Former New York Jets Running Back Thomas Jones Tackling Second Career as an Actor

For 12 years Thomas Jones lived the grind of an NFL running back. He watched the film, hit the gym,, and did what he had to do to take care of his body year in and year out while playing the game. He was never really looked upon as one of the league's best, but he was good. Good enough to be one of 29 players to rush for more than 10,000 yards during his career.

Four years after his final season in the NFL he is undergoing  a different kind of grind. Some would say the reward for a good day at the office is a lot better than scoring a touchdown too.

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After spending time with the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, and Kansas City Chiefs he is now spending his time on the set of the BET series Being Mary Jane. His character is Brandon Gibson, a friend with benefits to the lead in the show, actress Gabrielle Union.

His best years in the NFL came from 2005-09 where he ran for 1000+ yards in each season. He was only named to the Pro Bowl once though, in 2008 when he was with the Jets.

To him the job is similar to the one he had in the NFL:

“The funny thing is, it’s very similar to football,” Jones told David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune. “We are actors, in a way, as football players. A script is similar to a playbook. Words turn into a theme. On Sundays, most people are in church or enjoying time off. For us, 10 a.m., we have to be on set, in the locker room. By 11, we have to be angry. By game time, we have to be furious at people who really didn’t do anything to us. Same as acting. We have to make ourselves become this character.”

However, while he got to cozy up with other massive and incredibly athletic men on the football field in celebration or while getting tackled (if you can call that cozy-ing up) he gets to do so with one of the hottest actresses in Hollywood.

So while it may be similar Thomas, it is also so very different.

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