Marvin Jones thanked the Detroit Lions, their fans and teammates Thursday for their support during the eight-plus months following the death of his 6-month-old son, Marlo, last December.
Other than an Instagram post shortly after her son’s death on December 27, it was the first time Jones had spoken publicly about it.
Two days after Marlo’s death, Jones, who was on the injured reserve, made a pre-game appearance in the Lions’ season finale against Green Bay with his wife, Jazmyn, and their family. The team kept a moment of silence for Marlo before the national anthem.
Jones and his family stayed on the pitch for the anthem, and Jones was spotted wiping away tears and then hugging people on the sidelines. He left the field just before the game.
“It was an experience that I really enjoyed from a Lions perspective, showing love and stuff like that and the fans and teammates,” Jones said. “It was just a highlight which I think was good for us and good for my family. That’s about all I’m going to say about it.
“My son is in a better place so that makes me happy.”
Jones said people who reached out to him after Marlo’s death, telling him their own stories of losing family members, helped build him strength. He realized that he and his family were not alone in dealing with their grief.
“There are a lot of stories of people, stuff like that happened to them, losing a family member,” Jones said. “Obviously this is the first time it’s happened to me at a level of this magnitude. Just hearing a lot of other people, hearing their voices and their experiences, stuff like that.
“I don’t think you can really deal with it. I have my days. But at the same time, there are thousands and thousands of people who have contacted me about their experiences and stuff like that. Yeah, that’s about what it is. “
Jones said his family will stay in San Diego this year – a decision made before the pandemic – but his school-aged children will learn virtually, so they may decide to return to Michigan at some point.
He never considered refusing to stay with his family, claiming he had been home for around eight months.
Said Jones: “It’s time to play football.”
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