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{{Short description|American football player and sprinter (1958–2019)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Johnny "Lam" Jones
| image       = Lam Jones (6147901416) (cropped).jpg
| caption     = Jones in 2011
| number      = 80
| position    = [[Wide receiver]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date |1958|04|04}}
| birth_place = [[Lawton, Oklahoma]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{Death date and age |2019|03|15|1958|04|04}}
| death_place = [[Round Rock, Texas]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 5
| height_in   = 11
| weight_lb   = 190
| draftyear   = 1980
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 2
| high_school = [[Lampasas High School|Lampasas]] ([[Lampasas,&nbsp;Texas]])
| college     = [[Texas Longhorns football|Texas]]
| pastteams   = * [[New York Jets]] ({{NFL Year|1980|1986}})
* [[San Francisco 49ers]] ({{NFL Year|1987}})*
* [[Dallas Cowboys]] (1987)
| highlights  = * 2 × [[Southwest Conference|All-SWC]] (1978, 1979)
* [[Sporting News|TSN]] [[All-American]] ([[1979 College Football All-America Team|1979]])
* [[1978 Sun Bowl]] MVP and champion
| statlabel1  = [[Reception (American football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue1  = 138
| statlabel2  = Receiving yards
| statvalue2  = 2,322
| statlabel3  = [[Touchdown]]s
| statvalue3  = 13
| pfr         = JoneLa00
}}
{{MedalTableTop}}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry |the<br>{{USA}} }}
{{MedalOlympics}}
{{MedalGold | [[1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Montreal]] | [[Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|4 × 100 metres relay]]}}
{{MedalBottom}}
'''John Wesley "Lam" Jones''' (April 4, 1958 – March 15, 2019) was an American athlete who won a [[gold medal]] in the [[4 × 100 meter relay]] at the [[1976 Summer Olympics]] in [[Montreal]] and played professional [[American football|football]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) as a [[wide receiver]] for the [[New York Jets]] and [[Dallas Cowboys]]. Prior to that, he played [[college football]] and ran track at the [[University of Texas]].<ref>[https://www.hookem.com/2019/03/15/former-texas-star-olympian-johnny-lam-jones-passes-away-cancer-battle/ Former Texas star, Olympian Johnny ‘Lam’ Jones passes away after cancer battle]</ref>

==Early life==
Jones attended [[Lampasas High School]]. In football, he became a regular starter at [[running back]] in a [[wishbone offense]] as a junior. He posted 9 carries for 197 yards (21.9-yard avg.) and 4 touchdowns against Fredericksburg High School. He had 12 carries for 154 yards (12.8-yard avg.) and 4 touchdowns against [[Llano High School]]. He finished the season with 1,330 rushing yards, an 11.6-yard average, 159 scored points and was named second-team Class AAA All-state.

As a senior, he tallied 257 yards and 4 touchdowns against [[Gainesville High School (Texas)|Gainesville High School]] and was named All-state. He scored 45 touchdowns in 2 seasons.<ref name="gosanangelo.com">{{cite web| url=http://archive.gosanangelo.com/news/from-the-archives-johnny-jones-story-is-pure-magic-ep-439851387-356811401.html | title=Johnny Jones' story is pure magic | access-date=April 21, 2018}}</ref>

In track as a junior, he was the state champion in the [[440-yard dash]] with a time of 47.6 seconds.

He is considered legendary in Texas high school sports history for his performance in the mile relay at the 1976 U.I.L. State Track and Field Meet. Running anchor for Class 3A [[Lampasas High School]], Jones took the baton in last place, reportedly 40 to 60 yards behind the leaders, and passed the entire field for victory. The run has taken on near-mythical status among those who saw it — or claim to have seen it.<ref name="gosanangelo.com"/> In 2015, CBS affiliate [[KEYE-TV|KEYE]] broadcast a segment on the existence of a film of the legendary event including Jones' reaction when he learned of it.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5p0XCce7bs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/Z5p0XCce7bs |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live| title=Video: Lam's Legendary Lap, at the 1976 state track |website=[[YouTube]] |date=May 11, 2014 | access-date=April 21, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==1976 Olympics==
Before enrolling at the [[University of Texas]], at the age of 18, Jones [[1976 United States Olympic trials (track and field)|qualified]] for the [[4 × 100 metres relay]], becoming the youngest athlete from Texas to earn a berth on the U.S. Olympic track and field team. At the [[1976 Summer Olympics]] in Montreal, he won a gold medal running the second leg of the [[Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay|{{nowrap|4 × 100 m}}]] team that set a world record with a time of 38.33 seconds. Jones also replaced an injured [[Houston McTear]] in the [[Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres|100 meters]], finished sixth, and returned home as a national celebrity.<ref name="gosanangelo.com"/>

==College career==
Jones accepted a football scholarship from the [[Texas Longhorns football|University of Texas]] to play under head coach [[Darrell Royal]]. In&nbsp;order to differentiate between two players named Johnny Jones on the team, Royal gave them nicknames based on their hometowns — Johnny “Lam” Jones from [[Lampasas, Texas|''Lam''pasas, Texas]], and Johnny “Ham” Jones from [[Hamlin, Texas|''Ham''lin, Texas]].

As a freshman [[running back]], Jones posted 118 carries for 624 yards (second on the team to [[Earl Campbell]]) with a 5.3-yard average and five touchdowns, and three receptions for 79 yards (third on the team). As a sophomore, new head coach [[Fred Akers]] changed the offense and Jones was moved to [[wide receiver]]. He led the team with 21 receptions for 543 yards (25.9-yard average) with seven touchdowns, and nine carries for 30 yards (3.3-yard average).

As a junior, Jones led the team with 25 receptions for 446 yards (17.8-yard average) with five touchdowns, and 15 carries for 128 yards (8.5-yard average) with one rushing touchdown. As a senior, he led the team with 36 receptions for 535 yards (14.9-yard average) with two touchdowns, and 14 carries for 68 yards (4.9-yard average).

Jones played [[wide receiver]] in run oriented offenses, usually being double-teamed and some times triple-teamed by opposing defenses. In his football career, he averaged 28 receptions per season and 18.9-yards per catch with 14 touchdowns.<ref name="gosanangelo.com"/> He ranks 10th on the school's all-time all-purpose yardage list (3,042). He also is one of only three players in Longhorn history to rush for 100 yards in a game and also have a 100-yard receiving game.<ref>{{cite web|last=Little|first=Bill|title=Johnny Jones and Roy Williams -- 'Receiving' life's lessons|url=http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041904aaa.html|work=www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com|access-date=February 1, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228075153/http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041904aaa.html|archive-date=February 28, 2013}}</ref>

===College statistics===
{| class="wikitable
|-
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the SWC
|-
| style="background:#E0CEF2; width:3em"|
| SWC record
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Led the NCAA
|-
| style="background:#ff0; width:3em;"|
| NCAA record
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+College receiving and rushing statistics* <ref name="Lam Jones college statistics">{{cite web|title=Lam Jones college statistics|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/lam-jones-1.html|website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com|access-date=July 14, 2019}}</ref>
|-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Texas Longhorns|Season | School | Games | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg| TD}}
|-
! colspan="2"| Team
! colspan="5"| Receiving
! colspan="5"| Rushing
|-
! [[1976 NCAA Division I football season|1976]] !! [[1976 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]]
| 10 || 3 || 79 || '''26.3''' || 0 || '''118''' || '''624''' || 5.3 || '''5'''
|-
! [[1977 NCAA Division I football season|1977]] !! [[1977 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]]
| '''11''' || 21 || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''543''' || style="background:#cfecec;"| 25.9 || '''7''' || 9 || 30 || 3.3 || 0
|-
! [[1978 NCAA Division I-A football season|1978]] !! [[1978 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]]
| '''11''' || 25 || 446 || 17.8 || 5 || 15 || 128 || '''8.5''' || 1
|-
! [[1979 NCAA Division I-A football season|1979]] !! [[1979 Texas Longhorns football team|Texas]]
| '''11''' || '''36''' || 535 || 14.9 || 2 || 14 || 68 || 4.9 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 43 !! 85 !! 1,603 !! 18.9 !! 14 !! 156 !! 850 !! 5.4 !! 6
|}<nowiki>*</nowiki> Includes bowl games.

===Track===
In his freshman track season, Jones won the [[100 metres]] in 9.85 seconds, which would have been a world record if it hadn't been hand-timed. When converted into automatic timing (10.14 seconds) it ranked as the fastest [[100 metres]] in school history. His times of 9.21 seconds for the [[100-yard dash]] and 20.14 seconds for [[220-yard dash]] set records for [[Memorial Stadium (Arlington, Texas)|Memorial Stadium]]. He also won four events (100, 220, 440 relay and mile relay) at the Southwest Conference meet. At the NCAA championships, Jones completed a grueling 16-month season by finishing second in the [[100 metres]] with 10.27 seconds and seventh in the [[200 metres]] in 20.85 seconds, with track observers noting he looked worn out.

As a sophomore in track, football injuries began to impact his performances. He ran a hand-timed 10.1 seconds in the [[100 metres]]. He won his first-round heat at the NCAA championships in 10.14 seconds, but he failed to qualify for the NCAA final.

In 1994, he was inducted into the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://texassports.com/hof.aspx?hof=668 | title=Texas Athletics Hall of Honor | access-date=April 21, 2018}}</ref> He is considered to be one of the greatest athletes in school history.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.hookem.com/2016/04/26/longhorns-drafted-in-the-nfl-new-york-jets/ | title=Longhorns drafted in the NFL: New York Jets | date=April 26, 2016 | access-date=April 21, 2018}}</ref>

==Professional career==
===New York Jets===
In the [[1980 NFL draft]], the [[New York Jets]] were targeting [[offensive tackle]] [[Anthony Muñoz]] with the second overall pick they obtained from the [[San Francisco 49ers]], but settled for Jones after their team physician recommended not to take Munoz, who failed a physical exam because he had undergone reconstructive knee surgery.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-29-sp-257-story.html | title=Jets Headed in Direction of No. 1 Draft Pick | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=October 29, 1989 | access-date=April 21, 2018}}</ref> The selection was acquired by trading two 1980 first round draft picks (#13-[[Earl Cooper (American football)|Earl Cooper]] and #20-[[Jim Stuckey]]). Jones was ranked as the best [[wide receiver]] in the draft.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.si.com/vault/1980/04/28/824610/man-here-feeling-the-draft-sifting-stats--and-tea-leaves--intrepid-dr-z-predicts-where-the-blue-chips-will-fall-in-the-nfls-name-game-next-week | title=Man Here Feeling The Draft | access-date=April 21, 2018}}</ref>

The $2.1 million contract he received ({{Inflation|US|2100000|1980|fmt=eq|r=-5}}) was the first in the NFL worth over a million dollars. There were reports in the media that the actual contract numbers may have been lower, which included a $250,000 signing bonus, plus a $200,000 loan, and a $300,000 deferred bonus, for a total package of $1.4 million.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.si.com/vault/1980/06/23/824749/the-canadian-connection-top-nfl-draft-picks-are-getting-rich-quick-thanks-in-part-to-bruce-clark-77-who-chose-toronto-over-green-bay | title=The Canadian Connection | access-date=April 21, 2018}}</ref>

As a rookie, he started 13 games, making 25 receptions for 482 yards (19.3-yard avg.) and 3 [[touchdown]]s. Since Jones was a world-class sprinter with elite speed, he could beat any coverage, but had trouble catching the football. He was viewed more as an athlete than a football player.<ref name="nydailynews">{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/crossing-finish-line-jets-bust-drug-addict-sex-offender-johnny-lam-jones-turned-life-article-1.606894|title=CROSSING THE FINISH LINE. From Jets bust to drug addict to sex offender, Johnny (Lam) Jones has turned his life around|website=[[New York Daily News]] |access-date=July 3, 2017}}</ref>

In [[1981 NFL season|1981]], he was a backup behind [[Derrick Gaffney]], starting only 3 out of 15 games, while collecting 20 receptions for 342 yards (17.1-yard avg.) and 3 [[touchdown]]s.

In [[1982 NFL season|1982]], the season was reduced from a 16-game schedule to 9 contests because of the players' strike. He started 7 out of 8 games, finishing with 18 receptions for 294 yards (16.3-yard avg.) and 2 [[touchdown]]s.

In [[1983 NFL season|1983]], he had his best season with 7 starts out of 14 games, along with 43 receptions for 734 yards (17.1-yard avg.) and 4 [[touchdown]]s. He caught 31 of his career-high 43 passes in the final 8 contests.

In [[1984 NFL season|1984]], he was placed on the [[injured reserve list]] on August 28, spending 11 weeks there with a broken collarbone he suffered in the first preseason game against the [[Cincinnati Bengals]]. He was activated on October 26, starting 8 out of 8 games, but was platooned with Gaffney communicating plays from the sideline to [[quarterback]] [[Ken O'Brien]]. He made 32 receptions for 470 yards (14.7-yard avg.) and one [[touchdown]].

In [[1985 NFL season|1985]], he re-injured his right index finger during a practice and was lost for the year after being placed on the [[injured reserve list]] on August 15.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-08-25-sp-25001-story.html | title=There May Be No Room for Walker on Jets' Talented Receiving Corps | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=August 25, 1985 | access-date=April 21, 2018}}</ref> In [[1986 NFL season|1986]], he sat out the season with a hamstring injury after being placed on the [[injured reserve list]] on August 19.

On July 23, [[1987 NFL season|1987]], he was traded to the [[San Francisco 49ers]] in exchange for a 1988 fifth round draft pick (#131-Dennis Price).<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/24/sports/lam-jones-sent-to-49ers.html | title=Lam Jones Sent to 49ers | work=The New York Times | date=July 24, 1987 | access-date=April 21, 2018}}</ref> He left after playing in 61 games (37 starts), recording 138 receptions for 2,322 yards and 13 touchdowns. During his career, he was considered a first round disappointment, criticized for his inconsistency and inability to make catches across the middle of the field.<ref name="ganggreennation.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.ganggreennation.com/2011/4/13/2107414/top-ten-new-york-jets-draft-busts-3-johnny-lam-jones|title=Top Ten New York Jets Draft Busts #3: Johnny "Lam" Jones|date=April 13, 2011 |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>

===San Francisco 49ers===
In [[1987 NFL season|1987]], the [[San Francisco 49ers]] acquired Jones to try him at both split end and flanker, looking to replace [[Dwight Clark]] and find a receiver to play alongside [[Jerry Rice]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Brian|last=Hewitt|date=June 2, 1988|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-02-sp-5611-story.html | title=Chargers Trade Chandler to 49ers for Lineman Quillan | access-date=April 21, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012062358/http://articles.latimes.com/1988-06-02/sports/sp-5611_1_fred-quillan|archive-date=October 12, 2015}}</ref> He was released on August 18.

===Dallas Cowboys===
On August 25, [[1987 NFL season|1987]], he was signed as a [[free agent]] by the [[Dallas Cowboys]], who were experiencing multiple injuries in the receiving corps.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-26-sp-2593-story.html | title=Haji-Sheikh Given Boot by Falcons | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=August 26, 1987 | access-date=April 21, 2018}}</ref>

After the players went on strike in the third week of the [[1987 NFL season|1987 season]], those contests were canceled (reducing the 16-game season to 15) and the [[NFL]] decided that the games going forward would be played using replacement players. He crossed the picket line off the injured reserve to be a part of the Dallas replacement team that was given the mock name "Rhinestone Cowboys" by the media.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/11461875/ | title=Cowboy picketers petering out | date=September 26, 1987 | access-date=January 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-10-03-sp-2840-story.html | title=NFL PLAYERS STRIKE: DAY 11 : Defectors Should Play Major Roles : Rams, Jets, Cowboys, Cardinals Rate an Edge This Week | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=October 3, 1987 | access-date=February 19, 2018}}</ref> On October 21, he was released after the strike ended. He didn't appear in any game or record any stat during his time with the team.

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

=== Regular season ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[1980 NFL season|1980]] !! [[1980 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| '''16''' || '''13''' || 25 || 482 || '''19.3''' || '''55''' || 3
|-
! [[1981 NFL season|1981]] !! [[1981 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 15 || 3 || 20 || 342 || 17.1 || 47 || 3
|-
! [[1982 NFL season|1982]] !! [[1982 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 8 || 6 || 18 || 294 || 16.3 || 51 || 2
|-
! [[1983 NFL season|1983]] !! [[1983 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 14 || 6 || '''43''' || '''734''' || 17.1 || 50 || '''4'''
|-
! [[1984 NFL season|1984]] !! [[1984 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 8 || 8 || 32 || 470 || 14.7 || 37 || 1
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 61 !! 36 !! 138 !! 2,322 !! 16.8 !! 55 !! 13
|}

=== Playoffs ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[1982 NFL season|1982]] !! [[1982 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 3 || 2 || 7 || 109 || 15.6 || 38 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 3 !! 2 !! 7 !! 109 !! 15.6 !! 38 !! 0
|}

==Personal life==
After his football career, Jones battled drug and alcohol addiction. Jones never had a drink of alcohol until his time in college. A hazing incident as an NFL rookie was an omen of things to come when veterans took him out drinking. The group started downing shots. Unbeknownst to Jones, the vets were drinking soft drinks while pouring him liquor.<ref name="nydailynews"/> His troubles with drugs continued after his NFL career until a sexual molestation incident caused him to go to rehab.<ref name="nydailynews"/> He recovered and went on to speak about addiction to high school athletes to help them avoid the same problems.<ref name="nydailynews"/>

The once shy Jones became a motivational speaker for high school athletes, sharing his story of hardship as part of his message. He donated part of his speaking fees to the Texas Special Olympics, to which he also donated his Olympic medal in the late 1970s.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/lam-jones-cancer-fight-article-1.565211 | title=Lam Jones in Cancer Fight | website=[[New York Daily News]] | access-date=February 19, 2018}}</ref>

In 2005, Jones was diagnosed with [[myeloma]], a cancer that affects [[bone marrow]] throughout the body. He died of myeloma March 15, 2019.

==Legacy==
In 2008, he was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lam Jones immortalized|publisher=Lampasas Dispatch Record|date=May 6, 2008}}</ref> In 2013, he was inducted into the Texas Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ttfca2.wixsite.com/txtfhalloffame/inductees|title=txtfhalloffame|access-date=July 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116170038/http://ttfca2.wixsite.com/txtfhalloffame/inductees|archive-date=January 16, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of Texas Longhorns football All-Americans]]
*[[List of New York Jets first-round draft picks]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070208142603/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JONESJOH01 Johnny "Lam" Jones NFL stats at databasefootball.com]}}
*{{Find a Grave|197550551}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions 4x100 m Men|1976}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1976 Summer Olympics}}
{{1980 NFL Draft}}
{{Second overall NFL draft picks}}
{{Jets1980DraftPicks}}
{{JetsFirstPick}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Lam}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Lawton, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Oklahoma]]
[[Category:People from Lampasas, Texas]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Texas]]
[[Category:American male sprinters]]
[[Category:American football wide receivers]]
[[Category:Texas Longhorns football players]]
[[Category:Texas Longhorns men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Texas]]
[[Category:New York Jets players]]
[[Category:Dallas Cowboys players]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1976 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1976 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Deaths from multiple myeloma in the United States]]
[[Category:Second overall NFL draft picks]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]