Chris Jones doubles DPOY and explains how he can help his KC Chiefs teammates

July 21, 2024

The Kansas City Chiefs are back in training camp at full strength and will take to the Missouri Western State University practice field on Sunday morning. The defending champions in back-to-back games put on a great show in front of thousands of excited fans in St. Joseph, Missouri.

The energy and spirits were high with the entire team back in training camp, especially with stars like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Chris Jones leading the way. The pillars of the organization are currently setting the tone for the regular season, which marks the start of a hunt for a third straight win.

For Jones, this is his first training camp since 2022. But his goals remain exactly the same. The All-Pro defensive tackle is once again aiming for the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award, and a new contract won’t change that.

“I think my mindset is always to be the best I can be,” Jones said. “I strive for the DPOY every year. That’s a commitment I put on myself, and I also challenge myself to make my teammates better. I think no matter how much money it is, how much money I make, how much money I get, my morals in football never change. I play football because I love the game, not for anything else.”

Jones is convinced that his personal best can rub off on everyone else.

“That means I’m doing my part for this team,” Jones said. “That I’m being the best player I can be for this team, for this organization, and that I’m also challenging my teammates to be better. I think that’s my main goal here, and I think we’re going to continue to improve.”

Last offseason was very different for Jones. He was coming off the best season of his career and still at his best, seeking a lucrative contract extension with the only NFL franchise he had ever known. A long layoff lasted through training camp and the regular season, causing him to miss the Week 1 game but return before Week 2 with a revised one-year contract. Jones played out the season not knowing what the future held, winning another Super Bowl in the process.

In March, Jones signed a hefty multi-year deal that will keep him in Kansas City for the rest of his best seasons. Since then, the offseason routine has returned to normal for the 30-year-old. Although another payday is on the horizon, he still wants the highest award for his defense in football and wants 20 sacks in 2024 to go along with it.

For now, Jones is happy to be back with everyone as training camp begins. He knows there are much tougher times ahead, but with great leadership, the Chiefs’ championship DNA will help them get through it. Jones hopes to be part of that solution.

“I think we feed off each other,” Jones said. “Like I told the D-line, there’s going to be adversity. Day one, everyone’s excited (and) everyone’s energized. After two weeks, when we’ve had a couple days of padding practice, we’re looking for energy, so I think we can feed off each other. For me, I just try to stay consistent every day with who I am and what my mindset is. I know we’re going to face a little adversity, but for me, it’s just about staying consistent. If that means giving the guys energy, then I’m here for it.”