Wide Receiver Malachi Jones Signs with Atlanta Legends
October 1, 2018 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Albany Empire News Release
ALBANY - 2018 Albany Empire wide receiver Malachi Jones has signed with the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football League. The 2018 Arena Football League Rookie of the Year, Wide Receiver of the Year, and First Team All-Arena player was released by the Chicago Bears of the National Football League in early September.
The Atlanta Legends are one of eight teams to make up the AAF as the league will play its inaugural season in 2019. Jones will begin training camp with the Legends in January as part of the 75-player roster seeking to earn his spot on the 50-man roster heading into the season. The Legends coaching staff is led by former NFL Head Coach, Brad Childress, with former NFL quarterback Michael Vick serving as the team's Offensive Coordinator.
"I am forever grateful for the time I spent with the Albany Empire," said Jones. "They helped me achieve my dream of getting back to the NFL and become a better person on and off the field in the process. The things that I learned and did in Albany have propelled my football career in the right direction!"
The AAF will play its debut, 10-week season in February 2019 immediately following the conclusion of the NFL postseason. The league was announced in March 2018 and will be led by numerous former NFL players, coaches and general managers.
"We knew from day one that Malachi was a special football talent and had NFL level abilities," said Rob Keefe, Head Coach of the Albany Empire. "Joining the AAF puts him back in the outdoor game and will further help him achieve his goal of getting back to the NFL. The entire organization is so proud of what he has accomplished and wish him nothing but success moving forward."
Currently in the League's "no contact period," no players are assigned to a roster in the AFL. The Empire will host open player tryouts on October 27 at the Sportsplex in Halfmoon. At last year's open workout, four players were selected to the Albany roster. For information or to sign up for the tryouts, visit: http://thealbanyempire.com/team/tryouts/.
Arena Football League Stories from October 1, 2018
- Wide Receiver Malachi Jones Signs with Atlanta Legends - Albany Empire
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