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New England Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones talked about his new three-year contract extension on Tuesday while dressed as Sonic the Hedgehog. After the Patriots announced the deal, Jones talked to reporters while attending a Halloween party for children affected by cancer and sponsored by the NFL team. A former Enterprise High School and Troy standout, Jones is in the final season of his four-year, $5.177 million rookie contract, signed after New England chose him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. While the Patriots did not announce the value of Jones’ extension, NFL Network and ESPN reported the cornerback signed to stay with New England through the 2028 season for $36 million rather than test free agency in March.. “I got drafted here,” Jones said. “They extended their arms and welcomed me here. And knowing that I’m having three more years after that is a pleasure, so I’m happy and looking forward to it.” In the 2025 season, Jones has played 362 defensive snaps in eight games, with five starts, primarily as the Patriots’ slot corner. Jones has two interceptions and nine passes defended to go with 36 tackles, his first NFL sack and six tackles for loss. Jones also leads the NFL with an average of 21.6 yards per punt return. He won the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week Award for Week 4 of the 2025 season after returning three punts for 167 yards and one touchdown in a 42-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 28. Jones scored on an 87-yard punt return. After the Patriots posted a 16-35 record in Jones’ first three seasons, New England has a 6-2 mark in 2025 in its first season under coach Mike Vrabel. “I respect the standard that he has for us every single time we walk up in the building,” Jones said, “and taking advantage of every opportunity that we get. And then also the culture. The guys are closer, and whenever you get to know your teammates more when it comes to that, you want to play harder for them on the field on Sundays.” New England plays the Atlanta Falcons at noon CST Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE At Enterprise, Jones earned ASWA first-team All-State honors in 2016, when he intercepted five passes, returned three punts, one kickoff and one fumble recovery for touchdowns and also caught a TD pass. Jones played two seasons at Troy. He was the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year in 2017, when he returned three kickoffs for touchdowns. In the second of his two seasons at Houston, Jones earned consensus All-American recognition at all-purpose/return specialist and was selected a first-team All-American at cornerback by The Associated Press. With New England in 2022, Jones made first-team All-Pro and the All-Rookie team as a punt returner. He led the NFL with 362 punt-return yards and an average of 12.5 yards per return. Jones also had one of the NFL’s three punt-return touchdowns during the 2022 season. On defense as a rookie, Jones played 370 snaps in the New England secondary and intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown. Jones also scored for the Patriots offense in 2022. Lining up for 18 snaps at wide receiver, he caught four passes for 78 yards and one touchdown. Jones became the fifth player in NFL history (and the first since 1947) with an interception touchdown, receiving touchdown and punt-return touchdown in the same season and joined Deion Sanders as the only players in NFL history with a receiving touchdown, punt-return touchdown and interception-return touchdown that all covered 40 or more yards in their careers. Jones’ second NFL season ended in its second game when he sustained a torn labrum. Jones returned in 2024 to play 586 snaps in the New England Patriots and average 14.8 yards on 26 punt returns.
