One day after celebrating his new record-setting five-year contract worth up to $95 million, Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones joined in celebrating one of his counterparts’ careers. Chiefs’ star Travis Kelce’s brother Jason Kelce retired after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles on March 4.
Less than a week later, Kelce is joined in retirement by Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. Jones had a simple message for his fellow Mississippi State alum.
“Much respect!! @fcoxx_91,” Jones posted on X, formerly Twitter, quoting a post from the NFL announcing Cox’s decision on March 10.
Chiefs’ Chris Jones Tips Cap to Eagles Legends Fletcher Cox, Jason Kelce
Chris Jones Tips Cap to Former Mississippi State Bulldog
Much respect!! @fcoxx_91 https://t.co/tahz8dKMeO
— Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) March 10, 2024
Cox’s Bulldogs tenure ended two years before Jones’ began.
Cox retires after 12 NFL seasons – all spent with the Eagles – as a six-time Pro Bowler, one-time All-Pro, and 2017 Super Bowl champion. He and Jones also went “head-to-head” four times. Jones is 3-1 against his fellow former Bulldog, including Super Bowl LVII. Cox notched his first win against the Chiefs in his career (five meetings) in Week 11 of this past season.
Jones had an even simpler message for Kelce following his announcement, simply sharing a video of the Eagles star, exclaiming his name followed by a handshake emoji.
Jason Kelce! 🫱🏼🫲🏾 https://t.co/9MBItLpafw
— Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) March 7, 2024
Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill Sends Message to Former Teammate Chris Jones
Jones and former Chiefs, now current Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill had a friendly back-and-forth during the season before the two teams met. In the aftermath of Jones’ new deal, Hill was again tagging his friend on social media.
“Draft buddy Chris happy for my boy,” Hill posted on X on March 10
The Chiefs selected Jones in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft with the No. 37 overall pick. They took Hill 128 picks later, in the fifth round with the No. 165 overall selection.
“Appreciate it brotha,” Jones replied.
Several of Jones’ current teammates also chimed in, congratulating the five-time Pro Bowl lineman on his secured future.
“@StoneColdJones Congratulations Bludda! Well Deserved!!!!,” Mike Pennell posted, quoting one of Jones’ posts.
🤝🏾🤝🏾
— Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) March 10, 2024
“He bacccckkkkkk!!!!,” Justin Reid’s post read.
🤝🏾🤝🏾
— Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) March 10, 2024
Pennel is a free agent, while Reid is heading into the final year of his three-year, $31.5 million contract. The Chiefs have just $7.5 million in cap space, per Spotrac. But a restructure could lower Reid’s $14.2 million cap hit and give the Chiefs some breathing room.
Chris Jones Thinking Chiefs 3-Peat?
The Chiefs became the first team in 20 years to win back-to-back championships with their win in Super Bowl LVIII.
Among the many posts Jones shared before and in the wake of his new contract, one seemed to hint at wanting the Chiefs to be the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a row.
KC….5 more years of greatness! 3x,” Jones posted on March 9.
Of course, it could also point to the fact that Jones is already a three-time champion. At any rate, the Chiefs have to be among the favorites to win Super Bowl LIX.
They were likely at their weakest point of the Patrick Mahomes era, and Jones’ absence through Week 1 of the regular season played a part in that. The Chiefs overcame that, found what is at worst a No. 2 wide receiver in Rashee Rice, and still have their two best players on either side of the ball coming back.
