Chiefs’ Chris Jones earns $1.2 million bonus with Week 18 sack vs. Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones earned a huge sack, a money sack if you will. Puns aside, Jones’ sack in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers gave him a huge bonus.
So much so, he ran off the field to celebrate and his teammates soon mobbed him afterwards. It was a cool moment for the veteran.
Jones had to hit 10 sacks on the season to get a $1.25 million bonus from the Chiefs. You can see it below.
Jones actually has incentives to hit 15 sacks, but barring a miracle, that won’t happen in the fourth quarter Sunday. Still, hats off the pass rusher.
It is ironic considering Jones held out ahead of the regular season, desiring a new contract. The Chiefs and Jones came to a one-year agreement in September though.
The Chiefs didn’t add any additional years to Jones’ contract, meaning he remains scheduled to become a free agent after the 2023 season. Jones was set to make $19.5 million in base salary this season. He received incentives in his reworked contract to allow him to make more than the $19.5 million from his old contract.
“Chris is an elite player in this league,” general manager Brett Veach said in a statement. “… Over the last seven years, he’s really developed into a leader on our team. He’s been instrumental to our success and Super Bowl championship runs and it was a priority for us to keep him in a Chiefs uniform. I’d like to thank Chris and his representation, Michael and Jason Katz, for their desire and patience to get this done. Through this process two things were obvious, Chris wanted to be a Chief, and the Katz brothers worked diligently on his behalf.”
The Chiefs selected Jones in the second-round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State. Since entering the NFL, Jones has made four Pro Bowls and earned his first All-Pro selection last season. In 2022, he totaled 44 tackles (30 solo) and tied his career-high with 15.5 sacks.
He was a finalist for the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award, finishing third in voting behind the Dallas Cowboys’ Micah Parsons and eventual winner Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers. He capped off the season with the Lombardi Trophy after recording three tackles in the Super Bowl LVII win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Nick Geddes contributed to this report.