Sombrero and Oakley shades.
That is Aaron Jones’ pregame look for almost every game.
It was no different ahead of the Minnesota Vikings massive tilt against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.
Sombrero, Oakley shades, repeat.
It’s simple for the Vikings star running back.
It’s a tradition and signature look that was born out of his love for his hometown of El Paso, Texas.
Jones was born in Savannah, Georgia, but calls El Paso home.
He moved around a lot as a child due to the fact that both of his parents served in the military, but it was El Paso that Jones connected with the most.
He moved there when he was a 12-year-old kid, went to high school there, and then went to UTEP, before the Green Bay Packers drafted him in the fifth round of the 2017 draft.
The sombrero tradition started back in 2019 when his longtime girlfriend dared him to wear it as a prank before his game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Jones did and went on to rush for over 100 yards, while scoring four touchdowns.
It was then and there that Jones knew the sombrero wouldn’t be going anywhere.
X/@MINNESOTAVIKINGSJones has rocked the sombrero going all the way back to 2019[/caption]
Another El Paso native and current linebackers coach for the Arizona Carnivals, Rod Rodriguez, appreciates the spotlight Jones is shining on El Paso when wearing the sombrero.
“Aaron is not somebody else appropriating anything,” Rodriguez told MinnesotaVikings.com.
“That is his culture. 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.”
Jones will often pay tribute in game to El Paso, 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,” Rodriguez said.
“Because there are so many people from El Paso that leave [the city] and then kind of forget.
“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.”
Jones is in his first year with the Vikings, and has found great success, as they are owners of an 11-2 record with a shot at claiming the one seed in the NFC.
Whether it was Green Bay, or now Minnesota, one thing is for certain.
You’ll always find Jones in his sombrero and Oakley shades.
