The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed wide receiver Julio Jones, the team announced Wednesday.
According to reports, it’s a one-year deal.
In 2021, after ten seasons in Atlanta, the 33-year-old was traded to the Titans. He battled injuries and finished the season with career-lows of 34 receptions for 431 yards and one touchdown and released by Tennessee in March.
However, it’s a new year and a new opportunity in Tampa Bay for Jones.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to be a part of something special in the Buccaneer family,” Jones said Wednesday. “Just looking forward to getting to work.”
According to Jones, signing with the Buccaneers is about winning a Super Bowl.
“Absolutely. It’s not a money play – it’s none of that,” he said. “It’s just for me to come out here knowing my value and knowing what I have to offer. The Buccaneers organization is just giving me the opportunity to come here and showcase my skills and just to be a part of something new, to be a part of this team. They have everything that they need already, right? But they’ve got to put the work in each and every day. Nothing is given to you. You’ve just got to come to work every day. That’s what I bring. I’m going to work every day – that’s just who I am.”
Like many players, Jones, who was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2010s All-Decade team alongside of Brady, is excited to play with one of the best quarterbacks of all time.
“It’s a surreal moment,” Jones said about playing with Brady. “It’s amazing. I’m ready to go. At the end of the day, it’s all about accountability. I have to be accountable for him, the team, and everybody. When all is said and done, I’ve still got to come to work. I still have to put the work in. You can see Julio is with the Bucs, and we’ve got Mike [Evans], we’ve got Tom, but we’ve all got to put the work in. Nobody is going to give us anything, so we’ve just got to come out here and work each and every day. That’s all it’s about.”
Jones is a seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection. He is the NFL’s all-time leader in receiving yards per game (91.9) and ranks third in receptions per game (6.1) among players with at least 100 games played. In addition, he ranks 17th in NFL history in career receiving yards (13,330) and 25th in career receptions (879).
Among players currently on NFL rosters, Jones ranks first in receptions, first in receiving yards, third in yards per reception, and fourth in receiving touchdowns.
The Buccaneers get another weapon in Jones to go along with what they have in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. With a 44-year-old Brady, the objective in Tampa Bay is clear: to win another championship.
