Former Steelers Quarterback Landry Jones Is XFL’s First Player

The bulk of the 30-year-old's career was spent backing up Ben Roethlisberger

Former Steeler Quarterback Landry Jones Is XFL's First Player
Landry Jones playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017. (Joe Sargent/Getty)
Getty Images

Landry Jones is going where no man has gone since 2001.

On Thursday, it was announced that the ex-Pittsburgher Steelers quarterback will be the rebooted XFL’s first player.

Though he doesn’t yet have a team, Jones is one of eight quarterbacks who will be selected by the league before its inaugural draft in October. Once the QBs are picked, head coaches of the league’s eight teams will pick their signal-caller of choice prior to the draft.

“We’re excited to welcome Landry to the XFL as our first player and first quarterback,” XFL commissioner and CEO Oliver Luck said in a statement released by the XFL. “He’s an accomplished athlete with outstanding college credentials and pro experience, and his heart and desire to play football epitomizes the type of individual we want in the XFL.”

Luck also talked about the signing during an appearance with with Colin Cowherd.

During his six-year NFL career, Jones played in 18 games for Pittsburgh and started five of them, all in 2017. Though the bulk of the 30-year-old’s career was spent backing up Ben Roethlisberger, Jones also spent time with the Jaguars and Raiders, and worked out with the Lions.

“I’m looking forward to joining the XFL and playing the game I love,” Jones said. “I can’t wait to suit up.”

Though he was a career backup in the NFL, Jones had a standout collegiate career as a starter at Oklahoma, where he set Big 12 records in passing yards (16,646), completions (1,388) and touchdowns (123).

The XFL is set to return in 2020.

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