NFL coach: Chiefs’ Chris Jones ‘in a league of his own’ after Aaron Donald retires | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

The retirement of former Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald left a void that Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones is expected to fill.

Jeff Howe of The Athletic spoke to an opposing coach who said, “Chris Jones is in a league of his own now on the inside.”

Howe added that the five-time Pro Bowler “could strengthen his Hall of Fame candidacy by assuming the role of the league’s best defensive tackle.”

Jones was named to the All-Pro first team for the second consecutive year after recording 30 tackles, 10.5 sacks and four passes defensed in 2023, helping the Chiefs to their second consecutive Super Bowl title, their third championship in the last five years.

Kansas City rewarded Jones in March with a five-year, $158.75 million contract that includes $101 million in guarantees and makes him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history at $31.75 million per year, surpassing Donald’s $31.6 million average.

Donald was a Pro Bowler in each of his 10 years in the NFL, was selected to the All-Pro first team eight times and was named Defensive Player of the Year three times, so Jones still has a long way to go before he can live up to his resume.

Another great year in 2024 could put Jones on the path to being considered one of the best defensive players of this generation alongside Donald.