Chandler Jones has blossomed into one of the NFL’s most dynamic pass rushers over the past few years.
He spent his first four seasons with the New England Patriots and was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 2016 — where he spent his last four. The Patriots traded him with the understanding he’d be worth a top-tier contract, and they weren’t willing to do that. Arizona was, and that transpired into a five-year, $82.5 million deal.
Jones reflected on the trade and also the lessons he’s learned from his time in New England while speaking with The Athletic’s Jeff Howe. He began by explaining his understanding of the trade, because it didn’t make sense at the time. Then he went on to speak glowingly of the player he’s become from starting his career in Foxborough.
“’Do your job,’” Jones said. “I still go for that. If you’re doing your job, then nothing else matters. The reason we’re here is to do our job. That’s one thing he taught me that I always stick by.
“I had a Super Bowl. That’s one of the highlights of my career. Fortunately, it was with a great team like the New England Patriots. That’s a stamp on my career — Super Bowl XLIX.”
Aside from the Super Bowl and perks of being on a winning team, he learned how to be a professional on and off the field. That’s the one thing that’s helped him become the player who’s recorded 60 sacks in four years with Arizona.
“A lot of people try to compare my numbers from New England to Arizona, but that just comes from literally experience,” Jones continued. “I was a young pass rusher still learning (with the Patriots). Going into my fourth, fifth, sixth year, that’s when I started to evolve into, ‘OK, I get it now.’ It’s not like I didn’t get it in New England, but I did more in Arizona because this is year eight.
“Just polishing my game, becoming a pro, doing more massages, doing more stretches, things of that nature. Not only football, but just being a pro, learning how to take care of your body, and that carried over. That comes from being around guys like Vince Wilfork and Tom Brady.”
New England’s culture may seem boring or treacherous for some players, but many take the lessons and help cultivate extremely successful careers. Jones was one of those players.
“The New England Patriots taught me pro football,” Jones said. “I feel like there’s no other organization you would have to have those guidelines in order to step into the world of football. As a young player, you learn on and off the field how to be a pro. There’s no other place where you would rather start your career than there, for sure.”
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