June Jones, innovator of the run and shoot offense, dies at 73
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- June Jones, known for developing the run and shoot offense, has died at age 73; he was a quarterback at Portland State and later played five seasons in the NFL mostly as a backup.
- After his playing career, Jones coached in various leagues, notably helping Warren Moon and the Houston Oilers demonstrate the run and shoot's potential at the NFL level.
- Jones served as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, leading them to the playoffs in 1995, and later revitalized the University of Hawaii football program, achieving significant success including a 12-0 season in 2007.
- He also coached at SMU, in the CFL, and the XFL, but never replicated his Hawaii success; his lasting legacy is pioneering a pass-first offensive approach now widely used in football.
- While the run and shoot offense term is less common today, many modern football offensive concepts trace directly back to Jones' innovations.
