After anchoring a championship defense with elite tackling and a career-high in interceptions, Seattle's fiery linebacker earns his long-awaited debut among the league’s elite player-voted stars.
Ernest Jones’ impact on the Seattle Seahawks continues to receive national recognition, and deservedly so.
The veteran linebacker was unveiled at No. 97 on the NFL Top 100 list, marking the first appearance of his career on the player-voted ranking. The NFL began by revealing spots 100 through 97 this week, and Jones became the first Seahawks player announced on the list after a standout season that helped power Seattle to a Super Bowl championship.
"Jones provided a fiery presence for the Super Bowl champions," NFL.com's Grant Gordon writes. "Now a two-time Super Bowl winner, Jones was Seattle's leading tackler in the regular season and playoffs. Perhaps most impressively, the backer led the squad in interceptions with six total, including the postseason... He is the first member of the reigning Super Bowl champs on the 2026 list. Spoiler alert: He won't be the last."
For Seahawks fans, the honor feels well deserved.
Jones quickly became one of the most important pieces of Mike Macdonald’s defense after arriving in Seattle. He arrived by way of a midseason trade with the Tennessee Titans in 2024, and the Seahawks could not be happier they decided to make that move.
During the regular season, Jones racked up 126 tackles, seven passes defended, and four tackles for loss. He was also able to snag five interceptions, which was more than he had gotten in the first four seasons of his career combined.
His ability to consistently produce in nearly every part of the game helped establish him as one of the league's most complete linebackers. Whether he was stopping the run, dropping into coverage, or serving as the emotional leader of the defense, Jones delivered week after week.
At just 26 years old, there is plenty of reason to believe this will not be his last appearance on the NFL Top 100. In fact, if Jones builds on what he accomplished during Seattle’s title-winning season, he could find himself climbing much higher in future editions of the rankings.
For now, though, his debut at No. 97 serves as another reminder that one of the NFL’s best linebackers is wearing Seahawks blue and green.
