Jones, who took over at middle linebacker after the trade, recorded 94 tackles, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and one interception in 10 games after the trade. He and Macdonald both noted that one reason he fit so well in Seattle is the way he and Macdonald see the game the same way and are able to communicate.
"I just think we see it the same way, we feel the game the same way," Jones said last season. "We feel what teams are trying to do to us—we're not all the way right, but we seem to be right most of the time. I just think the feel that we have for the game is the same, the way we talk about the game, the love of the game, it just all works out together, and we're able to communicate well. His communication from me to him goes out towards the whole defense."
Said Macdonald, "I love the guy. Anytime you're bringing someone to your team, you're looking forward to building a relationship with them. He doesn't mind me talking in his helmet a lot, so that's nice—can't control myself on that. I just love the person, love the competitor, tough as crap, loves ball. How do you not love guys like that?"
Jones joked that after agreeing to the deal, his first call was to his head coach to give him a hard time.
"As soon as the deal happened, I told him you're stuck with me now," Jones said. "I'm super excited about the relationship that we will continue to grow and how much stronger it will get. I think that will be powerful."
Jones, a third-round pick of the Rams in 2021, looked like a blossoming start in Los Angeles, but in a surprising move, was traded to the Titans heading into his fourth season. With Tennessee struggling last season, they traded several of their top players, including Jones, and while he wasn't expecting to bounce around the way he did in the past year, he does feel like he found a home in Seattle and was hoping to stick around.
"Coaches like me; I love it here," Jones said prior to the final game of the 2024 season. "I would love to be here. As far as like extension or free agency, I'm just letting my agent handle it, letting the organization handle it, and hopefully we get something done so I can be around."
And before Jones could become a free agent, the Seahawks did indeed get something done, taking care of one of the team's biggest offseason priorities.