Todd Jones was born July 3, 1967, in the city of Hope, Arkansas, located in the southwestern part of the state. By his teen years, he had moved to the state's capital of Little Rock.
Jones played high school football for the Little Rock Central Tigers, where he was a star his senior year. Beyond being named team captain and top offensive lineman at the school, he also earned all-conference, all-metro, all-state, and all-American honors en route to an 11–2 record that placed the Tigers in third place in the state of Arkansas.[3]
Jones did not attend the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, but was able to bench 225 pounds 44 times without stopping, which would have been the highest at the combine.[3]
Cleveland Browns (NFL)
On April 22, 1991, the Cleveland Browns selected Jones in the eleventh round of the 1991 NFL Draft after having been described by the team's personnel department as "exceptionally strong, quick, and aggressive."[3][5] However, the team cut him on August 8 of that year.[6]
Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
Following his performance in the WLAF, Jones signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys on June 10, 1992. Due to a left knee injury,[7] he was put on the physically unable to perform list on July 17, 1992, where he remained for the entire 1992 season as the team went on to win Super Bowl XXVII.[6]
Despite not having been available for the whole previous season, Jones was signed again by the Cowboys on May 27, 1993. He was waived by the team on August 30 of that year.[6]
New England Patriots (NFL)
On August 31, 1993, the day after being waived by the Cowboys, Jones was claimed by the New England Patriots. He played four games that season as a backup center before being released by the team on December 13, 1993.[6][8]
Denver Broncos (NFL)
The Denver Broncos signed Jones on August 9, 1994, but cut him only nine days later.[6]