Chiefs DT Chris Jones secures massive bonus with season’s 10th sack

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Unbridled joy — that’s what winning $1.25 million looks like, based on Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones’ reaction Sunday afternoon in the regular-season finale at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

On the Los Angeles Chargers’ first snap with under 5 minutes left in the third quarter, Jones delivered a heavy punch and bull-rushed left guard Jordan McFadden backward.

Quarterback Easton Stick felt the pressure but slipped as he sought an escape path, falling right in Jones’ path for a third-down sack that forced a field-goal try.

Ashley Landis/AP

The play earned Jones — who finished the year with 10 1/2 sacks, his third career season with double-digit sacks — a $1.25-million bonus based on the terms of a reworked one-year deal he signed before the season after holding out through training camp and missing the season’s first game.

“That’s a couple cheeseburgers right there that he made,” Chiefs coach and noted cheeseburger conniseur Andy Reid joked after the game.

After the sack, Jones pointed toward the sky and was chased from the field by defensive end Malik Herring — reaching a top speed of 14.85 mph during the celebration, according to NFL NextGen Stats — as he made a mad dash toward a sideline that had erupted in celebration.

Mark J. Terrill/AP

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, wearing a white hoodie as he was inactive for the game, ran onto the field to high-five Jones as he neared the sideline.

Once off the field, Jones gave long snapper James Winchester a leaping high-five before rolling toward the bench, getting to his feet and being mobbed by defensive end George Karlaftis, linebacker Willie Gay Jr., safety Justin Reid and more teammates.

It was as if Jones, who has made more than $86 million in his NFL career, was imagining swimming through a huge pile of money Scrooge McDuck style.

“You could see by the response of the players that it meant a bunch — not only to him but to the guys,” Reid said. “They were all on board pulling for him. That’s kind of the neat thing about that.”

After celebrating with his teammates, Jones hugged defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Moments later, Jones hugged coach Andy Reid before taking a seat on the bench before defensive line coach Joe Cullen stopped by for his own hug.

“It was great to get Chris that sack, the one sack,” Reid said. “It took him a little bit, but he had about eight hurries getting there, so he really played a good game.”

Jones, who said after the game he was supposed to play for only one quarter, finished with 12 QB pressures — tied for the most by any pass rusher in the NFL this season, according to NextGen Stats — on 31 pass rushes.

"One quarter turned to two quarters and two quarters turned to, 'Please, coach, can I get one more drive?'" said Jones, who thanked Reid and the organization for letting him play.

Ultimately, Reid said the decision was up to Jones.

“First of all, he wanted the opportunity, so I gave him the opportunity,” Reid said.

Jones now has 75 1/2 career sacks, which ranks fifth in Chiefs history behind Derrick Thomas (126 1/2), Tamba Hali (89 1/2), Neil Smith (85 1/2) and Justin Houston (78 1/2).

He is tied for 88th in NFL history since sacks became an official stat in 1982 and is 13th among active players.

—