Chiefs Star Chris Jones Opens Up on Losing His Aunt Angela: ‘She meant a lot’
Kansas City star defensive tackle Chris Jones shared that a close family member passed away after suffering a heart attack during the Chiefs game Sunday night in Week 3.
Jones, still grieving, opened up at a press conference Friday about the death of his aunt, Angela. Jones attended her funeral in Mississippi on Saturday, before arriving back in Kansas City with 45 minutes to go before kickoff with the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon. Jones was visibly emotional during pregame.
“She meant a lot,” Jones said. “I actually stayed with her for a duration, a part of my life, probably five or six years. We was very close.”
“She was actually watching my game when she passed away,” he added.
Jones said he found out about Angela’s death after the Chiefs defeated the Giants, 22-9, on “Sunday Night Football,” Sept. 21. He added Angela was a “huge supporter” of him and the Chiefs, where he has spent his entire All-Pro career.
Jones Records Sack in Final Game for aunt Angela
During the game, Jones recorded a sack, and he expected to hear from his family with congratulatory messages, but instead received somber news.
“I was calling everybody saying, … we got the sack,” Jones said.
But soon responses of “call your mom” and “call your sister” began to worry Jones.
“Unfortunately, she had a heart attack watching the game,” Jones said.
GettyEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 21: Chris Jones #95 of the Kansas City Chiefs greets fans following a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on September 21, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Andy Reid Prioritized Funeral, Made it Possible for Jones to Play
Jones, head coach Andy Reid and the front office worked out a plan so that Jones could attend the funeral and still play Sunday, if he wanted to.
“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 said.
Reid expressed where the organization stood earlier in the week.
“He had to do what he had to do there. That’s not something you plan on,” Reid said during a press conference. “You take care of that first and the game kind of comes secondary when you start dealing with life and death.
Jones is an All-Time Great from Mississippi
Jones grew up in the small city of Houston, Mississippi. He attended Houston High School where he was considered a five-star recruit and was ranked among the top players in his class.
Jones played college football at Mississippi State University, where he played three years, forgoing his senior year to enter the 2016 NFL draft. A was selected in the second-round by the Chiefs.
Jones is a three-time Super Bowl champion, six-time All-Pro, and six-time Pro Bowler. He twice recorded 15.5 sacks in a season, in 2018 and 2022, and has tallied two career interceptions and 13 forced fumbles.
Known for his emotional displays during the national anthem, Jones has also used his platform off the field to promote environmental awareness, including starring in a PSA on Earth Day.
Daniel Jones Breaks Top-10 Greatness with Colts
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has had a great start to his first year in the Circle City. Despite falling in a dramatic tilt against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4, his four-game sample with Shane Steichen has been unlike anything anyone expected before the season started.
Jones now sets his eyes on a golden opportunity to help the Colts return to the win column against the Las Vegas Raiders, who rank 21st in the NFL in passing yards allowed with 913. Given how well Jones has played, this is a game where he can shine.
Pro Football Focus' Nick Akridge put together his QB ranking ahead of Week 5, showing immense respect to Jones by placing him eighth overall. Jones is among names like Justin Herbert (9) and Josh Allen (7).
Below are some prominent quarterback metrics from Jones, along with his rank in the NFL for each. These numbers display how effective the former sixth-overall pick has been through four games with the Colts.
-Passing Yards | 1,078 (3rd)
-Completion Percentage | 71.9 (4th)
-Completions | 87 (tied - 9th)
-QBR | 79.1 (1st)
-Passer Rating | 103.3 (8th)
After six seasons of consistently underwhelming performances with the New York Giants, Steichen has Jones playing better than he's ever shown in his veteran career under center.
Jones' career resurgence is reminiscent of what Sam Darnold (now with the Seattle Seahawks) accomplished last year with the Minnesota Vikings. Darnold's career was nothing short of a pure dumpster fire with the hapless New York Jets franchise.
However, once Darnold was under the tutelage of a true QB whisperer like Kevin O'Connell, he found incredible rhythm. Darnold finished 2024 with 35 touchdown passes, 4,319 passing yards, a 66.2 completion percentage, and a Pro Bowl nomination.
Now, Jones is doing the same with a QB-savvy coach like Steichen and Indianapolis.
For Jones to have gone from what he was perceived as in New York, to one of the NFL's most efficient quarterback is a testament to the talent he had the entire time, and Steichen's ability to mold those attributes into a great signal-caller.
If Jones can be as consistent as he's been through the young 2025 season for the rest of it, he'll conclude as a potential Comeback Player of the Year candidate. Jones has season totals of seven all-purpose scores (four passing, three rushing) and a great ability to spread the wealth in the offense.
Jones has become a great leader for Steichen's offense and has gelled with players like Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, and Tyler Warren. Along with an impressive offensive line, Jones is playing comfortably, confidently, and like a winner.
Anything can happen in the NFL week-to-week, but Jones has a great matchup on paper ahead against the struggling Raiders at home. If he can get a victory while playing turnover-free and clean football, he'll regain the momentum the team lost against the Rams.
