News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

By: Lindsey Young

Aaron has those same feelings whenever he returns to El Paso, Texas.

Being that Jones' parents, Alvin Sr. and Vurgess, both served in the United States Army for nearly three decades, the family moved on a regular basis. Aaron and his brothers spent time overseas (Germany) and in a number of U.S. states, including Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Texas.

He was born in Savannah, Georgia. But home? It always will be El Paso.

Aaron still remembers that day in 2006 when his father took him, his twin brother Alvin Jr. and a few friends to see a newly released film, Glory Road. Jones was enamored by the story of the 1966 Texas Western College (which later became UTEP) men's basketball team. Coached by Don "The Bear" Haskins, the Miners featured an all-Black starting lineup – the first in NCAA history – and brought the program's first-ever title home to El Paso.

"That's where we're moving," Alvin told his sons.

As a 12-year-old, Aaron could think of nothing more exciting.

"I thought that was just the coolest thing … that there was a movie about where we were going to be moving," Aaron said. "And that story, you could kind of see the Latino experience, or the feel you get from the city."

None of his previous stops had introduced Aaron to Latin culture. But he experienced it firsthand upon arriving in the city of 600,000-plus, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande across from Juárez, Mexico.

More than 80 percent of El Paso's population identify as Hispanic or Latino, whereas Black individuals make up just 3.4 percent of residents.

Aaron fully embraced the change of scenery, calling it "a lot of fun" to integrate into a culture different than his own.

"The Latino community accepts you for you, allows you to be you, and they're open to learning about your culture, as well. So there's a little bit of [overlap] in both," he said. "We're both minorities, so there's a little understanding from where both of us come from.

"They pretty much took me in like a brother, put their arms around me. The kids at school, like, 'Hey, we're going to teach you Spanish.' Of course, they teach you all bad words first," Aaron added with a laugh.

Daniel Martinez, the basketball coach at Burges High School, remembers noticing the way Aaron and Alvin so comfortably and quickly amalgamated with their Hispanic and Latino peers.

The twins made an early impact on Martinez in other ways, too – especially when they arrived at the gymnasium for basketball team tryouts.

"They were typical 14-year-old freshman, you know, maybe 85, 95 pounds; 5-3, 5-4 – not very big," Martinez recalled. "But you could tell these kids were different. You could tell they were a different type of athlete."

Martinez added: "You could tell right away that these guys were going to change the culture, and that's exactly what they ended up doing – changing the whole culture of the program, football and basketball."

During high school, Aaron and Alvin garnered plenty of attention. Their talent on the court and the field drew more even more fans to games, and they seemingly made friends wherever they went.

Because their impression went so far beyond athletics.

"As talented of athletes as they both were," Martinez said, "they were even better humans."

Martinez's thoughts were echoed by a fellow El Paso native, Rob Rodriguez. Now the Cardinals outside linebackers coach (and assistant defensive line coach for the Vikings from 2015-19), Rodriguez at the time served on UTEP's coaching staff and recruited Aaron to play for the Miners.

Rodriguez began recruiting Aaron during his sophomore season at Burges (and later Alvin, as well) and was struck by the kindness and welcoming nature of the entire Jones family. He especially noted the "big smile, big personality" of Alvin Sr. and the way his character was reflected by his sons.

"They always had a great disposition, and they were so respectful. They were 'yes sir,' 'no sir,' " Rodriguez recalled. "You weren't looking at two wild kids. You were looking at two guys who went out of their way to be super respectful. I remember it being just a little bit difficult to get them even to joke around a little bit and loosen up, you know? But they were always happy.

"Meeting Aaron, he's probably the least assuming of all of them. He's pretty quiet, you know? But they always had a positive outlook, a smile on their face, and they were always appreciative to be there," Rodriguez continued. "And at the time, you meet them early in the process during recruiting, and there's some kids that […] when you're at UTEP recruiting them, they treat you like, 'Hey, look, I've gotta be someplace else.' And Aaron and Alvin, they never did. They were both … so appreciative. They went out of their way to let you know how much they appreciated you being there."

Aaron shined all throughout his high school career, earning El Paso Times All-City MVP after a senior season highlighted by 1,800-plus rushing yards and 30 touchdowns.

He next – in large part thanks to Rodriguez – went on to star at UTEP, where as a freshman he led the Miners with 155 carries for 811 yards and four touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, Alvin racked up 55 tackles, an interception and 1.5 sacks.

The Jones twins quickly rose to a kind of stardom within the El Paso community, Rodriguez recalled, and they never hesitated to interact with fans, participate in give-back events and stay late after games to sign autographs.

"We had recruited a whole group of El Paso kids the year Aaron and Alvin came in, and they were the only two kids who weren't actually born there," Rodriguez said. "Still, they had just as much pride in the community, and they put the obligation on themselves to always be present and engaged in everything that we did."

The fabric of El Paso truly has been woven into every aspect of Aaron's story.

At the NFL level, it's taken the form of physical gold thread – first laced around the brim of a deep green sombrero and now around the Vikings purple.

Aaron's become known for his game-day vibe. The 'fit changes from one week to the next, but it's capped every time with the sombrero and a pair of Oakley shades.

The tradition dates to October 2019, when Aaron's longtime girlfriend – who is of Hispanic heritage – bet he wouldn't wear one of his sombreros to the Packers-Cowboys game in Dallas. Never one to shy from a challenge but unable to get home one of his own, the running back visited a Green Bay Party City and purchased a costume version.

Aaron donned the hat pregame … and went on to rack up 107 yards and a whopping four touchdowns on 19 carries.

"My mom's like, 'Hmm, I think you should keep wearing that sombrero,' " Aaron remembered, laughing.

A longtime Packers fan soon had a sombrero made for Aaron in Green Bay's team colors, and the custom was born.

Rather than cultural appropriation, the gesture is one of cultural appreciation.

"Aaron is not somebody else appropriating anything. That is his culture," Rodriguez emphasized. "Sombreros are all over El Paso. If you go to a restaurant and celebrate birthdays in El Paso, we have mariachis all the time. Mariachis, the culture of the sombrero, it's all around us – so when Aaron started wearing one as an homage to us, an homage to his community and all the people who are still rooting for him … I thought it was really cool and unique. It put a smile on my face.

"Everybody in El Paso just appreciates that he is consistently thinking of us … even though we're technically an 'adopted' hometown," Rodriguez added.

Aaron often pays tribute in game, as well, flashing a 9-1-5 (El Paso's area code) with his hands after each touchdown.

"It means the absolute world to everybody back home. Because there are so many people from El Paso that leave [the city] and then kind of forget," Rodriguez said. "But Aaron continues to be a hero to all the kids in El Paso – especially because he consistently gives us a shoutout. He tells us he's thinking about us. And for those kids back home, he's become a hero."

Martinez reiterated the sentiment, saying he and the rest of El Paso see Aaron's use of the sombrero as anything but insulting.

It's truly an honor.

"Aaron and Alvin embedded themselves into our community at such a young age. They don't forget where they come from," Martinez said. "They [come back and] are out at high school football games, basketball games. They are just part of the community. They do not think themselves as bigger or better than anybody else. [Aaron represents with] pride, being able to show a little bit of the overall culture. That's what he takes with him on game days."

It's been five years since Aaron started the pregame tradition, and he still finds himself feeling emotional when spotting fans wearing a No. 33 jersey and a sombrero.

"It is really surreal, people getting behind me like that," Aaron said. "It takes me back to being a kid, where you admire – for instance, one of my favorite athletes, Michael Jordan, where [I was a kid] admiring Michael Jordan, [hoping to] get to meet him. It takes me back to that stage.

"I thank everybody. It really gets me going," Aaron added. "When I see those people in the stands with the sombreros, I'm like, 'We've gotta turn it up now.' "

Aaron turned it up for seven seasons with the Vikings division rival, entering the 2024 campaign with 97 games (85 starts) under his belt. He totaled 5,940 rushing yards and 45 touchdowns for the Packers, in addition to 2,076 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns through the air.

While he's grateful for the first chapter of his NFL career, he's thrilled for a fresh start in Minnesota and believes he has his best football still ahead of him.

And just like 18 years ago when a new city quickly became home, Aaron has just as rapidly immersed himself in the new culture, per se, of the Vikings locker room. Within days of arriving, he'd shown himself to be a natural mentor and authentic teammate.

"I texted him right when we signed him to say welcome to the team, and he texted right back and was very friendly," Vikings fullback C.J. Ham said. "Just being in the building with him, seeing how he interacts with everybody – he talks to every single person, whether they're on the team or not, whoever it may be. He's just that type of leader."

Aaron may be wearing a different color jersey this season, but don't think for a second that impacts the countless fans back home cheering him on.

In Week 1, El Paso's FOX affiliate opted to broadcast Minnesota's Week 1 game at New York (rather than Steelers-Falcons) to showcase Jones, who rushed for 94 yards and became the 102^nd player all-time with at least 6,000 rushing yards.

"The support the community of El Paso has continued to give me, it's been the same people who been there since middle school, high school, since I stayed in the city to play college football, so they've been there throughout," Aaron said. "Those are a lot of the same people who volunteer with our foundation, A&A All The Way, who come to games. It's just tremendous to know that they're behind me and they're watching every step, and I honor them when I step on the field."

And when Aaron steps on U.S. Bank Stadium's field today for his first home game as a Viking, he'll continue to inspire a very special community more than 1,300 miles away.

"Aaron has changed the culture here," Martinez said. "What he's done is given kids here in El Paso a lot of hope that they can follow their dreams – whatever they are – and make them happen.

"The people here, they look at Aaron like one of their own. He is one of their own," Martinez added. "And I know you all will see that in Minnesota this year. I know you all got a ton more Vikings fans this year … especially in El Paso."