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Ex-YSU WR Jones retires from NFL
By Joe Scalzo
On Wednesday afternoon, less than two weeks after his body told him it was time to say goodbye to the dream he’s held since childhood, former Youngstown State wide receiver Donald Jones logged on to Twitter and typed out this sentence: “One of the hardest decisions of my life but yet soo easy!!!!!”
He attached a screen shot from his iPhone of a 100-word message explaining that the kidney disease he’s been battling since was a sophomore in high school, IgA nephropathy, had advanced to the point where he needed to retire from the NFL.
“I’m doing good,” he said by phone a few hours later. “The response has all been positive. I’ve heard from all my fans in Buffalo and my short stint in New England and everybody has wished me luck. I’ve heard from fans either that had kidney issues or have people in their families with kidney issues and let me know what they’re going through.
“It’s been good.”
After three seasons with the Bills, Jones signed with the Patriots in the offseason but was released in mid-July. The explanation at the time was the Patriots didn’t want to pay a $200,000 roster bonus, but New England’s doctors had also warned Jones that his condition had worsened and he might soon need a kidney transplant, he told FOX Sports. He also revealed that the Bills’ decision not to resign him was health-related.
The tipping point came in late July while running on a treadmill during a workout with the Colts. Jones’ blood pressure reached 250 over 110 — the optimal level is 120/80 — and after the trainers stopped him, he felt dizzy.
Over the next few days, he talked to his family and his agent and decided, at age 25, it was time to retire. While he said he would have made the same decision regardless, the fact that he has a 2-year-old son, Kiion, made the choice easier. (Kiion was named after his older brother, who died in childbirth. Both were born on Aug. 24.)
“Ultimately, it’s my health,” he said. “I want to be here long-term, but me having a son multiplied it that much more. I want to see him grow up to be a man. I want to see him play football. I want to raise him.
“Definitely every decision I make, I have to think about how it affects my son.”
Jones was disagnosed with his disease as a sophomore in high school but refused medication at the time because he was worried it would negatively affect his play.
“I didn’t want to mess with my chances of being good,” he said. “I felt like it would affect my strength.”
After a standout career at Plainfield (N.J.) High, Jones committed to Wisconsin but his poor grades diverted him to Lackawanna Junior College. Two years later, he signed with Youngstown State, earning third-team All-America honors before signing as an undrafted free agent with the Bills in 2010.
“Youngstown was a great stepping-stone in me making it to the NFL,” he said. “I appreciate all the coaches and the fans who supported me and gave me a chance. The coaches are the ones who really pushed me and let me know I could play in the NFL.”
After two decent seasons with the Bills, Jones posted career-highs in receptions (41), yards (443) and TDs (four) in 12 games before missing the last four games with a calf injury. He then signed a three-year, $3.41 million contract with the Patriots but none of the money was guaranteed.
Jones said he plans to coach at a high school in New Jersey and wants to help raise awareness for kidney disease. He said if he gets a transplant, his long-term prospects are good.
“Anything can happen — your body could reject it — but I should be able to live a normal life afterward,” he said.
When asked how fans can help, he paused and said, “My biggest thing is for everyone to realize they can be donors, and not just kidney donors. People don’t realize they can be saving a life.
“Other than that, I’m trying to get everyone to realize that they need to eat right, make sure they’re putting the right things in their body and work out just to be healthy. A lot of people don’t think anything is affecting them until it’s too late.”