The Kansas City Chiefs officially signed DT Chris Jones to his long-term contract extension on Monday.
Jones will make his home in Kansas City for the foreseeable future with a record-setting contract and the excitement over the deal is palpable. In the same breath as the team announced the deal officially on Monday, the top brass in the organization revealed their excitement in a wave of statements.
Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt emphasized that Jones belongs in a Chiefs uniform:
“I’d like to congratulate Chris and his family, along with Brett Veach and his staff, on getting this well-deserved deal done before free agency,” Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. “Chris belongs in a Chiefs uniform. He’s an elite player in the National Football League, a key component to our defense, and a leader in the locker room. We’ve felt his impact on the field and in the community. Over the last several years, he’s been essential to our success in winning multiple Super Bowls, and we know that he’ll play a vital role in sustaining that success moving forward.”
As for Brett Veach, the general manager explained that he envisions Jones as a future Hall of Famer.
“Chris is a future Pro Football Hall of Famer and, in our opinion, the best defensive tackle in the National Football League,” General Manager Brett Veach said. “He earned every bit of this record-breaking contract. Over the last eight years, he’s been critical to our success, including his significant impact in all three Super Bowl championship runs. I’d like to thank my team, Chris Shea, and Jack Wolov, as well as Chris and his representation, Michael and Jason Katz, for their efforts and patience to get this done. We’re certainly proud to have Chris locked in here for the foreseeable future.”
For Andy Reid, he reflected on his coaching tenure and how Jones stacks up as a leader in the locker room.
“Chris is one of the most talented players I’ve coached in my career,” Head Coach Andy Reid said. “He’s really grown into being the leader of our defense, and you’ve seen how he’s helped younger players become better at their craft. He shows up every day with the right attitude and energy, and that’s infectious in our locker room. I’m happy for Chris and his family. We have more work to do here, and Chris is going to be a big part of that.”
Jones is a five-time Pro Bowler and five-time AP All-Pro. He'll enter his ninth NFL season in 2024.
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