Marvin Jones Jr. announced on Tuesday that he’s stepping away from the Detroit Lions “to take care of personal family matters.” As a result of his announcement, the Lions released him.

The veteran wide receiver didn’t offer any details about the “personal family matters” forcing him to step away from football, but Jones did say this move was necessary. He thanked the Ford family (owners of the Detroit Lions) and the organization itself for helping him along the way in making this tough decision.

“I just want to say that I have so much love and respect for the Ford Family, the city of Detroit, my teammates and coaches. To be brief, I am stepping away from the team to take care of personal family matters. Although this was no easy decision, I cannot be the person/player that I need to be for this team as well as tend to my family from afar,” he said in a statement posted on Instagram. “This organization has been amazing showing love and support for myself and my family over the years and this time is no different. For that  I am appreciative. To my brothers and coaches, I will be rooting for you every step of the way! This is the year! Go get it!!!!”

Jones was in his second stint with the Lions, a team that’s had a remarkable turnaround this season. Jones, who attended the University of California at Berkeley, was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 166th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

After four seasons with the Bengals, Jones signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the Detroit Lions in 2016. After five seasons with the Lions, Jones signed a two-year deal worth $12.5 million with the Jacksonville Jaguars before returning to the Lions this season on a one-year deal worth $3 million.

Ahead of his surprise announcement, there was speculation about his future when he didn’t travel with the team to Baltimore for Sunday’s game against the Ravens. He was ruled out Saturday, with the team citing undisclosed personal reasons and not injury-related. It was a surprising move considering Jones had attended and fully participated in every practice all week. He finished the season with only five receptions for 35 yards receiving in six games.

The surprise announcement comes nearly four years after Jones mourned the loss of his infant son, Marlo, who died on Dec. 28, 2019 at just 6 months old. Marlo was Jones and his wife, Jazmyn’s, fifth child. The cause of death has never been disclosed.

In an emotional essay published by The Players’ Tribune in November 2020, Jones addressed his four children — Marv, Mareon, Murrell and Mya — and opened up about the roller coaster of emotions he felt following the death of their little brother. Jones shared how the shocking ordeal nearly forced him to quit football, and more.

“It’s tough to talk about even all these months later,” he wrote, “but after your little brother Marlo passed away in December … Daddy was ready to call it quits. Not just football, either. I”m talking just get away from … everything. Leave the country. Move to Spain. Hunker down. Just us and Mommy. That sort of thing. Never talk to anyone ever again, never have to face anyone or discuss anything, just shield us all from the entire outside world. You know what I mean? We were all just struggling so much.”

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