By Will Zimmerman
(Source: New York Post)
Former Green Bay Packers Super Bowl champion and Nebraska Cornhuskers legend Calvin Jones died Wednesday.
He was 54.
The running back’s death is indicative of carbon monoxide poisoning, Omaha police told WOWT-TV.
Officers arrived at Jones’ home around 8:30 p.m., Wednesday after a neighbor reported odors of gas. Inside, they found a generator running and Jones unconscious in the basement.
While there were “signs of carbon monoxide poisoning,” the official cause of death has not yet been confirmed and is pending an autopsy report.
According to Husker Extra, Jones had been running a generator in his basement because the furnace in his house had stopped working.
An Omaha native, Jones grew to national acclaim playing for his hometown Cornhuskers from 1991-93. He led the Big 8 Conference in scoring during his freshmen season and was named an All-American during his sophomore campaign.
Jones served as one half of head coach Tom Osborne’s famous “we-back” system, teaming up with fellow I-back Derek Brown to create a rushing attack without equal in the college ranks.
In 1992, the duo averaged 329 yards per game — the most in the nation — and carried Nebraska to an Orange Bowl appearance.
By the time of his declaration for the NFL draft, Jones had amassed more than 3,000 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns.
Nebraska’s Calvin Jones carries the ball during an NCAA college football game against Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., on Nov. 9, 1991.AP
Jones’ professional career was short-lived, lasting just three seasons.
He played 16 total games between the Raiders and Packers — rushing for a total of 112 yards on 27 attempts — while winning a Super Bowl with Green Bay in 1997.
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Nebraska Football mourned their legend in a statement, saying, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Husker legend and Super Bowl Champion, Calvin Jones. Our hearts go out to the Jones family and he will be greatly missed.”
