In the wake of the Saturday night news, the Kansas City Chiefs signed Three-Time Super Bowl Champion Defensive Tackle Chris Jones to a 5-year, $160 million contract, making him the highest-paid defender; fans rejoiced because Jones promised stuck to his word to end his career in Kansas City.
It was hardly shocking that the Kansas City Chiefs and Chris Jones reached a deal on Monday before the start of free agency. Though many doubted it would happen, considering the infamous Katz Brothers were driving the contract bus, they got an inflated back end, allowing them to thump their chests to recruit more NFL players. Over the next three years, Jones will earn $95 million guaranteed, and the Chiefs can walk away from the deal after the 2026 season.
Last year, before his elongated and nearly fatal holdout that stretched into the 2023 season opener, Chris Jones and the Chiefs organization were on the verge of a divorce. However, after Jones attended opening day against the Detroit Lions, sitting with his agents in a private box, he realized that something had to change the following day. He knew he let his teammates down in their season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions.
The change occurred the following day when Jones and Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach sat down for two hours and put all their cards on the table. Knowing they could no longer strike a deal to extend the contract beyond the 2023 season, the Chiefs added incentives that absorbed the fines Jones incurred during his holdout.
In those discussions and goodwill gesture by Kansas City, Veach explained the Chief’s plan with Chris Jones, and both sides promised to engage in meaningful talks after the season to reach a compromise.
Jones did his job during the regular season and into the playoffs, helping his teammates win their second consecutive Super Bowl Trophy. During last month’s parade, he was emphatic in his speech that he wasn’t going anywhere, and his drive was to become the first Three-Peat Super Bowl Champion on the only NFL team he has called home.
It wasn’t the first time Jones stated his desire to play for the Chiefs his entire NFL career. He said it many times. The problem with that talk was some fans didn’t believe it was sincere. As a social media fan, @StoneColdJones is a popular destination within the Chiefs Kingdom.
The fact that Jones likes to leave cryptic tweets only fueled speculation that he didn’t want to stay in Kansas City. Ultimately, those social media posts were just part of the Jones persona, which generally starts and ends with a good laugh. Granted, some fans didn’t see it that way, but Jones would never play for another NFL team.
Still, with the Katz Brothers, Chiefs fans were worried they could get more bags of coins on Monday during the legal tampering period. As Saturday approached, there was a strong sentiment that a deal could be reached.
Chris Jones is an interesting character on and off the field. He has a boisterous and youthful charm that evokes a wide range of emotions, from yelling at his coaches to challenging his teammates to the tears that stream down his face in the most significant moments. He is a leader on the field and in the locker room and gives back to the local community. It also helps that he’s the best defensive tackle in the NFL and has been for the last three seasons.
Though most people give the edge to Aaron Donald, Jones has three Super Bowl rings, and Donald has just one. In leading the defense in the last two seasons to consecutive Super Bowl titles, Jones played some of the best football in his career in the postseason.
In the AFC Championship game against the Bengals two years ago, his fourth-quarter sack late on Joe Burrow set up the game-winning field goal that gave the Chiefs a front-row seat to Super Bowl LVII.
Jones was a machine in January and February in the latest playoff run, getting pressure on Tua Tagovailoa, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Brock Purdy. He made game-changing plays in the last three quarterback battles that swung potential season-ending losses into postseason wins.
With a big contract at stake, Jones led a young and talented defense to heights that Kansas City had yet to achieve since the 1969-1970 Super Bowl IV Champion Chiefs.
Despite not making his regular-season debut until Week Two at Jacksonville, he was a one-person wrecking crew on Jaguars Quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Given his zero-practice time, playing in nearly 100-degree heat, his teammates were floored that he could play at an All-Pro level despite missing all the team’s OTAs, training camp, and preseason games.
That was the day Chris Jones made a statement, and his fellow defenders followed him to back-to-back World Titles.
Ultimately, the Chiefs gave Jones the face-value contract he wanted and the guarantees he requested over the next three seasons last year. Granted, the Chiefs generally don’t take up offers once they set the floor in contract talks, but Jones was worth the Penthouse price.
