JACKSONVILLE – Maurice Jones-Drew won't be returning to the Jaguars next season.
Jones-Drew, who played the last eight seasons with the Jaguars – including the last five as the team's starting running back – on Friday signed with the Oakland Raiders. He became an unrestricted free agent earlier this month.
The Oakland Raiders have signed RB Maurice Jones-Drew. pic.twitter.com/oD4a8ytqlH — OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) March 28, 2014
Jones-Drew was born in Oakland and played at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif., before playing collegiately at UCLA.
Jones-Drew, a second-round selection by the Jaguars in the 2006 NFL Draft, made the Pro Bowl in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Those were his first three seasons as a starter after sharing carries his first three seasons with long-time starter Fred Taylor.
Jones-Drew rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his Pro Bowl seasons, winning the NFL rushing title in 2011 when he rushed for a career-high and franchise-record 1,606 yards and eight touchdowns on a career-high 343 carries.
Jones-Drew finished his Jaguars career with 8,071 yards and 68 touchdowns rushing on 1,804 carries, a 4.5 yards-per-carry average. He is second on the team's all-time rushing list to Taylor, who rushed for 11,271 yards in 11 seasons with the team.
Jones-Drew rushed for 941, 768 and 824 yards in three seasons playing with Taylor, scoring 34 touchdowns during that span. He then took over as the starter upon Taylor's departure, rushing for 1,391 yards and a career-high 15 touchdowns in 2009 and 1,324 yards on five touchdowns in 2010.
After winning the rushing title in 2011, Jones-Drew played just six games the following season, missing the final 10 games with a foot injury. He finished with 414 yards on 86 carries that season.
He started 15 games this past season, rushing for 803 yards and five touchdowns on 234 carries.
Statement from the Jacksonville Jaguars
"We want to thank Maurice Jones-Drew for all of his contributions to the Jacksonville Jaguars the past eight years. Maurice's toughness, determination and competitive spirit on the field served as a great example to all of his teammates. Maurice has been one of the great Jaguars and he holds several team records for touchdowns that will remain for a long time. His place in Jaguars history is firmly established and we look forward to honoring him in Jacksonville at the appropriate time in the future."
"Of equal importance, Maurice was a great ambassador in the community and his foundation played a major role in making our city a better place for children. On behalf of the entire Jaguars organization, we wish him the best of luck in Oakland."
