Regarded as likely future Hall of Famer

 

Chris Jones doesn't blame Patrick Mahomes for his winning mentality - another player is to blame

 

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier interior linemen over the last years. A critical piece of Kansas City’s defense, Jones has played a vital role in the team’s three Super Bowl appearances, much like Patrick Mahomes.

Acknowledging his contributions, the Chiefs signed him to a five-year contract worth $158.75 million, including $101 million in guaranteed money, during the recent offseason.

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Jones shared insights on “The Rich Eisen Show” about how Kobe Bryant has shaped his approach to football. He discussed how Kobe’s relentless focus on the fourth quarter motivated him to apply a similar mindset to his game.

Jones equates third-down situations in football to the “crunch time” that Kobe so often spoke about, viewing those moments as opportunities to step up when the stakes are high.

“I listen to a lot of Kobe Bryant and he just talked about certain moments, view certain things, and certain moments, you can kind of depart what it is, to pick what it is, and you kind of get an extra boost of energy,” Jones noted.

“You know, Kobe talked about the fourth quarter. For me, I try to, I associate the fourth quarter with the third down, the fourth downs, critical situations where that ‘Mamba Mentality’ coming about for me.”

Jones’ journey

As a likely future Hall of Famer, Jones’ journey began when he was picked by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as a top defensive force in the league. His breakout season came in 2018, recording 15.5 sacks and earning All-Pro honors, although he surprisingly didn’t make the Pro Bowl that year.

However, he made up for it the next season by earning his first Pro Bowl selection in 2019 and has continued that streak for five consecutive years. He’s also earned five All-Pro selections, reflecting his sustained excellence on the field.

Across his nine-year career, Jones‘s stats are nothing short of impressive. He has tallied 78.5 sacks, forced 13 fumbles, recovered three fumbles, and recorded 282 tackles, 37 pass deflections, and two interceptions.