Chiefs sign Pro Bowl free agent running back Thomas Jones to beef up backfield

Chiefs sign free agent RB Thomas Jones

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs’ running game just got a big boost.

The Chiefs signed free agent running back Thomas Jones, who led the New York Jets to the AFC championship game last season and was the NFL’s third-leading rusher.

The team announced the deal Tuesday, but declined to disclose the terms.

Jones had career highs of 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, a year after being selected for the Pro Bowl following a season in which he ran for 1,312 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The 31-year-old Jones is expected to complement third-year running back Jamaal Charles, who was Kansas City’s MVP last season with 1,120 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.

Despite Jones rushing for 1,000 or more yards for the fifth straight season, the Jets cut ties with him when free agency began last Friday. He was due a $3 million roster bonus on top of a $2.8 million base salary this season, and Jones and the Jets failed to reach a compromise on restructuring his contract. The team wanted him to take a pay cut, and Jones declined.

Jones sat out voluntary activities last offseason while trying unsuccessfully to renegotiate his deal, which was front-loaded over the first two seasons. He made only $900,000 in base salary last season, but didn’t allow it to affect his play.

Jones was a major reason the Jets ranked first in the league with 172.2 yards rushing per game, and helped New York within a game of the Super Bowl. He appeared to tire down the stretch as rookie Shonn Greene got the bulk of the carries, but Jones has said he feels he can play another four or five seasons because of the terrific shape he keeps himself in.

He was drafted seventh overall in 2000 by the Arizona Cardinals. He was traded to Tampa Bay in 2003, went to Chicago the following year as a free agent and was traded to the Jets in 2007.

Jones ranks second only to LaDainian Tomlinson, also a free agent, in yards rushing since 2005. Jones ranks 28th on the career list with 9,217 yards, 190 behind Earl Campbell.