Ruston native and former Ruston High School standout Bert Jones will receive one of the highest honors in LSU football history this fall as the university retires his iconic No. 7 jersey during the Tigers’ Nov. 14 home game against Texas in Tiger Stadium.
The LSU Athletic Hall of Fame Committee unanimously approved Jones’ jersey retirement, making him just the fifth LSU football great to receive the distinction. His No. 7 jersey will join those honoring Billy Cannon (No. 20), Jerry Stovall (No. 21), Tommy Casanova (No. 37) and Charles Alexander (No. 4) on the façade of Tiger Stadium’s south end zone.
While Cannon’s No. 20 is permanently retired, the other retired jersey numbers continue to be worn by current LSU players as part of the program’s tradition of honoring its greatest legends.
“I had no idea that there was anything in the works so this is totally unsuspecting,” Jones said in release by the LSU Athletics Department. “I have been the beneficiary of a lot of good things and received a lot of accolades and a lot of awards, but this is at the top of the list.
“To be (name and number) hung up in Tiger Stadium, where my father played, my brother played and cousins played, is special and what’s even equally as special is that I will be up there with my LSU roommate Tommy Casanova.”
For Jones, the honor represents the latest chapter in one of the most decorated football careers ever produced by North Louisiana.
A standout under legendary Ruston High School coach Hoss Garrett, Jones developed into one of the nation’s premier quarterbacks before signing with LSU, where he would become one of the most accomplished signal-callers in school history.
Nicknamed “The Ruston Rifle” for his strong arm and pinpoint accuracy, Jones started three seasons for the Tigers from 1970-72, compiling a 26-6-1 record while leading LSU to three consecutive nine-win seasons, the 1970 Southeastern Conference championship and three bowl appearances.
When his collegiate career ended, Jones owned virtually every significant LSU passing record, including career passing yards (3,255), completions (220), attempts (418) and touchdown passes (28). He also became the first quarterback in program history to eclipse 3,000 career passing yards.
His senior season in 1972 remains one of the finest ever by an LSU quarterback. Jones threw for a then-school-record 1,446 yards and 14 touchdowns while becoming the first quarterback in school history to earn first-team All-America honors. He also was named first-team All-SEC after leading the conference in completion percentage, touchdown passes, total offense and touchdowns responsible for.
Jones capped that memorable season by finishing fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting after leading the Tigers to a 9-2-1 record that included victories over Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Auburn and Ole Miss.
His success at LSU led the Baltimore Colts to select him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1973 NFL Draft.
Jones quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks. His finest professional season came in 1976 when he led the Colts to an 11-3 record while passing for 3,104 yards and 24 touchdowns. He earned The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award, first-team All-Pro honors, the Bert Bell Award as the NFL’s outstanding player and UPI AFC Player of the Year recognition.
Renowned for his toughness, accuracy and ability to stretch the field, Jones appeared poised for a Hall of Fame-caliber professional career before neck and shoulder injuries began taking their toll.
Over 10 NFL seasons — nine with the Colts and one with the Los Angeles Rams — Jones appeared in 102 games, making 96 starts, and passed for 17,663 yards and 122 touchdowns before retiring following the 1982 season.
Jones’ accomplishments have earned him induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the LSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
He also shares a unique place in LSU history with Casanova, his roommate and teammate from 1969-71. Casanova remains the only three-time first-team All-American in school history and had his No. 37 jersey retired in 2009. Both are members of the College Football Hall of Fame.
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