J.J. Jones

J.J. Jones and Brady Cook occupy entirely different universes in Jets lore. Jones broke the color barrier as New York's first Black quarterback in 1975, throwing for 181 yards with a brutal 9.6 rating across limited action. Cook, the current starter, operates in a modern passing era with actual supporting cast and playbooks. Jones's historical significance towers over his on-field production; Cook's building something Jones never got the chance to develop.

No, J.J. Jones isn't in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His NFL resume—181 passing yards, 1 TD, 5 INTs—doesn't meet Canton's threshold, though his groundbreaking role as the Jets' first African-American quarterback carries immense cultural weight. His legacy transcends statistics; he opened a door that changed professional football forever, even if his playing time was fleeting.

I don't have current information about J.J. Jones's activities in 2026. The search results indicate he passed away in 2009 in a house fire, so he's not actively involved in business, broadcasting, or charity work. His legacy lives through the historical significance he established with the Jets organization.

Jones's 9.6 QB rating wouldn't improve much in today's NFL despite modern passing-friendly rules. His fundamental issues—accuracy, decision-making, arm talent—transcend era. Modern defenses would expose him faster than 1975 secondaries did. The rule changes help competent passers; they'd just accelerate Jones's struggles into catastrophic territory.

Comparing Jones to Joe Namath is like comparing a historic footnote to a legend. Namath's 40.81 rating dwarfs Jones's 9.6, and Broadway Joe actually won a Super Bowl and became a cultural icon. Both broke barriers for the Jets, but Namath did it while actually being good at football—Jones's contribution was purely revolutionary, not revolutionary-and-talented.