Former NFL running back Thomas Jones joined BET's "Mary Jane" as one of Jane's (Gabrielle Union) lovers.

Jones needed something to do after retiring from the game in 2011, so he decided to pick up acting, ABC News reports.

"I was very depressed, in this weird space," Jones said. "There was this emptiness, almost like you broke up with your girlfriend and then it's like, what do you do? I had never been much of a drinker, but I was waking up in the morning and drinking Coronas. I needed something to get over it."

Since joining the entertainment industry, Jones has landed roles on Showtime's "Shameless" and IFC's "Comedy Bang! Bang!"

The ex-football player is now one of Jane's love interests in the hot BET drama. And he gets to dress down for the part -- he just wore slippers and a robe during his first day on set.

"It's been an experience, man," Jones said of the love scenes he has with Union. "It's definitely been flattering. I was always in the public eye, but it was a pretty big transition to go from being seen with a helmet on to being seen with basically no clothes on."

Meanwhile, TMZ reported that the NFL former star also landed a role in the new NWA biopic "Straight Outta Compton" as one of Suge Knight's bodyguards.

"My character is very intense, very angry," Jones said about his role in the biopic. "I just went back to pregame and pulled those emotions from as if we were playing the Patriots in Foxborough."

Paparrazzi can catch the star in Hollywood now that his playing days are over. He also scored another movie that premiered last weekend called "Runway Island."

Jones has also taken his acting career to the next level by creating an app for people in the entertainment industry called CASTAR.

"I'm a full-time actor," he said. "I'm no longer Thomas Jones, the football player. I've spread my wings, come out of my cocoon. This is who I am now."