As the Kansas City Chiefs get locked in for the 2024 NFL season, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid will keep looking for ways to exploit a defense, any way they can. But Kansas City‘s own defense, already an elite unit, could be positioned to get even better next year.
One of the Chiefs‘ defensive leaders is entering training camp with a new mindset after a 2023 season that fell below his acceptable standard. For the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, that’s great news. For everyone else, hoping to knock the Chiefs off their perch…it’s not the best news they could have received.
Chris Jones’ ambitious goal for 2024
Defensive lineman Chris Jones is entering 2024 with a renewed vigor and focus. As the man himself posted to X (formerly Twitter), Jones is eyeing a 20-sack season, which would be a new career-high and put him within striking distance of the NFL record for a single season (22.5 sacks).
Jones‘ hunger for personal success comes in the wake of a “down” season by his standards. At this time last year, Jones and the Chiefs were far apart in negotiations over a contract extension, and the subsequent stalemate saw Jones hold out of training camp and miss Kansas City’s season-opening 21-20 loss to the Detroit Lions.
But Jones and the Chiefs reached a short-term agreement before their week 2 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Jones went on to record double-digit sacks again before dominating in the postseason and signing a record-breaking contract in March.
Jones’ additional motivation comes from the fact that Kansas City is chasing history in 2024. No team in the Super Bowl era has ever won that game in three consecutive seasons — and after the Chiefs’ run through the playoffs to cap the 2023 season, few are likely to bet against them this time around, even if they struggle a bit during the regular season. And with Jones seeking a 20-sack season, opposing quarterbacks have to get ready to run.
“I’m here. Last year, I wasn’t. I gotta report to training camp. Last year, I didn’t,” Jones told reporters on Wednesday. “Overall, I’m in a good state of mind. I’m happy to be here, happy to be back on the team with Kansas City, happy to be back with the organization.”
