One of the pivotal moments for the Seattle Seahawks in transforming from a below-average defense to the consensus best defense in the NFL was the trade for linebacker Ernest Jones IV. Once a rival on the Los Angeles Rams, Jones was traded to the Tennessee Titans before the start of the 2024 season, then acquired by Seattle midseason for a fourth-round pick and Jerome Baker. Jones has become one of the league’s best linebackers, earning All-Pro second-team honors last season, and he’s off to a stellar
start in 2026, most recently dominating the Los Angeles Chargers with his 12-tackle, 1 interception, 1 sack outing.
Field Gulls had the opportunity to talk to Ernest on Tuesday about his Chargers performance, his relationship with Bobby Wagner, and how his second Super Bowl felt compared to the one he won with the Rams.
But before we get into the football aspect of our conversation, this interview was all made possible by Call of Duty, who will soon be releasing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on October 23. Jones is a big-time gamer, and his experience playing CoD dates back many years ago.
“I think it’s World at War,” Jones said. “That was my first [Call of Duty game]. I remember playing that in my living room and I’d tried to be playing it up until 3-4 in the morning knowing I had school the next day and my mom would be on my butt. That’s my early remembrance of playing Call of Duty. Ever since, I’ve been getting more into it, playing it a lot more, having teammates makes it a lot more fun. So that’s kind of my history with Call of Duty.
Beta gameplay has been out for a bit, but Ernest said he hasn’t had the opportunity to give the game a test run, so he’s going to be waiting until worldwide release date for MW4. He admits that his play style throws caution to the wind, but he just loves playing the game.
“With time and with playing I get better, but I say I’m pretty reckless. A lot of my teammates, especially when we’re playing Warzone, I’m the guy that’s—if I see you, I’m pushing, I’m coming up, so that’s me!”
While Jones said the whole Seahawks team gets into CoD, he shouted out Devon Witherspoon and Tyrice Knight as a couple of teammates who play regularly. And yes, the idea of ‘Spoon talking trash in video games is exactly what you probably thought.
“It’s worse,” Jones said when asked if he trash talks as much in CoD as he does on the football field. “It’s worse because he’s actually like a real good Call of Duty player. He’s annoying at times when he’s out there and he’s talking trash and you may be down or you may be dying a lot. He’s on your head because he’s playing good. He’s more of a trash talker through the game for sure.”
Alright, let’s get to football now!
Ernest Jones on being the first Seahawks LB with a sack/pick double since Bobby Wagner
“That’s great company to be in right there. Bobby’s a legend, somebody I’ve got tremendous respect for, played with, so to be in that company that’s great. That puts a smile on my face, for sure.”
“I think it was a big key coming in my year two and being able to learn from Bobby [when we were on the Los Angeles Rams]. Just seeing how he works, seeing what it took to be a Hall of Fame linebacker in this game. To have everything that he has going for him, to have him be able to come in and speak life into me and coach me and teach me things was really beneficial, and I think it’s carried me to this point.”
What was Ernest’s coverage responsibility on the Justin Herbert interception?
“I’m the hook player there, and I think Justin may have thought that I was taking the tight end up vertical, and when I squared back up he threw the ball right there to my hook window.
“That’s something that we worked, that’s something that we see on film that quarterbacks just don’t think linebackers are going to get to those windows and be in those sports, so they kind of just throw the ball a thinking that we’re not going to be there. Fortunately, I was there.”
Sack, tackle for loss, or turnover? What’s Ernest Jones’ favorite thing to do as a linebacker?
“For me, it used to be tackles. It used to be tackles, tackles, tackles. But ever since I found the joy, I see why people like playing offense and catching the ball. When you get those interceptions it’s just fun to have the ball in your hands and be running the ball back. I think it’s still tackles, but it’s probably like 60-40 tackles-interceptions.
Was winning the Super Bowl sweeter this time because it was at the 49ers stadium?
“I think it was more so that—it took me five years in between to get close to this moment again. So I just think I understand what it takes to get to that part of the pinnacle of an NFL career, the NFL season, to be playing in the Super Bowl, let alone win it. I think I understood the importance of that this time.
“I was just truly grateful, no matter the opponent, no matter where it was, just grateful for the opportunity and grateful that I was fortunate enough to be here for a second time.”
Preparing for Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay offenses
“I think when you’re playing Shanahan and McVay there’s definitely different wrinkles you got to prepare for, but it all gets down back to what they’ve practiced for six months, what they’ve been practicing the entire year, and what they’ve been showing on film. It always comes back to that. We’ve got a got a good idea on what we have to do to win these teams against both of those teams.
“Specifically talking about the Niners this week, man, they’ve got a really good team. I think they’re playing the best ball of all the teams. Offensively they’re making a hell of [a lot of] plays. [Brock] Purdy’s playing really good. We’ve got our hands full. Defensively they’re no slouch either; they can go out there and get turnovers. Fred [Warner] is a really good linebacker in the middle with Dre [Greenlaw]. I expect it to be a war like it’s always been. We expect nothing less, and I’m sure they expect the same thing.”
Has Ernest Jones ever ridden in Derick Hall’s monster truck? And how was Hard Knocks?
“No I haven’t ridden. I honestly don’t even want to get that high up in the air while a car is being [driven]. Might as well get in a plane at this point.
“Hard Knocks was fun. We had a really great time. I think it truly showcased what we’re about, what we’re doing, what we’re striving to do here in Seattle. We’re just trying to have fun every day at work, Put the work in and go win football games, and if it takes us to the Super Bowl, that’s perfect. That’s where the hard work pays off.
“Each day we’re just fighting to strive, and I believe it showed that, Showed personalities. Derick Hall’s truck, his shorts, Coach [Macdonald]—his side of him that you don’t get to really see. I think it was a really good time, I think guys enjoyed it, and I really enjoyed it, as well.”
There’s a little more from this interview I’ll sprinkle here and there over the next couple of days and maybe into next week. Thanks to Ernest for his time and thanks to the folks at Call of Duty for setting this up! And now I have to ask the most obvious question in the world to our readers:
Do you play Call of Duty and are you hyped for Modern Warfare 4? Check out the campaign mode trailer here.
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