When the Dallas Cowboys called Ed 'Too Tall' Jones' name with the first pick of the 1974 NFL Draft, they did more than land a generational defensive end. They made history - Jones became the first, and still the only, player from a historically Black college or university to be selected number one overall.
The milestone has drawn fresh appreciation in recent years, with the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the league spotlighting the anniversary of a draft day that broke new ground. For Tennessee State and HBCU football at large, Jones' selection remains a point of enduring pride.
Jones has never treated the distinction lightly. He came up at a program that produced a remarkable line of pro talent, and he has long spoken about carrying that legacy onto the biggest stage in the sport.
Five decades later, the record still stands by itself - a reminder that the path Jones walked was one no one had walked before, and one that opened doors for the players who followed.