Clark Hunt, Brett Veach, Andy Reid Release Statements on Chris Jones Contract Extension

With defensive tackle Chris Jones now signed to a long-term contract, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, general manager Brett Veach and Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt have released statements about the new deal.

The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to a long-term deal with superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones with a five-year contract that will most likely pay Jones $95 million over three years, with some room for flexibility through some clauses in the deal.

After the deal was signed on Monday, the team released statements from Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, general manager Brett Veach, and head coach Andy Reid. Hunt's statement came first in the team's press release.

"I’d like to congratulate Chris and his family, along with Brett Veach and his staff, on getting this well-deserved deal done before free agency," Hunt said in the release. "Chris belongs in a Chiefs uniform. He’s an elite player in the National Football League, a key component to our defense, and a leader in the locker room. We’ve felt his impact on the field and in the community. Over the last several years, he’s been essential to our success in winning multiple Super Bowls, and we know that he’ll play a vital role in sustaining that success moving forward."

Veach also heaped praise upon No. 95, sending him to Canton, Ohio after his NFL career concludes.

"Chris is a future Pro Football Hall of Famer and, in our opinion, the best defensive tackle in the National Football League," Veach said. "He earned every bit of this record-breaking contract. Over the last eight years, he’s been critical to our success, including his significant impact in all three Super Bowl championship runs. I’d like to thank my team, Chris Shea, and Jack Wolov, as well as Chris and his representation, Michael and Jason Katz, for their efforts and patience to get this done. We’re certainly proud to have Chris locked in here for the foreseeable future."

Lastly, Reid commended Jones's growth and talent through the progression of his time in Kansas City.

"Chris is one of the most talented players I’ve coached in my career," Reid said. "He’s really grown into being the leader of our defense, and you’ve seen how he’s helped younger players become better at their craft. He shows up every day with the right attitude and energy, and that’s infectious in our locker room. I’m happy for Chris and his family. We have more work to do here, and Chris is going to be a big part of that."

As the Chiefs continue to plan for the rest of that work, they'll be signing new players and seeing some familiar faces depart as free agency begins. For a complete list of KC's moves in free agency, click here for the Arrowhead Report free agency tracker.

Chiefs Free Agent Tracker: News, Reports and Contract Details