Matt LaFleur Calls Aaron Jones the Baddest Dude He Has Ever Coached
Aaron Jones tormented the Minnesota Vikings’ defense for years, averaging nearly 5.7 yards per carry with 905 scrimmage yards in 11 games against the team. After being released by the Green Bay Packers and then signing with Minnesota, Jones’ former coach recently offered some interesting insight into what the Vikings are getting.
- Aaron Jones contract: $2 million base salary, $3.5 million cap hit in 2024
After being cut by the Packers this offseason, Jones didn’t even wait 24 hours before agreeing to a deal with Minnesota. He signed a one-year deal worth about the same amount as the Packers’ final offer to him. With revenge clearly on his mind, Vikings fans are excited about what Jones will bring to the field.
Matt LaFleur will miss new Minnesota Vikings RB Aaron Jones… a lot
In an appearance on the This Is Football with Kevin Clark, Packers’ coach Matt LaFleur was asked by Clark who the “biggest bad** he’s ever coached” was. Without hesitation, LaFleur named Jones and explained why.
“Aaron Jones, he’s a bada** football player. For a guy that’s 190 pounds and just the beating that the runners take in general. I mean, it’s like a car crash every time they get tackled. So, I think honestly, just his ability to come back from…I thought he shredded his knee earlier this year when we were playing the Chargers. I still don’t know how he didn’t get severely injured on that play. But his ability to come back later in the year and what he was able to do. I would say that’s pretty bada**.”
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur on running back Aaron Jones (H/T This Is Football with Kevin Clark)
- Aaron Jones stats (Green Bay Packers): 5,940 rushing yards, 5 yards per carry, 45 rushing touchdowns, 272 receptions, 2,076 receiving yards, 18 touchdowns
I sat down with Matt LaFleur last week to ask him, like I ask everyone, who the biggest badass he's ever coached was. His answer? AARON JONES. pic.twitter.com/ZsU88lpDJH
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) April 2, 2024
As LaFleur said, Jones suffered a knee injury against the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 19. Initially feared to be a season-ending injury, Jones only missed three weeks of action. He returned in Week 15, turning 17 touches into 69 scrimmage yards. After shaking a bit of the rust off, he was the Packers’ best offensive player to close out the season.
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In his final three regular-season games, Jones averaged 5.7 yards per carry across 63 rushing attempts. While he didn’t record a rushing touchdown, Jones was among the NFL leaders in scrimmage yards (408) during that stretch. In the NFL playoffs, he erupted for 3 touchdowns and 131 scrimmage yards in a 48-32 victory over the Dallas Cowboys then turned 18 carries into 108 rushing yards against the San Francisco 49ers.
Jones was the heart and soul of the Packers’ locker room, bringing an infectious energy and edge that ignited the entire team. Not only will the Vikings be gaining that, but that extra intensity he brings in 2024 to prove the Packers wrong and especially in revenge games against his former team will be something to watch.
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