Bert Jones starred at quarterback at LSU in the early 1970s under head coach Charles McClendon where he, as part of a two-quarterback system in 1970 and 1971, helped the Tigers to 27-8-1 overall mark in his three years at the school. The Tigers also posted a 12-3-1 Southeastern Conference record under Jones’ direction, which included claiming the 1970 league title with a 5-0 record.
Jones became LSU’s first consensus All-America quarterback in 1972 when he threw for a school-record 1,446 yards and 14 touchdowns in leading the Tigers to a 9-2-1 mark and a berth in the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl. Jones was named the National Player of the Year in 1972 by the Sporting News and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting following the season.
Jones led the SEC in passing as both a junior and senior and he capped his career with the Tigers as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards (3,255), attempts (418), completions (220) and touchdowns (28).
In 1971, Jones threw three TD passes and ran for another score as the Tigers knocked off once-beaten and seventh-ranked Notre Dame, 28-8, in Tiger Stadium in national telecast on ABC in late November.
A year later, Jones led the Tigers to a last-second game-winning touchdown when he found Brad Davis in the corner of the endzone for the winner over Ole Miss, a victory that kept LSU’s undefeated record intact at 7-0.
Following his LSU career, Jones was picked No. 2 overall in the 1973 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts where he spent nine years. Jones earned NFL MVP honors and a spot in the Pro Bowl in 1976 after throwing for 3,104 yards and 24 touchdowns in leading the Colts to an 11-3 mark and a playoff berth.
Jones finished his 10-year NFL career starting 96 regular season games and throwing for 18,190 yards and 124 touchdowns.
After his NFL career, Jones served as an outdoors show host on ESPN for 10 years. He’s also a former chairman of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission and is active in fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with his annual golf tournament as well as the Boys Scouts of America.
Jones graduated from LSU in 1983 with a degree in Business Administration.