Khari Jones

Khari Okang Jones (/kəˈhɑːri/ kə-HAH-ree; born May 16, 1971) is an American former professional football quarterback who is the offensive coordinator for the UBC Thunderbirds of U Sports. He was formerly the head coach for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Jones played quarterback in the CFL, where he enjoyed his most success with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Jones also played briefly for the Arena Football League's Albany Firebirds and the World League of American Football's Scottish Claymores. He is also a former television sports reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).He has also been the offensive coordinator for the BC Lions, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Ottawa Redblacks.

Jones was a record setting college quarterback at the University of California, Davis, where in two seasons as a starter he became the first UC Davis quarterback to pass for over 3,000 yards in a season and over 50 touchdowns in a career, while leading the Aggies to a 17-2-1 record during his junior and senior seasons (1992–1993). In 2000, Jones was inducted into the UC Davis Aggies Hall of Fame.

Jones joined the Arena Football League's Albany Firebirds in 1995. For the next two seasons, he received very little playing time, making only 3 out of 5 pass completions in his first season, and 3 out of 4 pass completions in 1996. He also played one season in 1996 for the Scottish Claymores of the World League of American Football, which would later become NFL Europe.

In 1997, Jones signed with the BC Lions. Jones played very little during his three-year tenure with the Lions, as he was relegated to the backup spot behind incumbent quarterback Damon Allen.

In 2000, Jones joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Though he initially served as a backup to Kerwin Bell, Jones eventually won the starting job during the middle of the 2000 season, thereby clearing the way for the Bombers to release Bell in midseason.

In 2001, Jones was the CFLs Most Outstanding Player after leading the Bombers to a 14–4 record, including 12 straight wins. Jones was the Bombers quarterback in the 2001 Grey Cup in Montreal, where heavily favoured Winnipeg lost to the Calgary Stampeders, 27–19.

Jones' following season (2002) was even better statistically, which included 5,353 passing yards and 46 touchdown passes. This was the third most passing touchdowns in a season (behind two seasons in which Doug Flutie completed 47 and 48)). From 2000 to 2002, Jones' 107 touchdown passes exceeded the record by any other quarterback in the CFL or NFL over the same period of time. In four seasons with Winnipeg, Jones set seventeen Bomber passing records, including throwing for five touchdowns in a game four times in one season.

During the 2004 CFL season, Jones was traded from the Blue Bombers to the Calgary Stampeders, partially due to a shoulder injury which had affected his play. In the off-season between the 2004 and 2005 seasons, the Stampeders signed free agent Henry Burris and Jones was released.