By Mark Eckel | Engagement Insider
Nate Jones, as several former NFL players before him was in that “what now?’’ stage of his life after his playing career ended in 2011.
Jones, who has played eight years in the league for Dallas, Miami, Denver and New England, wanted to stay in the game he loved. He just wasn’t sure in what capacity.
“What am I going to do next?’’ Jones said. “And it wasn’t just of matter of what was next for me, but what was going to fulfill me.
“We all love the game, or we wouldn’t play it for as long as we do. It’s in our blood. A lot of guys were getting into coaching, scouting, TV or radio. I didn’t know what was next for me. I had some feelers, but I really wasn’t interested in coaching. Let’s just say it wasn’t on the top of my list.’’
Neither was becoming a football official, but after a year of doing some of the best high school games in the nation, working in his new hometown of Dallas, Jones will become a full-time official in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) next fall.
“I was still looking around at some things when I got a random phone call,’’ Jones said. “There was a program the NFL was behind to get more referees. Now, as a player it never crossed my mind that I would one day be a referee. I was the guy usually griping at the officials.
“But it sounded interesting so I put name in and a few months later I got a call that I was in.’’
Jones, along with several other hopefuls were sent to what was a basically a training camp for officials. Just as it was during his career in the league, some would make it and some would not.
“It was sink or swim,’’ Jones said.
He did his best Michael Phelps and last fall was handed a schedule of high school games in the city where Friday Night Lights is more than a movie or a television show.
“So far so good,’’ Jones said of his whistle blowing, flag throwing job. “I have to admit, I kind of like it.’’
Now, after just one year on the high school level the former NFL safety will be making the move to Division I college football, and since he is just turning 32 years old, who knows what after that.
He first had to make that tough adjustment from player to official.
“That was the hardest thing,’’ Jones said. “I had to stop thinking like a player and start thinking like an official. As a player, you’re always looking to take advantage of your opponent, get that edge. As an official, you live on that edge. You can’t sway either way.
“And as a player you want to make that big hit on defense. That was my thing; I was a hard hitter. Now, as an official I have to judge and decide if that big hit is legal.’’
It’s a transition that Jones will make and as in any new venture it will take some time. But he has that and he also has the edge in having played the game as the highest level.
“I think it is good to have former players officiating,’’ he said. “I think it was a good idea the NFL had to get behind this. It changes some things up, and sometimes that’s good. The NFL wants to make its brand look good, and I think this can help.’’
Jones will work college games full time for the first time this fall – he did do some small college games around his high school schedule last fall – and again at just 32, he could have a future.
Maybe someday he’ll be back in the NFL.
“That’s a long way to go,’’ he said. “But sure that’s the ultimate goal. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t.’’