Jamaican -born Sean Jones ventured into the unfamiliar territory of American Football and succeeded at the highest level.

He could tell you about the struggles that confronted him as he traversed the path to the National Football League (NFL). Equally, he has tales of the lavish life that comes with it.

Naturally, while imparting the knowledge gained from his experiences, those elements will arise in the conversation, but Jones is more passionate about sharing something else — the opportunity for a higher education.

Born in Milk River, Clarendon in humble beginnings, Jones migrated to the United States at a young age, and years later became the first Jamaican to ever win a Super Bowl.

He achieved the feat as a significant presence in the Green Bay Packers’ defensive end at Super Bowl XXXI in 1996, before retiring a year later.

“It was a lot of fun; it was like winning the Olympics for Usain Bolt. It is the best you can do at your sport. So to be able to do it in a sport that Jamaicans aren’t known for was even more special,” Jones told the Jamaica Observer with a broad grin on his face.

The feat of making a Super Bowl appearance has been followed by numerous other Jamaican-born players such as Patrick Chung, Rohan Davey, Ryan McBean and Orlando Franklin, among others.

Now, as an ambassador of the Jamaican-American Athletic Development Organisation, founded by Jamaican-born attorney Nicole Birch, Jones and Jamaican-born Florida-based coach Nigel Dunn Jnr have launched the Touchdown project provide opportunities for young and skilled Jamaicans in the sport.

“You retire from football, but you stay involved; you find other ways to use your accomplishments to affect other people and so this is one of those platforms. It is a way to give kids the educational opportunity and show them it is not that difficult because, like I said, as Jamaicans we have the skill sets that are necessary.

“Growing up in Milk River, we used to play soccer and cricket and didn’t have this opportunity where these kids are going to be exposed to an alternative. You never want fast kids to stop running track and really skilled soccer players to stop playing soccer, but everybody can’t be Usain Bolt and everybody can’t be the best bowler in cricket or striker in soccer,” Jones noted.

He continued: “So this gives them another opportunity in sport to show their talents because you may not be really fast enough to be on the Jamaican Olympic team, but that speed can still be fast enough to play professional football or college football and get an opportunity to get another level of education and come back to Jamaica.”

During his 13-year career, Jones has made the rounds and achieved a number of accolades including being a two-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro selectee.

The now 54-year-old spent his first four years with the Los Angeles Raiders, before being traded as the ninth overall pick to the Houston Oilers, where he spent six seasons.

He then joined the Packers as a free agent and won the Super Bowl in the final year of his three-year stint.

Jones noted that though the execution of American Football may seem different from other sports, the components of discipline, teamwork and striving for excellence remain the same.

“I told all the coaches this is an introduction. You have to put your stamp on how you want to coach… how you want your kids to emulate your style of coaching and all that. The rules are the rules, but the coaching is individual,” said Jones after engaging participating coaches at a clinic at Jamaica College on Wednesday.

“I think the coaches have embraced it and taken the initiative to go online and learn and take the test that is necessary and I think they are the real stars because this will be turned over to them to teach the kids,” Jones noted.

Approximately 16 schools participated in the project and Jones pointed out that they will be adding to that number as they progress. He pointed to the significance of having a successful programme to introduce other Jamaicans to the National Football League (NFL).

The project is in collaboration with the Minister of Sports Olivia Grange and Education Minister Ruel Reid.

— Sherdon Cowan