Why Chiefs’ Chris Jones has $1 million on the line in AFC Championship vs. Ravens

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones will have more on the line Sunday than simply aiming for his fourth Super Bowl appearance.

According to his reworked contract signed in September, Jones earns a $1 million incentive this season if he makes the All-Pro team and the Chiefs advance to the Super Bowl.

Jones was named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press earlier this month.

That means a win Sunday over the Baltimore Ravens — kickoff is at 2 p.m. Central at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore — would put an additional check in his pocket.

The last time this was a factor, Jones was dominant. During a Week 18 game against the Los Angeles Chargers — and while needing a half-sack to earn a $1.25 million bonus with a 10-sack season — Jones had 13 pressures, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats. That tied the highest mark by any defensive player all year.

Once he officially brought down the Chargers’ Easton Stick for a sack in the third quarter, Jones ran to the sideline, where teammates mobbed him to celebrate the achievement.

So what are they predicting from him with a similar-type bonus available Sunday?

“I expect him to be a dominant force, man,” Chiefs defensive lineman Mike Danna said Friday with a smile. “You know what that man can be when he’s got a head full of steam, he’s got something he wants to accomplish. He gets the job done, man.”

Defensive lineman George Karlaftis didn’t know about Jones’ potential bonus — “Oh wow,” he said when alerted of it Friday — but also said he didn’t figure that would have an impact in Sunday’s game.

“He’s gonna play his heart out regardless, whether it’s the preseason, first game of the season, the AFC Championship. That’s what he’s always going to do,” Karlaftis said. “I don’t think it changes anything for him.”

Jones remains the unquestioned leader of the Chiefs’ defensive front. His 75 regular-season pressures were second among all defensive interior linemen, according to Pro Football Focus. In addition, Jones ranked second in ESPN’s “Pass Rush Win Rate” among defensive tackles, with that data showing he’d been double-teamed on a league-high-tying 72% of those snaps.

Karlaftis described Jones’ overall season as “phenomenal.”

“He just opens so much stuff and requires so much attention,” Karlaftis said. “Aside from the stuff he does on the field, he’s just a great teammate, great leader. Just such a great presence to have around.”

Jones’ base salary this season was $19.5 million minus the missed game check for sitting out Week 1 vs. the Detroit Lions. That decision docked him just over $1 million.

The eighth-year pro picked up previous incentives this season for 35% playing time ($1 million), 50% playing time ($1 million) and getting to 10 sacks ($1.25 million).