The Kansas City Chiefs don’t have anything to look forward to on the field before the start of next season, though the franchise just got some excellent news for 2026.
Star defensive lineman Chris Jones told reporters on Thursday, January 1 that he considers the team’s surprising lack of success this season as nothing more than an opportunity to learn and grow.
“Definitely was a learning curve this year,” Jones said. “I appreciate the challenges. You know, you learn a lot about yourself when you have a lot of tough times throughout the course of 17 weeks. So it’s been a journey to say the least, but I learned a lot.”
He went on to confirm that retirement is not on his mind heading into his age-32 campaign, and that he intends to remain a member of the Chiefs for as long as he plays in the NFL.
“As long as they keep me here, I’m here,” Jones added. “That’s always been the plan. I admire Kobe Bryant and how his longevity and his commitment to one organization — how it shaped him as a player. So, I always planned from the beginning to retire as a Chief.”
Chris Jones Has 3 Years Remaining on Chiefs Contract
GettyKansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones.
Jones will play his 10th year in the league next season and is under contract with the Chiefs through 2028 on a five-year deal worth $159 million total.
The defensive tackle earned Pro Bowl honors for the seventh consecutive season in 2025, even though his production remained a step behind where it was at the peak of his career in 2021-2o22.
Jones entered this year with three straight first-team All-Pro selections on his resumé, though a fourth appears unlikely based on his traditional production as well as his advanced metrics. Pro Football Focus ranks Jones as the 30th-best interior defender in the league heading into Week 18 out of 132 players who have seen enough snaps to qualify at the position.
He produced just five sacks for the second consecutive season after posting 15.5 sacks in 2021 and tallying another 10.5 sacks in 2022. That said, he still finished third among defensive tackles in total pressures (60), ninth in hurries (36) and second in quarterback hits (19).
The Chiefs struggled along the defensive line throughout much of the season, in large part because the high-end talent and personnel depth alongside Jones wasn’t great. Improving in the trenches on defense is likely to be a priority for Kansas City this offseason, which should only help Jones as he hits 10 years in the NFL.
Patrick Mahomes Will Be Back Next Year Following Injury, While Travis Kelce Could Retire
GettyKansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (left) and tight end Travis Kelce (right).
Even despite all of the Chiefs’ struggles on defense, the team was still a threat to make the playoffs before quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL late in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Mahomes recently underwent surgery to repair the ligaments in his knee, and the standard rehabilitation timeline should have him back on the field at some point next fall, though he could miss some games to start the season.
Meanwhile, tight end Travis Kelce has continued to take the field despite the team shutting down several starters around him, as the Chiefs play out the string on their first lost season in more than a decade. Kelce has not yet confirmed his plans on retirement following his age-36 season.
That said, Kelce’s looming decision has been a primary topic of discussion around the league, as his current contract ends when the year does.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Chris Jones Hands Chiefs Great News Ahead of Season Finale appeared first on Heavy Sports.