Editor’s Note: Stan Jones, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Defensive Line Coach of the Denver Broncos for 18 years, passed away last Friday. He was 78 years old. Strength and Conditioning Coach Rich Tuten wanted to share his thoughts on Jones.
Stan Jones is a big reason why I got into the field of strength and conditioning.
Stan signed me as a defensive lineman in 1979 with the Denver Broncos because I had made the first All-American Strength Team as a defensive lineman while playing at Clemson University. I was small for an NFL defensive lineman, but had developed most of my size and strength through the weight room.
He signed me as a free agent in 1979 and taught me some of the techniques and philosophies I still use in the strength and conditioning program for the Denver Broncos today.
As an example — he told me never to train the body to move slow! The body adapts to a training program very quickly, so if you want to move or run fast, then you must train that way.
I’m sure there are many players and people he touched throughout his life, and they are still using his teaching today. He loved to teach and coach, and he is a great loss to the NFL and to his family and friends.
Sincerely,
Rich Tuten, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Denver Broncos Football Club
Tags: Rich Tuten, Stan Jones
Stan Jones was a great player for Papa Bear Halas in Chicago and he was a great Coach for the Orange Crush Teams of the 70′s. Best Wishes to his family and friends.
Thanks for sharing Rich, Stan will definitely be missed.
death stinks….specially a member of the bronco fam.
Amen to that champ24thebeast… death does stink. This is sad, very sad to hear a football great like Stan is gone. It’s never easy but just look at it this way… at least he’s in a better place.
My prayers go out to his family & friends. God bless!
Rich , thanks for the insite on a great coach who was a part of the great dynasty of the mighty ORANGE CRUSH. And God bless Stans family and friends. My heart goe`s out to them. I was 13 years old in 1977 when the BRONCO`S went to there first Super Bowl. I lived in Orange County, California and loved my BRONCO`s.