The Unbelievable Story of Too Tall Jones: From Football to Boxing and Back Again
In the chaotic late 1970s, the Dallas Cowboys drafted a man so physically imposing he seemed like a myth. Leonard "Too Tall" Jones abandoned a promising professional boxing career to play one season of NFL football, creating a narrative that remains one of the most peculiar sports footnotes in American history. This is the story of a man who stood 6-foot-9 and weighed 265 pounds, navigating the volatile intersection of two brutal sports while chasing a legacy that never fully materialized.
The saga of Jones is a study in contradictions: a man with elite athletic gifts who struggled to find stability, a celebrity who couldn't escape his own persona, and an athlete whose defining career decision remains debated to this day. His journey from the cornfields of Texas to the bright lights of Las Vegas and the gridiron of Dallas offers a unique lens through which to examine the absurdities of professional sports.
The Genesis of a Giant: Early Life and Athletic Development
Leonard Jones was born on October 21, 1951, in Paris, Texas. From a young age, his extraordinary height set him apart. By the time he reached high school, he was a looming presence on the football field, but his true sporting passion lay elsewhere. Jones was a natural boxer, drawn to the discipline and raw competition of the squared circle. He honed his skills at the 5th Street Gym in Paris, quickly becoming a formidable heavyweight in the amateur ranks.
His physical attributes were undeniable. Standing at 6-foot-9 with a reach that seemed to operate on a different plane, he possessed a rare combination of size and athleticism. This unique frame made him a prospect for both combat sports and professional football. Coaches and trainers saw a rare specimen, a man who could dominate in multiple arenas. The question was not if he would be successful, but in which arena he would find his ultimate glory.
Jones's decision to pursue boxing professionally was a logical one. He signed with the legendary promoter Don King, a move that thrust him into the highest levels of the sport. He trained alongside some of the biggest names in the business and fought in some of the most iconic venues in the world. For a time, it seemed he was on a clear path to becoming a world champion.
The Pivot: From Boxing Ring to Football Field
The trajectory of Jones's career changed irrevocably in 1974. In one of the most bizarre and consequential decisions in sports history, he left a lucrative and promising boxing career to enter the National Football League. The Dallas Cowboys, under the leadership of the innovative coach Tom Landry, saw potential in using Jones as a defensive end. They selected him in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft, a move that sent shockwaves through both the football and boxing worlds.
The reasons for his departure were complex and multifaceted. Some speculated that Jones was seeking a new challenge, while others believed he was pressured by external forces, including his manager and the Cowboys' organization. The allure of guaranteed money and the massive platform of the NFL were difficult to ignore. For a man of his size, the NFL represented an opportunity for fame and fortune that was perhaps more immediate than the uncertain path of a boxer.
The public reaction was one of genuine disbelief. Boxing commentators and fans felt a sense of betrayal, viewing his departure as a waste of immense talent. Football fans, meanwhile, were intrigued by the experiment. Could a man with no football experience beyond sandlot games truly compete at the highest level? The media circus surrounding Jones's arrival in Dallas was immense, turning him into a larger-than-life figure before he even took a snap.
The One and Only Season: Life in Cowboy Camp
Jones's first and only season with the Dallas Cowboys in 1974 was a journey filled with awkwardness, adaptation, and surprising moments. He arrived at training camp a raw athlete, devoid of the fundamental techniques required for professional football. While he possessed size and speed, he had to learn everything from the basic stance of a defensive end to the intricacies of reading a blocking scheme. His teammates and coaches quickly realized that his physical gifts were only part of the equation.
The camp was a crash course in professional sports. Jones struggled to master the technical aspects of the game, often looking out of place against seasoned veterans. However, his work ethic was unquestioned. He was known for his relentless dedication to the weight room, using his enormous strength to try to compensate for his lack of refined technique. His presence in the locker room was a constant source of conversation, blending awe with skepticism.
Despite the challenges, there were flashes of brilliance. In a preseason game against the Houston Oilers, Jones recorded a sack, a moment that electrified the Cowboys and silenced some of his critics. It was a reminder that his physical tools were indeed elite. However, these moments were few and far between. The vast majority of his snaps were marked by confusion and a inability to consistently apply his skills. The experiment, it seemed, was not working as planned.
The Public Spectacle: Fame, Controversy, and Persona
Throughout his brief football career, Jones remained a constant media figure. His persona was larger than life, blending the flamboyant world of boxing with the growing celebrity culture of the NFL. He appeared on television talk shows, endorsed products, and became a symbol of the strange times he inhabited. The public couldn't get enough of "Too Tall" Jones, and he leaned into the attention, cultivating a persona that was equal parts entertainer and athlete.
His fame, however, was not without its pitfalls. Jones became a symbol of the perceived softness of the modern athlete. Critics argued that his decision to leave boxing for football was a sign of cowardice or a lack of commitment. The brutal nature of football, they claimed, was no place for a man of his delicate sensibilities. Jones, for his part, remained largely unfazed by the criticism, maintaining a stoic demeanor in the face of intense scrutiny.
The cultural impact of Too Tall Jones extended beyond the sports pages. He became a pop culture icon, referenced in jokes and cartoons. His very name became a shorthand for absurdity and over-the-top ambition. He was a man who defied logic and convention, and in doing so, he captured the imagination of a nation.
Life After Football: The Return to Boxing and Beyond
After the 1974 season, the Dallas Cowboys did not renew Jones's contract. He returned to the world of boxing, but the momentum and momentum he had hoped to carry from his football experience were largely gone. The mystique had faded, replaced by the harsh reality of an aging heavyweight who had spent a year away from his craft. He fought for a few more years but never regained the status he had once held.
Jones's post-athletic life was equally unconventional. He dabbled in acting, appeared on game shows, and lived a life that remained firmly in the public eye. He became a fixture on the rodeo circuit, a testament to his rugged individualism and desire to remain active. He lived a life defined by its refusal to be ordinary, a constant search for the next adventure.
The legacy of Too Tall Jones is a complicated one. He is remembered as a footnote in the history of both boxing and football, a man who made a choice that defied explanation. He was a product of his era, a time of excess and experimentation. In the end, he was simply Too Tall Jones, a man who was too big for one world and too unconventional for the other.
In reviewing the improbable career of Leonard "Too Tall" Jones, sports historians often point to the 1974 Dallas Cowboys as a team defined by its peculiarities. They had a quarterback who embraced a counterculture lifestyle, a running back who was as much a philosopher as an athlete, and a defensive end who was 6-foot-9 and came from the world of professional boxing. "He was just a unique individual," said Gil Brandt, the Cowboys' longtime director of player personnel. "You didn't understand his decision at the time, but you couldn't ignore his sheer presence. He was a phenomenon."
