Chiefs Terminate Contract of Super Bowl Champion Defender

The Kansas City Chiefs have waived linebacker Cam Jones, a Super Bowl LVIII champion, in a corresponding roster move to designate second-year linebacker Cooper McDonald for return from injured reserve.

The transaction, confirmed on Tuesday, ends Jones’ brief return to the active roster after he was elevated from the practice squad earlier in the month.

Jones, an undrafted free agent out of Indiana in 2023, quickly carved out a role as a reliable special teams contributor.

He appeared in all 17 games in both 2023 and 2024, logging roughly two-thirds of the team’s special teams snaps each season while recording 17 tackles as a rookie and 19 the following year.

Across those two seasons, he totaled about 161 defensive snaps and 567 special teams snaps, establishing himself as a depth piece who could step in when needed.

His first season culminated in a Super Bowl championship as the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime in Super Bowl LVIII.

After the 2024 season the Chiefs waived Jones during roster cuts. He was claimed by the New York Jets, appeared in 10 games, and dealt with a hip injury that landed him on injured reserve.

He later signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants in March 2026 but was released before training camp.

The Chiefs brought the familiar face back in mid-August, signing him and initially placing him on the practice squad after final cuts.

He was elevated to the active roster in mid-October, appearing in limited special teams duty, including 15 snaps in a recent game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The latest move prioritizes McDonald’s return. The second-year linebacker suffered a knee injury in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos and has completed the required four-game absence.

Designating him to return opens a 21-day window for activation; the Chiefs could bring him back as early as this week. McDonald had stepped into a more prominent role after Leo Chenal’s departure and logged significant special teams work in 2025.

Jones’s release is a standard depth decision for a contending team managing the 53-man roster.

At 26 (turning 27), the Memphis native remains a known commodity in Steve Spagnuolo’s system with proven special teams value.

He could draw interest on the waiver wire or clear and return to a practice squad elsewhere—or even back with Kansas City. For now, the Chiefs have chosen to clear space for McDonald’s potential activation as they continue their season.