Throughout Chiefs video games, defensive sort out Chris Jones is a six-foot-six, 310-pound wrecking ball. However he is grow to be identified for displaying a softer facet throughout performances of the nationwide anthem.
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Brooke Sutton/Getty Photographs
NEW ORLEANS — Between the whistles, Kansas Metropolis defensive sort out Chris Jones is a terror on the soccer subject, able to single-handedly altering the result of a recreation.
However TV cameras and social media have taken discover of a softer facet of the massive man: As Kansas Metropolis’s latest playoff runs have introduced the Chiefs to the Tremendous Bowl in three straight years, Jones has grow to be identified for shedding tears at emotional moments — especially during the national anthem.
And he is not shy about it. In media appearances forward of this week’s Tremendous Bowl, Jones has taken to a working gag.
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“As you guys know, I get emotional throughout the recreation. I am an emotional man. I put on my feelings on my sleeve,” he informed reporters, smiling as he adopted the superstar pitchman impersonation. “Fortunately, I’ve my companions Kleenex right here with me. So when I’ve a tear falling down, I can take a Kleenex and wipe it off and maintain going.” (Kleenex’s guardian firm didn’t reply to a request for remark.)
Kansas Metropolis followers have come to see Jones’ tear-stained cheeks during the anthem as an auspicious signal for the sport to observe. And it is onerous to dispute that concept: The Chiefs haven’t misplaced a playoff recreation for the reason that 2022 season, and Jones has been a vital a part of the workforce’s success.
Over the previous three years, Jones has been named to the AP All-Professional First Crew every season and logged a complete of 34.5 sacks and almost 100 quarterback hits. At six-foot-six and 310 kilos, he is a bodily intimidating presence on the sector.
“You by no means see a grown man, particularly at that dimension, cry,” stated rookie teammate Jaden Hicks. “Nevertheless it’s an emotional recreation, particularly to him.”
Jones’ teammates, who see him when the cameras aren’t round — within the locker room, at follow, off the clock – uniformly say Jones has a buoyant persona, at all times fast with amusing or smile.
“He is by no means had a nasty day. He at all times appears to be in an important temper,” stated defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. “Within the recreation of soccer, to have a man as passionate as Chris is large. And I feel different guys feed off of that.”
From the second he embraced NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell with a bear hug after being drafted by the Chiefs in 2016, Jones has been demonstrative together with his emotions. However the on-field tears are a more moderen growth, he acknowledges. Jones, who’s now 30 years previous, attributed that to getting older.
“I feel it is being snug in your pores and skin, understanding that different opinions do not matter,” he stated. “As athletes and as males, I feel it is difficult at instances to be that weak, particularly in entrance of the world.”
He’s one in every of solely 5 gamers who’ve been with Kansas Metropolis throughout the entirety of the Chiefs’ outstanding seven-year run. Sunday’s recreation can be his fifth Tremendous Bowl look.
Defensive sort out Chris Jones of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs celebrates throughout the AFC Wild Card Playoff recreation in opposition to the Miami Dolphins on January 13, 2024 in Kansas Metropolis, Mo.
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For Jones, the nationwide anthem has grow to be an opportunity to pause and mirror on his path to the NFL. He grew up in a city of three,000 folks in rural Mississippi.
Now, he is in his ninth NFL season. Final 12 months, he signed a $159 million contract. He is been a Professional Bowler six instances. And naturally, there are these three Tremendous Bowl rings — and a fourth on the road Sunday.
“Whether or not it was 12 months one or 12 months 9, I am tremendous appreciative and tremendous humbled to be right here. And feelings get to flowing,” he stated.
That stage of success might make one other participant complacent, stated Chiefs defensive finish George Karlaftis. However to see Jones so moved has been an inspiration, he stated.
“When a man has had all that success… and this a lot ardour, and [they] present that, they put on it on their sleeve, you may’t assist however have that too,” Karlaftis stated.
