Chris Jones: second Super Bowl ring would mean ‘everything’

Chris Jones can’t settle for just one Super Bowl ring.

As Super Bowl week kicked off in a strange setting on Monday afternoon, the Chiefs star defensive tackle made his feelings abundantly clear: one ring is not enough. After capturing his first title just 12 months ago, reporters asked Jones what winning on Sunday and securing a second ring would mean to him.

“Everything, man, this is why you play the game,” said Jones. “I’m trying to get in the Hall of Fame one day. When I retire, I want to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. This is the reason you play the game. I want to retire with like six or seven rings.”

Winning on Sunday would certainly help Jones achieve his ultimate goal of possessing enough rings to fill one hand and then some, but first, he will need to get past a player that many consider the greatest of all time — a point he doesn’t necessarily agree with.

Hall of Fame careers are built on delivering on the biggest stages — something Jones knows all about. In the fourth quarters of both Super Bowl LIV and of this year’s AFC Divisional Round matchup against the Browns, the Chiefs needed their defense to step up. It was Jones that took on that responsibility.

Sunday’s Super Bowl comes at the end of a challenging year for everyone associated with the Chiefs. The self-proclaimed expectation to “Run It Back” as well as the pressures of a pandemic have led to a far-from-normal championship defense.

“Getting your nose swabbed every day, having to adjust to the type of conditions in order to play the game. I think that’s a huge step right there, as players that we had to adjust to,” recalled Jones. “Actually winning the Lombardi Trophy, I mean, that would be remarkable and that would be unexplainable, especially during this time in America. If we were able to win it and pull this off, I think it’d be up on the ladder for highest achievement.”

The message from Jones is as clear as day – while the Chiefs are excited to potentially hoist the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday night, ultimately, it is just another step to creating a dynasty in Kansas City.