Jones attended Nottoway County High School. As a senior, he tallied 120 tackles and helped his team win the 2A state championship. In order to meet academic requirements for college, Jones studied one year at the Fork Union Military Academy post-graduate program. He accepted a football scholarship from East Carolina University and would become the most accomplished linebacker in its history. In 1988, he started 3 out of 10 games, collecting 43 tackles, one pass defensed and one forced fumble, receiving freshman All-American honors. As a sophomore, he was a regular starter at inside linebacker, recording 117 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, one sack, 3 passes defensed and one forced fumble. He made 16 tackles against both Louisiana Tech University and the University of Southern Mississippi. As a junior, he posted 167 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 tackles for loss, 3 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Against Temple University, he had 23 tackles. Against the University of Southern Mississippi, he made 17 tackles, returned an interception for a touchdown and blocked a field goal. He was a co-captain of the 1991 team that finished ranked No. 9 nationally with a 12–1 record, including a Peach Bowl victory. He finished with 8 quarterback pressures, 12 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 151 tackles, becoming the second player in school history to lead the team three straight seasons. Against Syracuse University, he had 18 tackles and 3 quarterback pressures. Against Tulane University, he made 15 tackles and one quarterback pressure. Against the University of South Carolina, he had 16 tackles, one interception and a blocked extra-point. He was a consensus All-American choice and one of the finalists for the Butkus award. In 2004, he was inducted into the East Carolina University Athletics Hall of Fame.
Jones was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft, becoming the first player from East Carolina University to be drafted that high. The team moved Ken Norton Jr. to outside linebacker, allowing him to become the second rookie in Cowboys history to start at middle linebacker, and the second rookie linebacker in franchise history to start in a season-opener. He helped the Cowboys establish the top defense in the league in 1992, was named NFCrookie of the year and was selected to the NFL All-rookie team. He started 13 out of 15 games, posting 108 tackles, one sack, 2 tackles for loss, 4 quarterback pressures, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery. He had 16 tackles against both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. In 1993, he started the first 3 games after being benched in favor of Ken Norton Jr., who took over his middle linebacker duties. He collected 36 tackles and 4 special teams tackles. He had 16 tackles against the Washington Redskins and 11 tackles against the Buffalo Bills. In 1994, he regained the starting job at middle linebacker after Norton left in free agency. He would come back to have the best year of his career, going on to be selected to the Pro Bowl, after registering 162 tackles, 2 quarterback pressures, 4 tackles for loss and 3 passes defensed. In 1995, he was fourth on the team with 100 tackles, despite missing the last 3 games with a strained abdominal muscle. During his four seasons with the Cowboys, Jones helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVII, Super Bowl XXVIII and Super Bowl XXX. In the 1990s, the Cowboys organization felt they could find linebackers through the draft, without the need of paying a premium and adversely impacting the salary cap, so they allowed talented and productive players like Ken Norton Jr., Darrin Smith, Dixon Edwards, and Randall Godfrey, to leave via free agency, instead of signing them into long-term contracts. After he became a free agent in 1996, the Cowboys replaced him by signing free agent Fred Strickland.
St. Louis Rams
On March 5, 1996, he signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Rams. In 1997, he led the team with 115 tackles. On June 2, 1998, he was released from the team for salary cap reasons.
Miami Dolphins
On June 10, 1998, he signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins, reuniting him with Jimmy Johnson. That season, Jones became an integral part of a defense that allowed an NFL low 265 points. He started all 16 regular season games at strongside linebacker and finished third on the team with 100 total tackles. He also put together career-high numbers of five sacks, two interceptions and five passes defensed. He returned one of those interceptions for the first touchdown of his career. After the season, the Dolphins rewarded him with a five-year contract extension. On March 1, 2001, he was released by the Dolphins after not restructuring his contract.
Washington Redskins
On June 12, 2001, Jones signed a one-year deal with the Washington Redskins, starting 9 of 15 games during the season.
On April 25, 2002, he signed as a free agent with the Houston Texans for the franchise's inaugural year, but upon his request was released before the season started on May 14.
One week later, he signed with the Green Bay Packers, but was released shortly after to make room for signed free agent Hardy Nickerson. Over his 10-year career, he played in 151 total games and registered 974 tackles, 8 quarterback sacks and 3 interceptions.
NFL statistics
Personal life
Robert's wife is Maneesha Jones. Robert's son Cayleb is a wide receiver in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings. Robert's second son Zay was a wide receiver at East Carolina University and the all-time receptions leader in the history of college football. Zay was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. His third son, Levi, signed to play with the USC Trojans on February 1, 2017. Levi transferred to NC State University. He has 3 daughters; Leah, Priscilla, and Ana. Leah is President of the family business, Maid Immaculate. Priscilla is a volleyball player at GreenHope High School and Ana is a competitive cheerleader with Cheer Extreme! Hennessy is the family dog!
