KC Chiefs DT Chris Jones Has Strong Statement About Future at Super Bowl LVIII Parade
The Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl LVIII parade is in the books, and the team celebrated its win over the San Francisco 49ers in epic fashion. Several key members of the Chiefs organization appeared to be enjoying themselves, including star defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Jones, the leader of Kansas City's defense, is set to become a free agent this offseason. That wasn't stopping him from addressing his future on stage outside of Union Station, though. Speaking at the Chiefs' rally, the two-time All-Pro was quite definitive when discussing his desire for a third championship ring next season.
"I need three of those things, baby!" Jones said. "We ain't done yet! We ain't done yet! Kansas City, we will be back here next year. And for those who want Chris Jones gone, I ain't going nowhere baby! I will be here this year, next year and the year after."
On Sunday night, following the Chiefs' win, Jones had an optimistic tone when talking to the ESPN set about returning for a ninth season:
"I told (Chairman and CEO) Clark Hunt they've got to keep me here so we can keep this thing going," Jones said. "We've got something special brewing here. We have a lot of young guys that continue to get better throughout the year. (Running back Isiah Pacheco) going into his third year and with guys like that, we can continue to carry this thing, man."
It's been a tumultuous last 12 months for Jones, the team-dubbed 'CEO of Sack Nation.' Following Kansas City's Super Bowl LVII win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the veteran pass rusher held out during the offseason due to not having a long-term contract in place. After missing training camp, the preseason and Week 1 of the regular season, he returned to the team on a new one-year deal. The revised pact featured heavy incentives, allowing Jones to potentially make back what he lost and even come out ahead with another elite-level season.
During the year, reports were consistent in saying the Chiefs and Jones's camp had an amicable relationship. The holdout, at least on the surface, didn't appear to burn any bridges. As Jones is set to hit the open market in March, some believe he could command in the neighborhood of $30 million per year on a long-term contract. Could a multi-year deal see him come back to Kansas City? That's the hope of both sides, but it'll take some compromise on behalf of the Chiefs and Jones's representation.
Speaking of which, agent Michael Katz took to X to comment on Jones's on-stage assertions.
The next few weeks will be critical for Kansas City and its star tackle. A franchise tag value of just over $32M would be virtually impossible to stomach for the 2024-25 campaign, so that doesn't seem too likely. For all intents and purposes, it'll either be a new contract, a tag-and-trade scenario or the Chiefs straight-up allowing Jones to sign elsewhere. With the NFL Scouting Combine and free agency right around the corner, the time for both player and team to focus on negotiation efforts is here.
