While several of the Kansas City Chiefs’ top players sat out the regular-season finale on Sunday, defensive standout Chris Jones remained on the field in the second half.
He had a valid cause.
Jones only required one sack to earn a seven-figure bonus. If Jones records 10 sacks this season, he will receive a $10.25 million bonus. He was 9.5 into the last game.
He earned his $10.25 million sack in the third quarter. And the Chiefs were fully aware of this. Jones sacked Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Easton Stick across the middle. This sparked a celebration that included the majority of Jones’ colleagues. With the sack, the entire sideline exploded.
The celebration revealed a lot about how Jones’ teammates saw him.
A similar situation occurred on Saturday in Baltimore, when Ravens edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney scored a massive bonus sack and celebrated. Remember that players are aware of the metrics required to meet specific incentives, and their teammates are typically aware as well.
After the sack, Jones received embraces from defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and coach Andy Reid on the bench. Jones’ season began with a contract standoff as he sought a huge long-term contract. After missing the opening game of the season, he eventually reported on a fresh one-year contract. Jones made a lot of money for himself on Sunday.