NFL Linebacker Dhani Jones is always up for an extreme adventure. Since launching his show Dhani Tackles the Globe on the Travel Channel last year, Jones is showing the world that he is a force to be reckoned with on and off the football field.
With its second season premiering last month on April 19, viewers can watch Jones tackle his way through 10 countries with the goal of experiencing each through a different adventure that always includes a sport and of course food. From bicycling in Italy, Lutte wrestling in Senegal, Cricket in Jamaica and Water Polo in Croatia, Jones delivers a cultural experience that goes beyond the people from an athletic perspective.
Born in San Diego, Calif., Jones graduated from the University of Michigan with Honors and was drafted by the New York Jets in 2000. Since then, he has played with the Philadelphia Eagles prior to signing with his current team, the Cincinnati Bengals.
His passions off the field include writing poetry, fashion, photography and oil painting. In addition, he works with former Vice President Al Gore on issues concerning climate change and rides his bike to the stadium for practices and games. He also serves on the entertainment council for the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, Feeding America.
When I first watched Dhani Tackles the Globe last year, I thought what a creative way to have fun with a purpose. The majority of travel shows center around the food and how it brings different people together on common ground. For Jones’ show, it is the discovery of a destination and its culture through sports and recreational activities. But along the way, he also discovers the food that brings the entire experience to a full circle.
He admits to being a foodie and says that he “likes a lot of everything.” A man that cooks for himself, he likes food in its simplest form and enjoys wines from Italy and Argentina. However, on the show he has no problem showing his wild side and is not shy about indulging in what would make many turn up their noses like eating insects and undesirable fruits like durian. But to Jones, it is all about the experience and enjoying each country to the fullest.
With a name that means “thinking man’, Jones’ skills and talents also extend into a number of business ventures. Known for wearing his signature bow ties, he founded FiveStar Ties in 2005 shortly after being encouraged by a friend who believed they made a defining statement about those who wore them. The ties are designed for those looking for high quality men’s accessories and are sold online at www.fivestarties.com and at the specialty store, Ventresca Limited, in Jenkintown, Pa. The company also carries a collection of neckties.
An Asian citrus liqueur, media and design firm as well as a bar and lounge round out his current business portfolio. And always looking ahead, there are plans for a production company and his own foundation that will offer support and opportunities to young men everywhere who aspire to walk in their own giant footsteps like Jones.
You don’t have to be a football or even a Bengals’ fan to follow Jones. His versatility and passion for life and helping others has placed him in so many different arenas that you can’t help but notice.
To learn more about Dhani Jones, visit www.dhanijones.com. Catch Dhani Tackles the Globe on Monday nights at 11 pm ET/PT. For more information on the show, visit the Travel Channel.
