Chris Jones walked off the field after Kansas City Chiefs’ 22-9 win over New York Giants, celebrating a sack on Russell Wilson. The defensive tackle expected congratulations texts from family. He got something else entirely.
Chris Jones' Aunt Angela Dies of Heart Attack While Watching Chiefs Defeat Giants on TV
Chris Jones’ Aunt Angela Dies of Heart Attack While Watching Chiefs Defeat Giants on TV (Screenshot Via X/@NFL_DovKleiman)
The six-time Pro Bowler received the worst news an athlete can get right after game time. What should’ve been a routine victory turned into one of the saddest nights of Jones’ career.
Chris Jones’ Aunt Angela Dies of Heart Attack While Watching Chiefs Defeat Giants on TV
Jones spoke at the Chiefs facility days after the tragedy, revealing that his aunt Angela suffered a fatal heart attack during the game. The woman who helped raise him for five or six years during his childhood was watching him play when ithappened.
Heartbreaking: Chiefs DT Chris Jones says that his Aunt Angela passed away due to a heart attack while watching the Giants game.
“She meant a lot to me.”
Praying for Chris Jones and his family 🙏 pic.twitter.com/QWwr0mXUwG
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 3, 2025
Jones described her as a huge supporter of his football career, someone who meant everything to him growing up.
The timing made it worse. Jones got his sack on Wilson in the third quarter and immediately started calling family members to celebrate. That’s when he knew something was wrong.
Everyone kept telling him to call his mom and sister instead of joining the celebration. Jones said the family usually reaches out after big plays, so the radio silence felt off immediately.
Jones finished the Giants matchup with just one tackle, which happened to be the sack that ended Wilson’s night early.
Patrick Mahomes found Tyquan Thornton for a touchdown that put the game away, and New York added a garbage-time field goal to make it 22-9. The final score didn’t matter once Jones got off the field and learned what happened.
The funeral will be held in Houston, Mississippi, at the same church where Jones and his family grew up. Jones talked with head coach Andy Reid about balancing his responsibilities, and they worked out a plan that prioritized getting him to the service.
Jones posted a photo on Instagram of himself embracing Angela shortly after her passing, adding only a heart emoji and a caption about family coming first.
NFL Fans Show Support But Can’t Ignore Grim Timing of Tragedy
Once the news broke, social media filled with sympathy as the NFL community sent condolences to the three-time Super Bowl champion. Yet some fans couldn’t ignore the grim timing of the tragedy.
One fanwrote, “This says more about the giants than anything.”
The second fanadded, “She saw wilson throw the ball and decided time was up.” The dark humor reflected how fans process tragic news in the NFL world.
A thirdnoted, “And now his brother,” referencing Arthur Jones’ loss in the league.
The most direct comment came from the fourth fan whoobserved, “She watched him play and passed away.” The simple statement captured the cruel irony of the situation. Angela’s love for watching Jones play became the backdrop for her final moments.
Jones is expected to suit up for Monday Night Football when the Chiefs visit the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chiefs sit at 2-2 while the Jaguars hold a 3-1 record.
Jones praised Trevor Lawrence’s evolution as a quarterback and called Jacksonville battle-tested after their fourth-quarter comeback against Houston. The defensive tackle will lead Kansas City’s pass rush while still processing his loss.