June Jones, Pioneer of the Run and Shoot Offense, Passes Away at 73

June Jones, a prominent coach and quarterback recognized for his development of the run and shoot offense, has passed away at the age of 73.

Born in Portland, Jones played quarterback at Portland State in the mid-1970s, where he showcased an innovative passing game. After a brief NFL career with the Falcons, he became convinced of the run and shoot's potential at the highest levels of football.

Jones began his coaching career at Hawaii in 1983 and later worked with the Houston Oilers, where he coached Warren Moon. He served as offensive coordinator for the Falcons and became head coach, leading the team to the playoffs in 1995. His most notable achievement came at Hawaii, where he transformed a winless team into a 9-4 squad in his first season, earning multiple national coach of the year awards. Jones later coached at SMU and in the CFL and XFL, leaving a lasting legacy in football with his pass-first offensive strategies.