The phone call Chris Jones was expecting came through moments after the Chiefs had won their first game, at the New York Giants in Week 3.
Jones had just recorded his first sack of the season in that game, so he anticipated a joyous exchange with family and friends.
He knew something was wrong when the first thing he heard was to call his mother and sister.
Jones soon learned that his aunt, Angela Dawn Haynes, had suffered a heart attack while watching the game and soon passed away. She was 49.
“She meant a lot to me and was a huge supporter,” Jones said. “I actually stayed with her for a duration, probably five or six years”
With a heavy heart and a well-choreographed plan, Jones played a week later in the Chiefs’ 37-20 home triumph over the Baltimore Ravens.
The funeral service was scheduled for Sunday morning at 11 a.m. Central Time, at the family’s church in their hometown of Houston, Mississippi. Jones had returned home after Saturday’s team activities and planned to return to Kansas City in time for kickoff.
News of Jones’ travel plans hit social media Sunday morning and cameras caught him arriving at Arrowhead — wearing attire suited to a funeral service — about 30 minutes before kickoff. There were no pre-game warmups.
Jones said he drank water on the plane to remain hydrated, got to the stadium, put on his pads and uniform and then just hit the field.
“I got off the plane ready,” he said.
Teammates rallied around Jones, the six-time Pro Bowl and six-time All-Pro selection, when he reached the locker room.
“That was a tough deal,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. “I know it wasn’t an easy day, but it was good to see all the guys rally behind him. He walked into the locker room and everybody was around him.”
The officials statistics for the Ravens game credit Jones with a tackle for loss, two quarterback hurries and a pass break-up in 39 snaps.
But his true impact on the game was more profound.
“Sometimes the stats don’t align,” Jones said. “But that shouldn’t deter from the impact you have on the game. Whether it’s taking on pressures, taking on two (blockers), sometimes three, for someone (a pass rusher) to come open.”
Jones said he saw a statistic that linebacker Nick Bolton had five pressures on Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson where he was untouched… “We have a very friendly linebacker and (defensive back) defense,” he said.
Jones said this with the smile he often wears when discussing stats and sacks. A week ago, while addressing reporters after the Ravens game, there was no smile — only short responses as he spoke about a day that had started in difficult fashion.
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Blair Kerkhoff
The Kansas City Star
Blair Kerkhoff has covered sports for The Kansas City Star since 1989. He was elected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
