Chris Jones is always outspoken and isn’t standing for anyone trying to take away from the Kansas City Chiefs victory in Super Bowl LVIII.
Former San Francisco 49ers safety Donte Whitner – who hasn’t played since the 2016 season – feels the Chiefs got an additional boost from the officials and the presence of pop icon Taylor Swift donned in K.C. colors.
Chris Jones Claps Back at Ex-49ers Star Over Chiefs Super Bowl Victory
Chiefs’ Chris Jones Shuts Down Donte Whitner
“When we think about the Super Bowl as well, I think the 49ers played against the refs as well, guys,” Whitner said on the “Up & Adams Show” on April 9. “I think that when we look at that film and you see bear hugs on those defensive ends, and you really see it in blatant moments in the game, the 49ers played against Taylor Swift, the refs, and the Kansas City Chiefs. All three.”
Jones was having none of it in a post that he has since deleted.
“Tend to make excuses for your failures,” Jones said in a post on X on April 9, quoting the clip of Whitner on the show. “Shut up.”
— Josh Buckhalter (@JoshGBuck) April 9, 2024
Whitner predicted the 49ers would exact revenge on the Chiefs for their loss in Super Bowl LIV following the 2019 season. He acknowledged the pedigree and quarterback play. But Whitner suspected the Chiefs had been sufficiently weakened for the 49ers to overcome.
Donte Whitner’s Super Bowl Prediction Fell Through
“This is the year that the 49ers finally clinch the Lombardi,” Whitner said on his “Hitner’s Hot Take” segment on January 29 I know that the Kansas City Chiefs have a championship DNA, they have a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, they also have a tight end who is pretty unguardable in Travis Kelce.
“I wholeheartedly believe that is the revenge game for that 2019 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. The Kansas City Chiefs, they no longer have the speedster in Tyreek Hill, and the 49ers no longer have game manager Jimmy Garoppolo.
“They’re going to rely heavily on Brock Purdy, who’s coming off a phenomenal game [in the NFC Championship].
“The 49ers will finally capture their sixth Lombardi and bring it home to San Francisco.”
While Purdy performed well in the Super Bowl, the results were the same. The 49ers left too much time on the clock for Mahomes and the Chiefs offense to orchestrate a game-winning drive against a usually stout San Francisco defense.
Chris Jones, Chiefs Getting Additional Fuel for Run at NFL History
The competitive desire to win is enough. But a third consecutive title would be an NFL first. And if that isn’t enough, the doubts about their win will only serve as bulletin board material.
Jones and several other Chiefs players have openly talked about chasing another title as it is. That isn’t extraordinary in its own right. But considering that Jones missed the entire offseason program, preseason, and Week 1 of the regular season, while the Chiefs had to unearth a new No. 1 wide receiver in Rashee Rice, their 2024 outlook gets even brighter.
This was supposed to be the year they were as Whitner projected: weakened.
It didn’t happen and now they have a chance to gear up in a way they couldn’t last offseason. Everyone of note is back healthy and there will be some new faces to help bolster the attack.
Main Photo: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
