Cardale Jones Is Now a High School QB Coach Here’s Where and Why It Matters

Former Ohio State championship quarterback Cardale Jones is heading to the high school sideline.

Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut, announced that Jones has joined the Wreckers as quarterbacks coach. It is his first formal coaching job after a playing career that included Ohio State, the NFL, the XFL and the CFL. Jones will also continue his work as a CBS Sports college football analyst.

The timing is unusual for a high school hire. Many Connecticut teams are already into the season. Staples is not. The Wreckers open Sept. 10 at home against Westhill.

Jones’ Legendary Ohio State Run

Jones played at Ohio State from 2013 to 2015. In 23 games he passed for 2,209 yards and 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions and added four rushing scores.

The numbers only tell part of the story. In 2014 he began the year behind Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett. Miller was lost before the season. Barrett became a Heisman candidate, then broke his ankle in the fourth quarter of the regular-season finale against Michigan.

That put Jones in line to start the Big Ten Championship Game. He led No. 6 Ohio State to a 59-0 win over No. 11 Wisconsin.

His second career start came against No. 1 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The Buckeyes won 42-35. Jones then started the first College Football Playoff national championship game against Oregon. Ohio State won 42-20. Jones completed 16 of 23 passes for 242 yards and one touchdown with one interception. He also rushed for 38 yards and a touchdown.

That three-game stretch turned him into a Buckeye legend.

From the NFL to the High School Sideline

The Buffalo Bills drafted Jones in the fourth round in 2016. He spent four seasons around the NFL and later played in other professional leagues. He has not played in three years and now works as an analyst.

Staples made the hire official on social media, noting Jones’ national title run, NFL background and current CBS Sports role.

The Wreckers have won five CIAC state championships. Last season they finished 5-6 and lost 41-7 to eventual champion Greenwich in the Class LL quarterfinals. Jones gives the program a quarterback coach with rare experience at every level above high school.

Why the Hire Stands Out

High school quarterbacks rarely get coached by someone who started a national championship game. Jones can talk about preparation, pressure and what it takes to take over a team with almost no regular-season runway.

For Ohio State fans, the news is also a reminder of how that 2014 title team still shows up in unexpected places more than a decade later.

What Happens Next

Jones’ first game on the Staples staff is Sept. 10 against Westhill. Whether the role becomes a long-term coaching path or a one-season opportunity alongside his media work remains to be seen.

For now, a championship quarterback from Columbus is teaching high school signal-callers in Westport.

13. FAQ Section

What job did Cardale Jones take?
Quarterbacks coach at Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut.

Is this Jones’ first coaching job?
Yes. Reports describe it as his first formal coaching role.

When does Staples open the season?
Sept. 10 against Westhill.

What did Jones do at Ohio State?
He started the 2014 Big Ten title game, Sugar Bowl and national championship game, winning all three.

Does Jones still work in media?
Yes. He is a CBS Sports college football analyst.

Reader Question

Do you think Cardale Jones’ first coaching job at Staples is a one-year side role, or the start of a longer coaching career?