Rulon Jones was drafted No. 42 overall by the Denver Broncos in the 1980 NFL Draft out of Utah State. 129 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 63 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #42
- Round
- 2
- Draft class
- 1980
- NFL games
- 129
- Years as starter
- 7
- Career AV
- 632nd at Utah State
- Pro Bowls
- 2
- All-Pro
- 1
The pick
How Rulon Jones came off the board in 1980.
- Position
- Defensive end DE
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
129 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 63 career approximate value
- Games played
- 129
- Seasons as a starter
- 7
- Career approximate value
- 632nd among Utah State picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 63100% of career value
- Final season
- 19888 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 1× All-Pro · 2× Pro Bowl
Around pick 42
Who came off the board on either side of Rulon Jones.
Oklahoma
Notre Dame · 1× Pro Bowl
Penn State · 1× Pro Bowl
Stanford
Utah State in the 1980 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DE picks from Utah State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Rulon Jones in the 1980 NFL Draft
Rulon Jones is a Defensive end out of Utah State selected No. 42 overall by the Denver Broncos in the 1980 NFL Draft. 129 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 63 career approximate value Utah State has produced 41 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Rulon Jones drafted?
Rulon Jones was selected No. 42 overall by the Denver Broncos in the 1980 NFL Draft (Rd 2). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1980/rulon-jones.
What college did Rulon Jones play for?
Rulon Jones played college football at Utah State in the Mountain West. See every Utah State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/utah-state-aggies.
How did Rulon Jones's NFL career turn out?
129 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 63 career approximate value Accolades: 1× All-Pro · 2× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1980/rulon-jones.