A year into retirement and Julio Jones has zero regrets about walking away from the gridiron. The former Atlanta Falcons superstar, who officially hung up his cleats in April 2025, sat down recently at LAX to talk life after 13 seasons in the NFL—and he’s genuinely thriving in ways that go way beyond just cashing checks and relaxing.
What makes Jones’s exit different from the typical retirement story is his perspective on the freedom itself. After spending more than a decade at the absolute peak of professional football—racking up All-Pro selections, Pro Bowl honors, and a spot on the 2010s All-Decade team—he’s embraced the simple fact that he can now do whatever he wants. No training camps. No film sessions. No Sunday obligations. Just life on his own terms.
The guy’s been smart about it too. Jones stayed in stellar physical shape throughout his playing days, and he’s continuing that momentum now—hitting the basketball court, going for runs, diving, and basically living like someone who actually planned for life after football rather than just stumbling into it. Beyond the athletic pursuits, he’s set himself up through business ventures that keep generating income and require his attention, so he’s not exactly sitting idle counting his rings.
When the conversation turned to whether he’d ever consider coaching—a natural next step for a player of his caliber—Jones gave a pretty strong answer that suggests the door isn’t particularly open. Fair enough. Sometimes the best athletes know exactly when to stop and actually enjoy what they’ve earned, rather than immediately chasing the next role in the same industry. For Julio Jones, retirement isn’t about fading away—it’s about finally stepping into a version of life he’s earned the right to live exactly the way he wants it.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.