Aaron Jones finds lost necklace with father's ashes after MNF win

On3 imageby:Jonathan Wagner09/21/21

Jonathan Wagner

Aaron Jones Packers
Larry Radloff | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones had a monster performance on Monday Night Football against the Detroit Lions. Jones had more than 100 total yards and four touchdowns on 23 touches as the Packers came away with the 35-17 victory over the Lions.

For his entire football career, Jones had always looked and found his father in the stands before games. In April, though, Jones’ father passed away due to COVID-19 complications. Jones then had a necklace made that had a pendant with some of his father’s ashes inside of it, per Packers.com reporter Wes Hodkiewicz. On Monday night, the pendant was detached and lost somewhere on the field during one of Jones’ touchdowns.

Fortunately for Jones, he confirmed on Tuesday that the pendant was located after the game.

Jones said after the game that his dad would have wanted him to lose the pendant in the endzone over anywhere else.

“If there was any place to lose it, that’s where my dad would’ve wanted me to lose it,” said Jones after his big performance. “So, I know he’s smiling.”

Packers bounced back from lackluster loss

In the NFL’s opening weekend, the Packers were completely dominated by the New Orleans Saints, losing 28-3. Monday night was a completely different story. Jones said after that his dad used to talk about responding when times are tough. He and the Packers did just that against Detroit.

“It’s super special,” Jones said. “My dad’s always taught me as a man is how you respond to adversity. Or how you respond is what makes a man, really. So, I think we came out, we did a good job of responding.”

Behind star wide receiver Davante Adams, Jones was Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ favorite target. After the game, Rodgers also raved about Jones.

“He’s been through a lot,” Rodgers said of Jones. “He’s a great human being. He adds a lot to our team as just a player. He’s an exceptional player. I was teasing him in training camp when he missed a few days in a row. It’s just different when you watch the film when 33’s back there.”

This season is the fifth year of Jones’ NFL career. He is coming off of consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Over the course of his career, Jones has rushed for 3,440 yards and 38 touchdowns. He also has 139 receptions for 1,118 yards and nine touchdowns.

Entering Week Three, Jones and the Packers sit beside the Chicago Bears atop the NFC North. The next two weeks will be tough tests for Green Bay, as they travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers next week before hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week Four.