Mike Jones LLB - Rams Madden Career 1995-2002 - Peak 89 OVR
One yard short: the tackle that won a title
With six seconds left in Super Bowl XXXIV, Kevin Dyson caught a slant near the three and reached for the goal line, and Mike Jones wrapped him up and spun him down a yard short as the clock hit zero. The Rams won 23-16, and the play is remembered in St. Louis simply as The Tackle. Jones was an unlikely hero for it: undrafted out of Missouri in 1991, where he had been a pass-catching running back before the Raiders converted him to linebacker.
He spent his first six seasons in Oakland and Los Angeles before signing with the Rams in 1997 and landing in the middle of their championship run. Madden actually rated him highest early. He is an 89 in the 1996 edition during his Raiders prime, then drops to 84 by 2000 just after his signature moment, and falls to 72 in both the 2001 and 2002 games as his career wound down in Pittsburgh and back in Oakland.
Mike Jones Madden Career Milestones
- Peak rating: 89 OVR in Madden NFL 1997
- Appeared in 7 Madden releases (Madden NFL 1995 through Madden NFL 2002)
- Entered at 82 OVR in Madden NFL 1995, climbed 7 points to his peak
- Biggest single-year rise: 89 points into Madden NFL 1997
- Played for 3 franchises: Raiders, Rams, Steelers
- Listed as a linebacker in every Madden release
- Final Madden appearance: Madden NFL 2002 at 72 OVR
Mike Jones Madden Career Ratings
| Madden | Team | Pos | OVR | Speed | ACC | AGI | STR | JMP | STA | INJ | TGH | AWR | THP | TAS | TAM | TAD | CAR | BTK | CTH | RBK | PBK | TAK | PUR | KPW | KAC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1995 * 1994 NFL season
|
|
LB | 82* | 66 | - | 82 | - | - | - | - | - | 82 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 74 | - | - | - |
|
1996 * 1995 NFL season
|
|
RLB | - | 66 | - | 66 | - | - | - | - | - | 66 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 26 | - | - | 53 | 59 | - | - |
|
1997 1996 NFL season
|
|
RLB | 89 | 59 | 46 | 62 | - | 36 | 49 | - | - | 94 | - | - | - | - | 17 | 15 | 37 | - | - | 90 | - | - | - |
|
1998 * 1997 NFL season
|
|
LLB | - | 66 | - | 59 | - | - | - | - | - | 86 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 73 | - | - | 33 | - | - | - |
|
1999 1998 NFL season
|
|
LLB | - | 76 | 64 | 76 | 75 | - | - | 9 | - | 80 | - | - | - | - | 29 | 30 | 14 | - | - | 58 | - | - | - |
|
2000 1999 NFL season
|
|
LLB | - | 64 | 59 | 69 | 64 | - | - | 83 | - | 69 | - | - | - | - | 24 | 29 | 29 | - | - | 78 | - | - | - |
|
2002 2001 NFL season
|
|
LB | 72 | 70 | 69 | 70 | 67 | 58 | 84 | 78 | 82 | 79 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 28 | - | 43 | 21 | 25 | 80 | - | 22 | 28 |
Era Positions who played alongside Mike Jones
Mike Jones Madden Ratings by Year
Mike Jones Madden NFL 1995 rating: 82 OVR (1994 NFL season, OAK). Mike Jones Madden NFL 1996 rating: rated (1995 NFL season, OAK). Mike Jones Madden NFL 1997 rating: 89 OVR (1996 NFL season, OAK). Mike Jones Madden NFL 1998 rating: rated (1997 NFL season, STL). Mike Jones Madden NFL 1999 rating: rated (1998 NFL season, STL). Mike Jones Madden NFL 2000 rating: rated (1999 NFL season, STL). Mike Jones Madden NFL 2002 rating: 72 OVR (2001 NFL season, PIT).