Spending the first three years of his NFL career with the Rams, Ernest Jones IV came to see the Seahawks as a rival.
But playing one season with Bobby Wagner in L.A., and spending the start of this season in Tennessee where he was teammates with Quandre Diggs, Jones also heard a lot of good things about Seattle and the Seahawks organization, which is just one on the reasons why he was excited to learn on Wednesday that he was being traded to the Seahawks.
"(Wagner) and Quandre man, they love this place," Jones said Thursday prior to his first practice with his new team. "This is their forever home. Talking with Bobby, he's excited. He says I'm going to love it here, and I feel just that way, and Quandre was super excited for me—hated to see us go because we started building a great relationship, but he was excited because this is a great place."
This year has been an eventful one for Jones, who was traded from the Rams to the Titans just before the start of the season, meaning a move not just for him, but also for his wife and their newborn son, Ernest Jones V, who was born in July. And with the Titans off to a 1-5 start and willing to entertain trade offers for top players, Jones and his family found themselves on the move this week, with the Seahawks acquiring him in exchange for linebacker Jerome Baker and a draft pick.
"It's been a little whirlwind just trying to piece everything together, whatever team I'm on, making sure I'm ahead of the playbook and doing my job," he said. "So yeah, that's what it's been like for me. Just working constantly.
"We have a three-month-old son, so the whole time I'm just thinking about my son and my wife. Sitting on that plane, I don't want to put them through this again. So even though getting traded wasn't always on me, I'm ready to go play football so I can go out here and show not only the Seahawks but show that I am what I say I am."
And what type of player does Jones say he is?
"I'm a dog," he said. "That's what you're getting. Getting a dog, getting somebody that's a leader, a true leader. I'm going to go out there each and every week, put my body on the line for my teammates, for this organization, and my family."
Fortunately for Jones, getting caught up with Seattle's playbook shouldn't be too difficult this week given the similarities between Tennessee's defense and Seattle's—Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson worked with Mike Macdonald on Baltimore's staff last season—so Jones expects to be up to speed by Sunday.
"It is going to be really quick," he said of the adjustment period. "We get out there on the field today, just run around, mess up a couple of things, and then correct it later and how they want to see it versus what we had in Tennessee, and then we'll go out there, play a game Sunday and figure things out from there."
And in an odd scheduling quirk for Jones, he will be playing the Bills for the second week in a row, with the Titans playing at Buffalo last Sunday.
"I think it definitely helps with the transition," he said. "You got a good idea of what they're going to come out there and do. You just played them a couple of days ago, so you're familiar with them. They're also familiar with you. So correct some wrongs that I had in that game and then go out there and help this team win."
While Jones didn't foresee being traded twice in such a short time, he is looking forward to this next stop in his career. Having won a Super Bowl as a rookie with the Rams, he's excited to be coming to a winning franchise and to a team that currently sits in first place in the NFC West.
"I'm getting to come to an organization that wants to win and loves to win," he said. "They got the pieces right now to win. So I'm excited to just add my talents to that."
Jones is also embracing the idea of playing middle linebacker for the Seahawks, the position held for more than a decade by his one-time teammate, Bobby Wagner.
"Bobby is one of the greatest in my books," Jones said. "He's a walking (Pro Football Hall of Fame) gold jacket right now, so I want to come in, and I want to live up to that height and surpass it."
Coming anywhere close to that standard would require a long career in Seattle, and that's something Jones is hoping to make happen.
"I love to be in Seattle," he said. "My wife's happy. She's back into where there's a little city vibe, so she's happy. I'm good and I'm going to do whatever I can to be on this team for the long haul if that's where they see me and fitting in. From there, we work out everything else."
The Seahawks agreed to terms with the Tennessee Titans to acquire linebacker Ernest Jones IV on October 23, 2024. Check out some of the best photos of Jones through the years.
Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) runs for yardage as he's chased by South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones (53) and defensive back Israel Mukuamu (24) in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Vanderbilt running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn (5) carries the ball against South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones covers a play against Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida running back Dameon Pierce (27) looks for a way past South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Vanderbilt quarterback Ken Seals (8) is tackled by South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during their game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones plays against Vanderbilt in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (50) in coverage during an NFL preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (50) looks into the offensive backfield during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (50) on kickoff coverage during an NFL Professional Football Game Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/John McCoy)
Linebacker (50) Ernest Jones of the Los Angeles Rams makes a tackle against the Houston Texans in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Houston, Texas. Rams won 38-22. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (50) celebrates an interception with teammates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex )
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (50) during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. The Titans defeated the Rams 28-16. (John McGillen via AP)
Los Angeles Rams linebackers Troy Reeder (51) and Ernest Jones (50) celebrate during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. The Titans defeated the Rams 28-16. (John McGillen via AP)
Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Ernest Jones (50) reacts after a defensive stop during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Ernest Jones (50) stops Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison (25) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Ernest Jones (50) reacts after a defensive play against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Ernest Jones (50) celebrates his sack against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is tackled by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) makes an interception in the end zone during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones, left, tackles San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) chases Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rondale Moore (4) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) runs the ball as Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (44) chase during the second half of an NFL football Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) reacts during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) reacts during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, December 17, 2023 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) looks to pass on the run against Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during the first half an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) rushes against Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Ernest Jones IV (53) defends against Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Titans 24-17. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Ernest Jones IV (53) takes the field before an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Ernest Jones IV (53) tackles New York Jets wide receiver Malachi Corley (17) in the first half of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Ernest Jones IV (53) grabs Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright (25) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Brennan Asplen)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Ernest Jones, IV (53) defends during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
