OMAHA, Nebraska — Calvin Jones, who rushed for more than 3,000 yards in three seasons at Nebraska and was with the Green Bay Packers when they won the Super Bowl after the 1996 season, has died. He was 54 years old.
Police said Jones’ body was found in the basement of a home in north Omaha on Wednesday night. Police have not confirmed the cause of death pending an autopsy.
A friend of Jones, Jo Dusatko, told the Omaha World-Herald that carbon monoxide poisoning was suspected. He said the home’s boiler was not working and that Jones was using a generator in the basement.
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. pic.twitter.com/fCsYkOvB4k
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) January 24, 2025
Jones was a high school All-American at Central High School before going to Nebraska, where he rushed for 3,166 yards and 40 touchdowns and was an All-Big Eight selection in 1992-93.
Jones and Derek Brown formed the tandem called the “We-Backs,” a nod to the Cornhuskers’ I-back position, with Jones serving as Brown’s backup in 1991. Jones’ breakthrough that season came when he rushed 27 times for a Big Eight. Freshman record 294 yards and school-record six touchdowns in a 59-23 win over Kansas. His rushing total against the Jayhawks ranks second on Nebraska’s single-game rushing chart.
Jones declared for the NFL draft in 1994 and was a third-round pick of the Raiders. He appeared in 15 games over two seasons with the Raiders and had a total of 27 carries for 112 yards and two receptions for 6 yards. He appeared in one game for the Packers in 1996 but had no carries.