The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed running back Maurice Jones-Drew to a contract extension. Jones-Drew has played in 47 games for the club since being selected in the second round of the 2006 draft.
In his first three seasons, Jones-Drew excelled as a rusher, receiver and kick returner. Jones-Drew averaged 83.8 yards from scrimmage and 127.7 all-purpose yards per game and scored 40 touchdowns (34 rushing, 4 receiving, 2 kickoff returns). The 40 total touchdowns and 34 rushing touchdowns rank second in the NFL from 2006-08.
Jones-Drew has totaled 2,533 career rushing yards on 530 carries and 148 receptions for 1,408 yards. He ranks third in team history in rushing yards and fourth in yards from scrimmage (3,941) and all-purpose yards (6,003). The 1,408 receiving yards are the fifth-most in the NFL by a running back since 2006. In addition, he holds the team record for career kickoff returns (75), kickoff return yards (1,952) and return average (26.0). He is the only player in franchise history to record two kickoff returns for touchdowns.
In 2008, Jones-Drew led the team in rushing yards (824), rushes (197), touchdowns (14), yards from scrimmage (1,389) and all-purpose yards (1,739). He played in all 16 games and made a career-high three starts.
Jones-Drew has provided a consistent threat for the Jaguars in the passing game. He led all NFL running backs in 2008 in receiving yards with 565 and his 62 receptions were the most by a Jaguars running back in franchise history. He is the only running back in team history to record a 100-yard receiving game as he finished with nine receptions for 113 yards against Minnesota on December 23, 2008.
Jones-Drew was one of six running backs selected in the first two rounds of the 2006 NFL draft and ranked first among the group in the first three seasons in total touchdowns (40), total yards (6,003) and yards from scrimmage (3,941). As a rookie, he broke 10 team records and ranked tied for third in the NFL with 16 touchdowns including a rushing touchdown in a NFL-record (by a rookie) eight consecutive games. He finished with 2,250 all-purpose yards, the third-most by a rookie in NFL history.
A native of Antioch, California, Jones-Drew has been actively involved in the community since joining the Jaguars. He has hosted a football camp for youth the last three years at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium with the 2009 camp scheduled for Saturday, June 13. In addition, he established a relationship with the Sulzbacher Center for the homeless and he hosted a special holiday party for the children the last two years. He established the Maurice Jones-Drew Foundation in 2009 to benefit youth-focused organizations.
