Former Nebraska Cornhuskers and Green Bay Packers Football Player Calvin Jones Dies at 54

2025-01-24 18:54:44.582

Former Green Bay Packers Super Bowl champion and Nebraska Cornhuskers legend Calvin Jones died Wednesday at the age of 54. Omaha police told WOWT-TV that the running back’s death is indicative of carbon monoxide poisoning. 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. Jones had been running a generator in his basement because the furnace in his house had stopped working. An Omaha native, Jones gained national acclaim playing for the Cornhuskers from 1991-93. He led the Big 8 Conference in scoring during his freshman season and was named an All-American during his sophomore year. He was part of head coach Tom Osborne’s “we-back” system, teaming with Derek Brown. In 1992, the duo averaged 329 rushing yards per game, leading Nebraska to an Orange Bowl appearance. Before entering the NFL draft, Jones had over 3,000 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns. His professional career was short, lasting three seasons with the Raiders and Packers, culminating in a Super Bowl win with Green Bay in 1997. Nebraska Football mourned Jones, stating, “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.”