Thomas Jones is a retired American professional football player, actor, producer, and entrepreneur who has a net worth of $8 million.

Thomas Jones played running back for 12 seasons in the NFL, representing the Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, and Kansas City Chiefs. He retired with 10,591 rushing yards, making him one of the relatively small number of players in league history to surpass 10,000 yards. His best years came with Chicago and New York. Jones helped the Bears reach Super Bowl XLI, earned Pro Bowl honors with the Jets in 2008, and led the AFC in rushing touchdowns that season. He generated approximately $32.8 million in NFL salary over his career. After football, Jones built a second career under the professional name Thomas Q. Jones, appearing in "Straight Outta Compton," "Being Mary Jane," "Luke Cage," "P-Valley," and other film and television projects. He has also worked as a producer and technology entrepreneur.

Thomas Quinn Jones was born on August 19, 1978, in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. He was one of seven children. His mother, Betty, worked overnight shifts in a coal mine for nearly two decades, while his father, Thomas Sr., emphasized reading, vocabulary, discipline, and education. His younger brother Julius Jones also became an NFL running back.

At Powell Valley High School, Jones became one of the most productive high school runners in Virginia history. He helped lead the team to consecutive state championships and rushed for more than 3,300 yards in a single season. His combination of speed, balance, strength, and durability made him a major college recruit.

Jones attended the University of Virginia, where he played for head coach George Welsh from 1996 through 1999. He finished his college career with nearly 4,000 rushing yards under the statistical rules used at the time and broke numerous school and Atlantic Coast Conference records. As a senior, he earned consensus All-American honors and finished among the national leaders in rushing and all-purpose yardage.

He also completed a bachelor's degree in psychology in three years. Virginia later retired his No. 6 jersey, recognizing him as one of the most accomplished players in the program's history.

The Arizona Cardinals selected Jones with the seventh overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. His first three seasons were interrupted by injuries and inconsistent usage, and Arizona traded him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003. In Tampa Bay, he averaged 4.6 yards per carry and positioned himself for a larger opportunity in free agency.

Jones signed with the Chicago Bears in 2004 and became the team's primary running back. He rushed for 1,335 yards in 2005 and 1,210 yards in 2006. During Chicago's run to Super Bowl XLI, he delivered major playoff performances, including 123 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game. He then rushed for 112 yards in the Super Bowl, though the Bears lost to the Indianapolis Colts.

Chicago traded Jones to the New York Jets in 2007. He produced three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons for the team and reached his career peak in 2008, rushing for 1,312 yards and an AFC-leading 13 rushing touchdowns. He added two receiving touchdowns and was selected to the Pro Bowl. In 2009, Jones set career highs with 1,402 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns while helping the Jets reach the AFC Championship Game.

The Jets released him before the 2010 season rather than pay a scheduled roster bonus. Jones joined the Kansas City Chiefs, where he shared carries with Jamaal Charles. During the 2010 season, he became the 25th player in NFL history to reach 10,000 rushing yards. He played his final season in 2011.

Jones finished his NFL career with 10,591 rushing yards, 68 rushing touchdowns, 308 receptions, 2,023 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns.

• Arizona Cardinals: After being selected seventh overall in 2000, Jones signed a four-year rookie contract reportedly worth $7.38 million. He played three seasons for Arizona before being traded to Tampa Bay.
• Chicago Bears: Jones signed a four-year, $9.25 million contract with Chicago in 2004. The deal gave him his first extended opportunity as a featured NFL running back.
• New York Jets: After acquiring Jones in a trade in 2007, the Jets signed him to a four-year, $25 million extension. He did not collect the full headline value because the team released him before the final season and a scheduled $3.3 million roster bonus.
• Kansas City Chiefs: Jones signed a two-year, $5 million contract in 2010 and completed both seasons.

Across 12 NFL seasons, Thomas Jones earned approximately $32.8 million in salary and bonuses. That total is gross income before federal and state taxes, agent fees, training costs, living expenses, and other deductions.

Jones began acting professionally under the name Thomas Q. Jones because another performer had already registered the name Thomas Jones with SAG-AFTRA. He appeared in the 2015 film "Straight Outta Compton" and had recurring television roles in "Being Mary Jane," "Luke Cage," and "P-Valley." His other credits include "Shameless," "Runaway Island," "A Violent Man," and "Johnson."

Through Independently Major Entertainment, Jones has developed and produced film projects, including "A Violent Man," in which he also starred. He also founded Castar Applications, a technology company created to help entertainment professionals find work and connect with one another.

Jones has spoken candidly about the long-term physical consequences of professional football. He pledged to donate his brain for research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy and has said that concerns about repeated head trauma changed how he views the sport. His transition into acting and producing gave him a new competitive outlet after retirement and helped him build a career independent of his football identity.