cultural footprint he left behind. Opposing quarterbacks spent entire weeks game-planning around a wingspan that swallowed passing lanes, while fans treated his towering stature as sports myth come to life. Let's look at how he built his career, mastered his technique, and why his unique profile still influences modern defensive ends today.
The Physical Anomaly: Height and Wingspan
When Ed Jones arrived at Tennessee State University, coaches immediately recognized that his frame was unlike anyone else's on the gridiron. Standing nearly six-foot-nine with exceptionally long arms, he possessed leverage advantages that traditional blockers couldn't neutralize. Offensive linemen were built to handle players six-foot-four or six-foot-five, but Jones forced them to alter their entire center of gravity.
- Unmatched Reach: His wingspan allowed him to engage blockers before they could get inside his chest, creating immediate separation.
- Passing Lane Disruption: Even when he didn't secure a sack, he batted down passes at an astonishing rate by simply raising his hands in the quarterback's line of sight.
- Stamina and Durability: Despite his massive frame, he maintained remarkable conditioning, playing 15 seasons for the Cowboys without missing significant time to injury.
Opponents often complained that blocking him felt like trying to stop a utility pole. But height alone doesn't win games in the National Football League. Jones combined his physical gifts with relentless lateral quickness, allowing him to chase down running backs on the perimeter long before modern rules favored hyper-athletic pass rushers.
Transitioning from College Standout to NFL Icon
The Dallas Cowboys front office took a massive gamble in 1974 by spending the number one overall pick on a defensive end from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Tom Landry and his coaching staff knew they had raw potential, but molding that much height into a disciplined 3-4 defensive end required patience.
Early on, coaches worked extensively with Jones on pad level. Tall players struggle with low center-of-gravity hits, so he had to learn how to dip his shoulders and convert his vertical power into horizontal drive. By his second and third seasons, that mechanical adjustment clicked. He transformed from a project player into a ferocious edge stopper who could wreck an opponent's running game on first and second down.
As part of the famous "Doomsday Defense II," Jones didn't have to carry the entire pass rush alone. Playing alongside legends like Harvey Martin and Randy White created a nightmare scenario for offensive coordinators. If you chipped Jones to neutralize his reach, Martin came screaming off the opposite edge.
The Boxing Interlude and Return to Glory
One of the most fascinating chapters in Jones's career occurred in 1979, when he temporarily stepped away from football to pursue a professional boxing career. Driven by a desire to test his athletic limits and fueled by a childhood love for the sweet science, he traded his helmet for boxing gloves.
- The Boxing Record: He fought six professional heavyweight bouts, winning all six, with five victories coming by way of knockout.
- Ring Lessons: The brief stint wasn't just a publicity stunt; it drastically improved his hand speed, footwork, and punch-avoidance techniques.
- The NFL Comeback: Realizing his true home was on the gridiron, he returned to the Cowboys in 1980, welcoming a renewed dominance that lasted through the decade.
When he stepped back onto the field at Texas Stadium, teammates noticed a sharper, more aggressive pass-rusher. The footwork he honed in the ring translated directly to shedding blocks and timing his bull-rushes with precision.
Legacy and Impact on Modern Edge Rushers
Today's NFL features a growing number of oversized edge defenders—players standing six-foot-seven or taller with basketball backgrounds. Analysts often point to Calais Campbell or Julius Peppers as pioneers of the modern giant defensive end, but Ed Jones walked that path first. He proved that extreme height didn't have to be a liability against the run.
His ability to transition from a traditional run-stopping defensive end into an elite sack artist during the mid-1980s solidified his Hall of Very Good status, even if he fell just short of Canton. More importantly, he redefined what fans and scouts looked for in trench warriors. Size wasn't just about weight anymore; it was about functional length and spatial disruption.
You can trace the lineage of modern defensive schemes directly back to the defensive fronts Tom Landry built around Jones. When coordinators talk about building a wall at the line of scrimmage, they are echoing the exact defensive philosophy that made the Cowboys a powerhouse for two decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall was Ed Too Tall Jones really?
He was officially measured at six feet nine inches tall, making him one of the tallest defensive players in NFL history. His towering stature gave him an unprecedented advantage in reach and leverage.
Why did he leave football to box?
In 1979, Jones sought a new athletic challenge and wanted to explore professional heavyweight boxing. After compiling a 6-0 record with five knockouts, he returned to the Dallas Cowboys in 1980, where he played for another decade.
How many Super Bowls did he win?
Jones won one Super Bowl ring with the Dallas Cowboys, defeating the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII. He also appeared in two other Super Bowls during his illustrious career.
What made his playing style unique?
Beyond his height, Jones combined exceptional lateral speed with heavy hands refined through boxing. He specialized in batting down passes at the line of scrimmage and setting a hard edge against the run game, neutralizing opposing offensive schemes.
