The football defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs, Chris Jones, believes he wouldn’t have the same drive for the NFL if he were born into a wealthy family.
Chris Jones hurt his calf in the Chiefs’ win over the Texans on December 21.
Highlights
- When Chris Jones’ father was arrested for DUI, he used to rely on his mom, Mary.
- Even though his dad wasn’t around during those early years, he still greatly influenced Chris.
- Chris Jones moved into his grandmother’s house when he became one of the top football prospects in the country.
He missed most of the fourth quarter and didn’t return to the game. He was listed as DNP (did not practice) on the December 22 injury report and missed the following day’s practice.
After the 2023 season, Jones became a free agent but signed a new five-year, $158.75 million contract to stay with the Chiefs on March 11, 2024.
The deal included $101 million in guaranteed money, making him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history in terms of average yearly salary.
Chris Jones Has Strong Bond With Father Chris Jones Sr Despite His Absence In Past Days
Chris Jones’s dad, Chris Jones Sr, worked as a furniture builder, a demanding job that left him physically worn out.
But he missed a big part of Chris’ childhood because he was in jail for a DUI.
When his father was away, Chris, who was in fourth grade then, and his two younger sisters relied on their mom, Mary Woodhouse, to care for them.
They didn’t see their dad again until Chris was in high school.
By that time, Chris had lived in several places. He describes Houston, where he grew up, as a poor area without suburbs, and his family lived in a tough neighborhood.
Even though his dad wasn’t around during those early years, he still greatly influenced Chris.
His dad gave him Michael Jordan jumping over aliens, and he used that image to explain that life can be whole of obstacles, but one can overcome them and still reach goals.
The picture Chris Jones had was a poster from the movie Space Jam.
Despite missing much of his childhood, Chris and his father have a strong relationship today.
Chris describes his dad as someone who goes with the flow.
If Chris had ever told him he wanted to do something crazy, like go to Alaska, his dad would have been open to it but still questioned its reason, always keeping things grounded.
Chris Jones Used To Live At His Grandmother’s House During His Junior Year Of High School Days
Football didn’t become a part of Chris’ life until he was a sophomore in high school.
He couldn’t afford to play peewee football when he was younger because it cost too much, about $180 to sign up, plus gear.
In sixth grade, he also had a job to help support his family, buying chicken tenders for his sister to ensure she wouldn’t go hungry.
Instead, he entertained himself by playing football in his grandmother’s backyard.
Chris’ grandmother’s house was on Church Street, the heart of the town, where everything happened, and outsiders rarely ventured.
The house was small, with only three bedrooms and about 1,000 square feet of space.
When Chris was in high school, there were often as many as 11 people living in that house at once.
His grandmother’s house was always packed with his aunt, her two kids, Chris, his mom, his grandfather, dad, and little sisters, plus sometimes his other aunt’s husband and his uncle, Big Timer.
Chris Jones moved into his grandmother’s house full-time during his junior year of high school, when he was becoming one of the top football prospects in the country.
That year, he slept on a small couch in the living room, his feet hanging off the edge.
He still attends church with his grandmother every Sunday when he’s back in Houston, and during the offseason, he gives out sandwiches to the homeless in Kansas City.
From his humble beginnings to his success in the NFL, Chris Jones has stayed grounded and committed to giving back to those in need, just as his grandmother did for him.
Additional Information
- Chris Jones played for the Mississippi State Bulldogs from 2013 to 2015.
- In his sophomore year, he again appeared in all 13 games, recording 26 tackles and three sacks.
- By his junior year, Jones was a starter in every game, making 44 tackles and 2.5 sacks. After the season, he decided to skip his senior year and enter the 2016 NFL Draft.
