CHRIS JONES NAMED HEAD COACH & GM OF EDMONTON ELKS
Chris Jones is back in Edmonton.
The four-time Grey Cup champion is the new general manager and head coach of the Edmonton Elks, the club announced Tuesday.
Jones begins his second stint in Edmonton after previously serving as head coach during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, including the Double E’s run to a Grey Cup title in 2015.
Following the Green and Gold’s most recent CFL championship, Jones departed for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, earning a promotion to the roles of vice president of football operations, general manager, and head coach. While in Saskatchewan (2016-18), Jones guided the Riders to improved records each season, culminating with a 12-6 campaign in 2018 that landed him the CFL Coach of the Year award.
The South Pittsburg, Tenn. native returns to Edmonton after most recently serving as defensive consultant with the Toronto Argonauts this season.
A veteran of 18 CFL seasons, Jones has a 53-37 regular season head coaching record, with double-digit win totals in four of his five seasons. His best season came during 2015, guiding Edmonton to a 14-4 regular season mark before playoff wins over the Calgary Stampeders (Western Final | 45-31) and Ottawa Redblacks (103rd Grey Cup | 26-20).
Jones becomes the first head coach in Elks franchise history to return for a second tenure. His .722 winning percentage with the Elks makes him one of only four head coaches in franchise history with regular season winning percentages above .700, along with Hugh Campbell (.755 | 1977-82), Pop Ivy (.781 | 1954-57), and Darrell Royal (.750 | 1953).
CHRIS JONES’ RESUME
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2021: Toronto Argonauts (CFL) | Defensive consultant
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2021: South Pittsburg High School | Head coach
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2019-20: Cleveland Browns (NFL) | Senior defensive assistant
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2016-18: Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) | Vice president of football operations, general manager, head coach, defensive coordinator
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2014-15: Edmonton Elks (CFL) | Head coach, defensive coordinator
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2012-13: Toronto Argonauts (CFL) | Def. coord. / asst. head coach / asst. general manager
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2008-11: Calgary Stampeders (CFL) | Def. coord. / asst. head coach / asst. director of player personnel
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2002-07: Montreal Alouettes (CFL) | Def. coord. / defensive line coach
(GoElks.com)
At least he’s not coming here!
SkRrs football, you only wish.
Congratulations and welcome back Mr. Chris Jones.
Highly expect a majority of the old staff to re-join this award winning head coach gm in Edmonton with the Elks. The Elks will be good to go in their first year under his guidance. (Sideline note) Mr. Jones has as many Grey Cup rings (4) as the 100 year plus Saskatchewan Roughriders do in their long drawn out history. Chris Jones will definitely bring back the City of Edmonton moniker – City of Champions within his first year there.
hey Jack , werent you one of the ones who abused Jones when he flew the coop in Edmonton for the Riders….ya thought so. I bet you didnt think I would remember that hey?? Now look at you thinking he is Bill Billechek. ha ha what a wagon jumper.
CFL – Chris Jones resigned, frankly this is great news for the CFL and the Edmonton Football Franchise. The Saskatchewan Roughriders footbal organization should have been made to pay the consequences for tampering when they lured Jones away during a Grey Cup festivity. riderville fans to this day have no damn business being mad at Chris Jones when he left that cesspool of interference within that franchise.
and the Esks fans have no damn business being mad when Jones left the Esks for the Riders. Everyone wants to be on the Riders team. Lots of coaches and players admit it. They say the Riders is the place to be – best fans, best team, best franchise. Live with it man, it is what it is. Then when Jones cuts away from the Elks again in 2 or 3 years what will you say then?? Haha what a fickle wagon jumper. too funny
Can see him raiding riders he brought in and not above tampering before free agency date.
tampering, cheating, lying, cutting the rules, bending the rules, being a weasel is what Jones does. Its his M.O. Elks can have him, he is a snake.
Steve, that would be great, then the riders would get to see up close if their current gm is capable of his employment position with that club.