Former Jaguars star Maurice Jones-Drew coaches son and gets win in London over NFL Academy team
De La Salle High School coach and former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew, left, talks to his son Duece Jones-Drew, a running back ont he team after a football game between the NFL Academy team and De La Salle high school, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in London. Credit: AP/Kin Cheung
LONDON — Duece Jones-Drew hopes to follow in his dad's footsteps to reach the NFL someday.
On Tuesday, the 16-year-old son of former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew matched one of his dad's achievements by playing in London.
In fact, Duece's team got the win — going one better than Maurice when he played at Wembley Stadium in 2013 and 2014.
“Definitely going to have a little trash talk at the house about that,” the sophomore running back at powerhouse De La Salle high school in Concord, California, said after his team beat the NFL Academy 31-9.
The game was played under the lights at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“Twelve-hour flight that we had to get here, it all paid off in the end,” Duece said.
Maurice Jones-Drew played twice in London. In 2013, the Jags lost 42-10 to the San Francisco 49ers. That was the last of his eight seasons with Jacksonville. His final season was 2014 with the Oakland Raiders, who lost to the Miami Dolphins 38-14 in the English capital. Both games were played at Wembley.
De La Salle High School coach and former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew, left, talks with his son Duece Jones-Drew (24) during a football game between the NFL Academy team and De La Salle High School, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in London. Credit: AP/Kin Cheung
“It’s always special when you are able to share these experiences with your kids,” said Jones-Drew, an assistant coach for De La Salle. “He’s happy, he had a good time. Got some great carries, ran hard.”
He doesn't expect much trash talking: “My older one is very humble and modest.”
Jones-Drew retired after the 2014 season and began working as a commentator. He holds Jacksonville's franchise record for single-season rushing yards (1,606 in 2011).
Launched in 2019, the NFL Academy’s team features teenagers from all over Europe and some from Africa. Twenty alumni are currently playing at Division I schools. They include Tennessee defensive lineman Emmanuel Okoye and Oklahoma offensive tackle Daniel Akinkunmi.
De La Salle running back Duece Jones-Drew second right, stands for the national anthem before a football game between the NFL Academy team and De La Salle High School, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in London. Credit: AP/Kin Cheung
The academy has been adding U.S. opponents to its schedule to expose their players to higher-quality competition. Both teams are affiliated with Nike, which helped arrange the game.
“They're sound. They're physical. Some of the hits were big hits,” Jones-Drew said.
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