Jones spoke to reporters virtually Friday and detailed his pre-draft process with the Bears, which began with an informal meeting at the NFL Combine in February. After his visit to Halas Hall, Jones left feeling just as good about the Bears as they did about him.
“Just meeting with everybody, it just felt like home,” Jones said. “The people there, it just felt like they truly loved it and being in Chicago. And you look at a place like Chicago, the history there and being able to be a part of that, it still hasn’t really set in for me. I just got drafted however long ago, so I’m still trying to get used to it. But man, it truly is a special place, and it starts with the people we have, and I know it’s gonna be a great place.”
Jones started his collegiate career as a defensive tackle after playing on both the defensive and offensive line at Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa, but transitioned full-time to center before the 2022 season.
In his three years as the Hawkeyes’ starting center, Jones steadily rose from Third-Team All-Big Ten in 2023 to Second-Team All-Big Ten in 2024 to First-Team All-Big Ten and unanimous All-American. He credits his teammates and “the way they showed up in the building” for his senior year success and attributed his Rimington Trophy to the entire offensive line.
“It was very humbling those first couple years, for sure, especially as an offensive line group,” Jones said. “We weren’t very good, but that class, we stuck together and worked, and it just started with the leadership in that room and I was just so grateful for coach (George) Barnett, for sure, my offensive line coach at Iowa.
“It took some time and, man, I still feel like I haven’t even played my best football yet and I haven’t figured it out. It’s been a journey, but I think the past two years, for sure, is when I realized that if I really wanted this, I’ve just got to go out there and take it.”