EAGAN, Minn. — Aaron Jones, Sr., has ingrained himself in the Minnesota community, but he’s also looking forward to being back in his home state Sunday.
Minnesota is slated to visit Dallas on Sunday Night Football, and the game will mark Jones’ first regular-season return to Texas since October 2019. A Packer at the time, Jones racked up four rushing scores and 107 yards on 19 carries.
That showing at AT&T Stadium also cemented Jones’ game-day tradition of wearing a sombrero to stadiums — something he did for the first time that day.
“My mom’s like, ‘Hmm, I think you should keep wearing that sombrero,’ ” Jones had recalled, laughing.
What started as a challenge from his longtime girlfriend, who is of Hispanic heritage, soon became an authentic nod of respect to Jones’ hometown of El Paso, Texas, and a recognizable trademark for Jones.
Rather than cultural appropriation, the gesture is one of cultural appreciation.
“That is his culture,” said Rob Rodriguez, fellow El Paso native and one of Jones’ former college coaches. “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.”
