Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs reportedly plan to sign former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Ronald Jones (27) reacts after rushing for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Ronald Jones (27) reacts after rushing for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) AP

The Chiefs are adding a player who helped defeat them in Super Bowl LV to their stable of running backs.

Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported Saturday that Ronald Jones II has agreed to a one-year deal with the Chiefs. Pelissero said Jones can earn up to $5 million this season.

Jones would back up Clyde Edwards-Helaire and likely will fill a role held by Darrel Williams, who is currently a free agent. Earlier this month, running back Derrick Gore was tendered as an exclusive-rights free agent for 2022 by the Chiefs.

In 16 games last season with the Buccaneers, Jones made three starts and rushed for 428 yards with four touchdowns. Jones, 24, had more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his previous two seasons in Tampa Bay.

Jones led the NFL in average yards after contact per attempt (3.0) during the 2020 season. The NFL’s Next Gen stats said during that season Jones had 239 Rushing Yards Over Expected (RYOE) on inside runs during the regular season, which was second only to the Titans’ Derrick Henry (296).

This clip shows what Jones can do:

Jones rushed for 61 yards in 12 attempts against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was excited at the thought of Jones joining the team.

Pete Grathoff
The Kansas City Star
From covering the World Series to the World Cup, Pete Grathoff has done a little bit of everything since joining The Kansas City Star in 1997.
Sports Pass is your ticket to Kansas City sports
#ReadLocal

Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Kansas City area sports - only $1 a month

VIEW OFFER