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Chiefs All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones admits it: He quit on the crucial play in Kansas City's Monday Night Football collapse against Jacksonville.
Jones told reporters Thursday he thought the play was over when Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence tripped not once, but twice, during his game-winning touchdown scamper from the 1-yard line. Thinking that the play was over, the 31-year-old Jones was relegated to a spectator role as Lawrence regained his footing and dove into the end zone to seal the 31-28 win.
'It's a teaching point for me, a little adversity,' Jones said Thursday. 'I can't think the play is over. It's a learning lesson. I thought it was over. I thought we had him down, so I kind of stopped and was about to celebrate. Then I realized he wasn't down.'
Promising not to let this 'happen again,' Jones told reporters he welcomes criticism despite recently shuttering his X and Instagram accounts.
As he said Thursday, he made that decision prior to Monday's defeat.
'I posted a Drake quote, 'I'll see you in the summer of 2026,'' Jones said, referring to the Canadian pop star. 'I never run from constructive criticism. I've never been that guy. I've always addressed it head on, actually. It's a lot you can take from criticism. It's like fuel, like gas, for me personally.
Chris Jones (circled) watches as Trevor Lawrence returns to his feet and scores a TD
Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones admitted he quit on the final play against the Jags
'I guess people wanted to address me head-on on social media, and they [saw] it wasn't active. They figured that I deleted it for [my performance], but it was deleted a couple days before.'
Jones also acknowledged the immense test the 2-3 Chiefs face on Sunday night football this week in Detroit Lions running backs Jahmyr Gibbs David Montgomery.
'I've been focused on the Lions since [Monday's] game,' Jones said. 'You can't hold your head [down] on one play or one game. You learn from it, you take notes, and you keep pushing.'
This has been a difficult season for Jones, who recently lost a beloved aunt, who suffered a fatal heart attack while watching him play against the New York Giants earlier this season.
'She was actually watching my game when she passed away,' an emotional Jones told reporters on October 3.
Jones said he knew something was wrong after he recorded a sack against the Giants and wasn't met with a post-game phone call from family after the win.
'It was very unexpected because usually after the game, especially after a game you get a sack, my family [will] call and congratulate me,' he told reporters.
Chris Jones is pictured with his mom, Mary Woodhouse (left), and his beloved aunt 'Don'
As Jones explained, he was particularly close with his aunt, with whom he lived for several years.
'She meant a lot,' Jones said. 'I actually stayed with her for a duration, part of my life, probably like five or six years. So we were very close.
'Meant a lot to me, my family, huge supporter.'
Chiefs coach Andy Reid accommodated Jones' request to attend her funeral in Mississippi.
Jones rewarded Reid's trust by returning to Arrowhead Stadium in time for the September win over the Ravens, although just barely.
He actually missed warmups after landing at 2:40 – just 45 minutes before kickoff – but still managed to play on the game's first snap.
'Me and Coach Reid talked about it, and more so it was about making my aunt's funeral, and if there was a time frame where I could get back I would try to get back, but they completely understood and came up with a plan around it,' Jones told media.
