Today, Eskimos Executive Director of Player Personnel Paul Jones was inducted into the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Hall of Fame.
“I am very honoured and humbled to have been a part of such an outstanding organization. I am thankful that the Bombers gave me the opportunity and welcomed me with my first job in professional football. The staff and players that I worked with as a part of my career in Winnipeg, I will forever cherish and be grateful for,” said Jones at the time of the induction announcement in September.
Now in his 17th season with the Green and Gold, Jones began his esteemed career with Winnipeg in 1988 where he was the Bombers’ Director of Player Personnel before being named Assistant General Manager. Jones spent nine years in Winnipeg before joining the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings scouting department and then as the Assistant GM and Director of Player Personnel for the Toronto Argonauts for a year before heading to Edmonton.
The native of Elaine, Arkansas, has earned a reputation as one of pro football’s best talent scouts with a keen eye for players who are uniquely suited to the CFL. Jones is responsible for recruiting Esks’ All-Stars past and present, including Eskimos General Manager and Vice President of Football Operations Ed Herveyand former All-Stars Shannon Garrett, Jason Tucker and Winnipeg’s Milt Stegall – to name just a few!
During his long career, Jones has been to seven Grey Cup appearances, winning four, two with the Edmonton (2003, 2005), 30 playoff games and eight division championship wins.
In 2010, he was inducted into the Ourlad’s Scouts Hall of Fame.