Marcus Jones continues to be a spark plug for the Patriots

Marcus Jones is one of the most electric players in football, and the New York Giants are the latest team to find out: in the first quarter of their Monday night game in New England, they saw him return a punt 94 yards for a touchdown.

The score was Jones’ third of the season after he previously ran back a punt against the Carolina Panthers in Week 4, and an interception last Sunday versus the Cincinnati Bengals. It also was yet another example of the team captain electrifying both his team and the crowd.

“Shoutout to Marcus, that always sparks a lot of momentum,” said fellow cornerback Christian Gonzalez during his postgame presser following the Patriots’ 33-15 win over the Giants. “In each game he has returned a touchdown, it has just sparked the offense and defense. So, that is a big weapon we have. As a defense, it is always, ‘Get the ball to Drake [Maye] or get the ball to Marcus.’”

Jones’ playmaking ability is nothing new. As a third-round rookie out of Houston in 2022, he already showcased his unique skillset: he became the first player since Hall of Famer Deion Sanders in 1992 to return a punt for a touchdown, an interception for a touchdown, and to catch a touchdown in the same season.

Named first-team All-Pro punt returner in his first season in the league, he was unable to build on his success as a sophomore. Just two weeks into his second year, he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.

When he returned in 2024, the entire Patriots organization had changed. What did not was Jones’ ability to positively impact the team in whichever role he was used in.

In 2025, he took yet another step. Not only did he retain his role as punt returner under a new head coach Mike Vrabel, he also solidified his standing as the Patriots’ No. 1 nickelback. In addition, he was voted a captain by his peers for the first time in his career.

“He was voted captain for a reason. He has a voice and he uses it,” said Gonzalez on Monday. “We look to him, especially in the secondary. We are real close in the secondary. He plays a big role, being nickel. He has got to travel around, he has got to do a lot of things that are on your plate while playing nickel. He handles it amazingly and being in the locker room, he is one of the most energetic guys in there. At eight in the morning, he is in there smiling, laughing, joking. Sometimes we tell him, ‘Alright, Marcus, you have got to calm down a little.’ But no, he is amazing. It is awesome, him being in the back seven for sure and on the team.”

Against the Giants, Jones was at his best yet again. Besides his touchdown, he also gained 30 combined yards on his two other punt returns. As a result, he now stands atop the NFL’s all-time list in career punt return average: his 77 total runbacks have not just produced three total scores, but also an average of 14.6 yards.

Ever the team captain, however, he made sure to spread credit around after the game — to his teammates, and his family.

“First off, I think of those situations where my dad had me in a parking lot when I was like four years old,” he recalled. “He used to throw the ball in the air and be like, ‘Track it.’ That was the first thing I thought about. It is a long journey, especially with punt returners. Not everyone wants to do it, but I find a lot of joy when it comes down to it.

“But at the end of the day, ever since I got into the league, I would say the guys that have been blocking for me, I commend them 24/7. Without them, I would not be able to get any yards, I can honestly say. I commend my guys out there and everything like that, I try to just make them right. They do the hard part out there. I just follow the blocks and go from there.”

On Monday night, yet again, Jones was able to do just that. Again, and again, and again.