KC Chiefs officially sign Chris Jones to record-setting contract

After years of positive press quotes, shared sentiments, and persistent rumors, the Kansas City Chiefs and Chris Jones have officially agreed on a new long-term contract extension.

According to Adam Schefter, Jones's shiny new deal will pay him $95 million guaranteed over the next five seasons and will set a new mark for defensive tackles in the NFL.

Jones and the Chiefs have been expected to work things out all winter long, which is quite a change in fortune from a year ago. Despite both Jones and general manager Brett Veach saying they wanted to make something work all last spring and summer, Jones ended up holding out from the Chiefs through the entirety of training camp and even Week 1 of the regular season.

An extension in the works for years has finally arrived between the Chiefs and Stone Cold.

Jones and the Chiefs were able to cobble together a reworked deal last season that provided Jones with some major incentives for a job well done before Week 2, but both sides were still locked into their financial sides at that point and long-term talks were tabled until after the season concluded.

Jones arrived in Kansas City via a savvy 2016 NFL Draft move by then-general manager John Dorsey who pivoted out of the first round entirely for the Chiefs and backed up just enough to land Jones early in the second round while picking up extra assets.

Coming out of college, Jones had all the physical tools but he'd put together an inconsistent body of work in college and was even benched during his sophomore season. It took him a bit at the pro level to develop the technique and timing that allows him to dominate, but even then the potential was clear that he could hold his own from day one.

It was in his third season that Jones truly came into his own and blew everyone away with his growth after two seasons in the pros. In Bob Sutton's final season as defensive coordinator, Jones had 15.5 sacks and was named a second-team All-Pro for a Chiefs team that was now on the verge of greatness after trading Alex Smith to make room for Patrick Mahomes under center. Jones responded in kind on the defensive side to provide a new anchor there as well.

After Steve Spagnuolo took over in 2019, Jones turned the corner to become a cornerstone up front who would become used to double teams (or triple) while helping to free up those around him to make plays. Jones also became a much greater vocal leader in the years in which the Chiefs began to reach (and win) Super Bowl(s), especially in 2023 as the defense became more important than ever for the team's success.

Over his eight seasons so far with the Chiefs, Jones has laid the foundation for potential inclusion into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He's made 5 straight Pro Bowls and has been named first- or second-team All-Pro five times as well. With 175 quarterback hits and 75.5 sacks to his credit, Jones is closing in on some historic milestones for a (mostly) interior lineman.