Chris Jones ends holdout, returns to Kansas City Chiefs on revised contract

Chris Jones' holdout is over.

The four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle and the Kansas City Chiefs agreed to a revised contract, the team announced, ending a long-running standoff that resulted in Jones sitting out the season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions.

Jones is still set to enter the final year of his contract, but the changes to his deal provide multiple incentives to earn considerably more in 2023, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. Jones was set to earn a base salary of $19.5 million this season, but he incurred more than $2 million in mandatory fines during his holdout and missed out on a game check for the opener.

Jones took in the Chiefs' loss last Thursday at Arrowhead Stadium from a suite.

"Chris is an elite player in this league, and over the last seven years, he's really developed into a leader on our team," Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said in a statement. "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."

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At a team charity event at the Ronald McDonald House of Kansas City last week, Jones stated his desire to remain with the franchise.

"It's always been my goal to be a Kansas City Chief for life. I've said that multiple times," Jones told multiple reporters last Wednesday.

Jones' deal comes on the heels of several other defensive tackles landing sizable extensions this offseason. Jeffery Simmons, Daron Payne, Dexter Lawrence, Javon Hargrave and Quinnen Williams all signed contracts worth more than $80 million over the offseason.

Jones was originally selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft out of Mississippi State. Prior to the 2020 season, he signed a four-year $80 million extension.

Jones has been Kansas City’s best and most consistent defensive player for some time. He was an integral part of the franchise’s Super Bowl 54 and Super Bowl 57 title runs. He has led the Chiefs in sacks for four consecutive seasons, including tying a career-high with 15½ sacks in 2022, which led all interior defensive linemen last season.

Jones has been selected to four straight Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2022.

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