Julius Jones (American football)
A shifty, explosive running back who set a Dallas Cowboys rookie record and provided a decade of electrifying highlights in the NFL.
Born 1981 (age 45)·American football player·Birthday: August 14·Millennials
Biography
Julius Jones arrived in the NFL with a burst of speed that immediately captured the imagination of Dallas Cowboys fans. Drafted in the second round out of Notre Dame, where he left as the school's second-all-time leading rusher, Jones announced himself by setting a Cowboys rookie record with 819 rushing yards in just seven starts. For a few seasons, he formed one of the league's most potent rushing duos with Marion Barber, his elusiveness a perfect counterpoint to Barber's power. While his production fluctuated over a career that included stops in Seattle and New Orleans, Jones's peak moments were pure electricity—long touchdown runs where he seemed to vanish into a seam and reappear yards downfield. He finished his career with over 5,000 rushing yards, leaving a legacy of breakaway potential.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Julius was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Julius Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Julius's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Set a Dallas Cowboys rookie record with 819 rushing yards in the 2004 season.
- Rushed for over 1,000 yards in the 2006 season, scoring four touchdowns.
- Finished his NFL career with 5,343 total rushing yards and 30 touchdowns.
- Rushed for 198 yards and three touchdowns in a single game against the Seattle Seahawks in 2004.
Did You Know?
His older brother, Thomas Jones, was also an NFL running back who played for 12 seasons.
He and his brother Thomas are one of only a few pairs of brothers to each rush for over 1,000 yards in an NFL season.
In high school, he was a standout track athlete, competing in the 100-meter dash and long jump.
“I just put my head down and ran hard every time they gave me the ball.”
