Chris Jones Confident Chiefs’ Defense Will Deliver Again

Jones: Confident Chiefs’ Defense Will Rise to the Occasion Again

Jones, entering his 11th NFL season, has been the anchor of Kansas City’s defense since being drafted in the second round in 2016. Despite a dip in sack totals over the past three years — from 15.5 in 2022 to 5.0 in 2024 — he remains one of the league’s most highly regarded defensive players. His pass-rush win rate last season ranked among the top at his position.
“You have to be very particular with what you want. I’m a very competitive person in whatever I do, both on and off the field,” Jones said this week. “It’s not about me, it’s about what we can do collectively as a team. We’ve been able to execute together over the years, and I believe that will continue.”

The three-time Super Bowl champion and six-time Pro Bowler has compiled 310 tackles, 80.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 37 pass deflections, and one defensive touchdown in 138 career games. He also holds the NFL record for most consecutive games with a sack (11).

Trusting Spagnuolo’s Blueprint

“The excitement is there because I know how hard everyone is working toward the common goal,” Jones said. “Remember, we led the league in sacks in 2022 and 2023. It’s been done before, and I believe we can do it again.”
Kansas City closed its preseason with a 29-27 loss to the Chicago Bears, marking its sixth straight exhibition defeat. Jones dismissed concerns, saying the team is focused on the Sept. 5 regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil.

“The focus is on the regular season,” Jones said. “That’s the encounter that matters and will set the tone.”

Dynasty Not Done

Despite the dip in preseason results, Jones believes the Chiefs’ championship window remains wide open with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, and head coach Andy Reid still in place.

“The talk is always about our downfall,” Jones said. “I think there’s an unhealthy obsession with us out there. I hate to break it to you — we’re more motivated than ever to go hard again when the season starts.”

Kingdom Work

The defensive tackle was one of the players who were very vocal in the recently released ESPN documentary dubbed “The Kingdom. Jones was staggered by the negativity the team is receiving.

“I don’t know why everybody be waiting on our downfall,” Jones said. “It’s become a norm now. We have become a new-age Patriots. It’s like, we used to be so loved, you know what I mean? Everybody was like, ‘Yeah, we love the Chiefs.’ Now, it’s like, ‘I’m tired of the Chiefs winning. Somebody else needs to win.’ You know what I mean? Then you got someone that) was like, ‘Man, I feel like the Chiefs cheated,” he was quoted in the documentary.

The Chiefs will kick off their season with a trip to Brazil, as visitors, against the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo on Friday, Sept. 5.