Page 58 - April 2017 Life In Naplles Magazine

Retired NFL player
helps reach teens

A t an early age, David Jones realized he had a special gift. By age nine,

football was already second nature to him. “It’s the only place I felt
free,” he said. Born and raised in East Orange, New Jersey, Jones took
his athletic talent to Delaware State University where he became their
all-time leading receiver; three-time All-Conference champion and
two-time All-American athlete. He graduated from college in 1991 with a degree
in Marketing and was soon drafted by the NFL. His professional career includes
playing for the San Diego Chargers, the Los Angeles Raiders, the Cleveland
Browns and a brief time in the European League.
A towering figure at 6'4", Jones has a commanding presence and authenticity
when he speaks. He recently partnered with Drug Free Collier and has shared his
message with almost 20,000 students in our community to-date. Jones leverages
his background as a professional athlete to empower local teens.
He founded Athletes Against Bullies, Inc. in 2014 in response to growing
concerns about the impact of bullying on individuals, schools, families and

58 Life in Naples | April 2017