Chandler James Jones (born February 27, 1990) is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at Syracuse, and was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Arizona Cardinals and the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jones is the younger brother of UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and former NFL player Arthur Jones.
Early years
Jones was born in Rochester, New York, to parents Arthur Jr. and Camille Jones. Jones attended Union-Endicott High School, where he played high school football. He was a 2007 SuperPrep All-Northeast and PrepStar All-East Region selection. Jones was ranked as the eighth-best prospect of the state of New York by Scout.com.
College career
Jones attended and played college football at Syracuse from 2008 to 2011. After not playing as a freshman in 2008, he appeared in 12 games as a sophomore. He totaled 52 combined tackles and 1.5 sacks. As a junior in 2010, he recorded 57 total tackles, four sacks, four passes defensed, and three forced fumbles. As a senior in 2011, Jones played in only seven games due to injury, but still was an All-Big East selection after recording 39 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
On December 30, 2011, Jones announced that he would enter the 2012 NFL Draft.
Collegiate statistics
Professional career
Jones was considered one of the best defensive end prospects for the 2012 NFL Draft.
New England Patriots
Jones was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round with the 21st overall selection. He was the highest selected player from Syracuse since defensive end Dwight Freeney in 2002. On May 23, 2012, Jones signed a four-year contract with the Patriots.
2012 season
As a rookie, Jones was immediately thrust into the starting right defensive end slot for the Patriots in 2012. In Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans, Jones strip-sacked quarterback Jake Locker, with fellow rookie teammate Dont'a Hightower recovering the ball and returning it for a touchdown. A week later Jones sacked Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb, forcing a fumble that was recovered by the Patriots.
In Week 6 against the Seattle Seahawks, Jones recorded two sacks on quarterback Russell Wilson and managed to provide some good pressure on the Seahawks offensive line, forcing one fumble in that game. Jones made his sixth career sack in Week 8 against the St. Louis Rams by dropping Sam Bradford to the turf in London, England. In 14 games (13 starts) of his rookie season in 2012, Jones produced 45 tackles, six sacks, five passes defended, and three forced fumbles. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
2013 season
In a game against the Baltimore Ravens, quarterback Tyrod Taylor fumbled the snap and Jones recovered it in the end zone for the first touchdown of his career. Jones started all 16 games in 2013 recording 42 tackles with 11.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown.
2014 season
For the season, Jones recorded 43 tackles and six sacks in 10 games. In Week 2, against the Minnesota Vikings, Jones recorded two sacks; he also blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown in the 30–7 victory.. He earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his game against Minnesota. On February 1, 2015, he won his first Super Bowl ring when the Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 28–24 in Super Bowl XLIX. He had one sack and three tackles in the victory.
2015 season
On April 30, 2015, the Patriots picked up the option on Jones' contract. Through the first eight games, Jones racked up 9.5 sacks, including two in an October 29 win over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football to help the Patriots move to 7–0. Jones finished the regular season with a team-leading 12.5 sacks, a new career high, as well as his first career interception. He was ranked 48th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.
Six days before the Patriots took on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round, Jones was hospitalized after showing up at the Foxborough Public Safety Building in a disoriented but cooperative state. Later reports indicated that he had experienced a bad reaction to synthetic marijuana, a legal drug under Massachusetts law. Jones still played in the following Divisional Round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs and the AFC Championship against the Denver Broncos.
Arizona Cardinals
On March 15, 2016, Jones was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for Jonathan Cooper and a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.