Chris Jones contract: What to know about Chiefs DT's holdout, bonus incentives, new deal

Kanas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones is back in the Super Bowl for the fourth time in his career. But when the season began, it remained unclear if the All-Pro defensive tackle would anchor the Chiefs' defensive line this year.

Fresh off of his second Super Bowl title and entering the final year of his contract, the Mississippi State product held out all spring and summer in pursuit of a new deal. The holdout continued through Week 1 of the season, forcing Jones to sit out the Chiefs' season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions.

Jones, who remained around the team in some capacity during that time, ended his holdout prior to the Chiefs' Week 2 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars by signing a one-year contract worth up to $25 million, one that consisted of roughly $6 million in incentives.

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"I'm super pleased with how it turned out," Jones said Sept. 13 before rejoining the Chiefs for practice. "I'm back in the building. I'm excited to be back, thankful for the organization. They (were) able to boost my salary up to make up for the fines and everything. I'm super grateful for that."

Jones has held up his end of the bargain — posting 30 tackles (13for loss) and 10.5 sacks — while helping lead the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in the last five years.

Here's everything you need to know on Jones' hold out, contract status and contract details:

Chris Jones contract holdout, explained

Jones was looking for a new contract as he entered the 2023 NFL season on the final of four-year deal that he signed in 2020. He wanted to be paid as one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL, a status he justifiably earned across the first three years of his contract: He led the position in sacks (35), quarterback hits (75) and pressures (217) in that span.

Where he fell in that list and range was the "challenging part," according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Per Rapoport, Jones was looking for a new contract with an average annual value (AAV) close to Los Angeles Rams DT Aaron Donald ($31.7 million).

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Did Chris Jones face fines during hold out?

Yes. The two-time first-team All-Pro defensive end faced fines of roughly $4 million (before taxes).

• $50,000 fine for each day of training camp misses

• $98,573 for missing mandatory minicamp

• Week 1 paycheck (roughly $1.1 million)

According to The Athletic, Jones was fined $50,000 for each day he missed training camp for a total of $2.25 million. He was then fined $98,573 for missing the team's mandatory minicamp and lost out on his week one paycheck of roughly $1.1 million.

Chris Jones contract details

• Length: One year

• Total base salary: $19.5 million

• Total incentives: $6.75 million

• Possible total earnings (base salary + incentives): $25.2 million

Jones signed a one-year, $19.5 million contract in September during Week 2 of the season. His original base salary was slated for $19.5 but — due to missing the first game of the season — he lost $1.1 million of his salary, effectively giving him a contract worth $18.4 million in base salary.

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Chris Jones contract incentives

Per Rapoport, here is the list of the possible incentives that were built into his contract:

• $1 million for 35% playing time

• $1 million for 50% playing time

• $1.25 million for 10 sacks

• Another $500K for 15 sacks

• $1 million for first-team All-Pro and Super Bowl 58 appearance

• $2 million for Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl 58 win

Jones is set to return to the free agent market at the end of the season, though it's worth noting the Chiefs retained the right to use the franchise tag on the three-time first-team All-Pro defensive tackle for the 2024 season.

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Chris Jones NFL stats

• 2016: 28 total tackles and two sacks

• 2017: 32 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception

• 2018: 40 total tackles, 15.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interceptions

• 2019: 36 total tackles, nine sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery

• 2020: 36 total tackles, 7.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries

• 2021: 27 total tackles, nine sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery

• 2022: 44 total tackles, 15.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery

• 2023: 30 total tackles and 10.5 sacks

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Chris Jones contract holdout: Explaining Chiefs DT's new incentives