Training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs is underway, and there is no contractual drama dominating the headlines and taking away from the football being played on the field. That’s what happened last year — when defensive tackle Chris Jones held out of the preseason amid contract negotiations.
Thanks to the five-year, $159 million deal the Chiefs signed Jones to this offseason, he is back in St. Joseph, Missouri, with his teammates motivated to work.
“I’m happy to be back,” Jones told reporters after the first full-team practice of camp on Sunday. “It has been two years since I’ve been able to be out here with the guys. I love being in this environment, where we all have to focus on football, get better, compete, and challenge each other day in and day out.”
Jones’ presence is important — and even more so because of his veteran status. The 2024 season will be his ninth in the NFL, and he will be the eldest of an ascending defensive core. The departures of experienced defenders like L’Jarius Sneed, Willie Gay and Mike Edwards have opened room for new players to make a mark.
“This year is all about new challenges,” Jones emphasized. “We got a lot of new guys, new challenges ahead of us. We’re excited for it.”
Some of those challenges will happen over the next few weeks on the practice fields of Missouri Western State University — and it’s not just executing a play.
Jones is welcoming the dog days ahead.
“Adversity is going to come,” Jones warned. “First day, everyone is excited and full of energy. Two weeks in, a couple padded practices, we start to look around for energy. I think we’re able to feed off each other.”
“For me, I just try to stay consistent with who I am and my attitude every day. It does give energy to the guys; that’s what I’m here for.”
The passion that Jones plays with is hard to miss, but it may take a bit more to charge up at 30 years old. Less than a month from hitting that life milestone, Jones is squeezing it for all it’s worth in hopes of getting some days off soon.
“I hope coach Reid feels it in his heart to understand,” joked Jones. “30 hits different.”
On the other side of the ball, tight end Travis Kelce is 34 years old and wants to work every day he can. Jones clarified the difference there.
“Travis’ job is a little easier than mine because I’m fighting 300 pounds every play,” Jones laughed. “We’ll talk about it, have further conversations. Maybe I need to have a one on one with (general manager) [Brett] Veach, talk to my guy (owner, chairman and CEO) Clark [Hunt], we’ll work something out.”
The results of last season’s absence go in favor of Jones’ request. Down the stretch, Jones was as dominant as ever.
Financial incentives drove his performance in some respects, but there’s no number to chase this year. Jones’ motivation to win Defensive Player of the Year will come from how much that would help the Chiefs get to where they want to go.
“That means I’m doing my part on this team,” answered Jones, when asked his potential to win the award. “I’m being the best player I can be for this team and this organization. I’m also challenging my teammates to be better. That’s my overall goal here.”
With Jones locked in to potentially play the rest of his career in Kansas City, he is focused on being the veteran leader that he needs to be for this team. This camp will be a big test for that mentality.
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