Raiders linebacker Chandler Jones is excited to show Raider Nation his talents and hopes to sack a lot of quarterbacks in the AFC West. (Cassie Soto/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Raiders outside linebacker Chandler Jones is introduced during a news conference at the Raiders headquarters at the Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Henderson. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang
Behind the scenes, though, it was a completely different situation. And for Jones, it goes well beyond the current free agent cycle.
“I’ve always been a fan of this organization,” Jones said on Thursday when he met with the media for the first time since signing with the Raiders. “I’ve always been a fan of the Davis family. So for me to finally wear silver and black, it’s a tremendous feeling. My perception on the outside was, ‘When am I going to get my shot?’”
So when Jones and his agent put together a list of teams he would be interested in joining when free agency approached, one team stood out.
“Obviously the Raiders were on that list” Jones said.
In Crosby, Jones not only sees the perfect player to partner with to create a nightmare scenario for opposing offenses but also someone who will accentuate his skill set.
The two forged a strong connection that extended well beyond the typical player-coach relationship.
The connection has stood the test of time and remained intact even after Jones left New England for Arizona. That it’s come full circle to bring them back together, with Jones now established as one of the best pass rushers of his generation and Graham the Raiders’ defensive coordinator, is almost too good for Jones to believe.
“It’s almost a dream come true that we have this opportunity to be in the same room again, to be on the same team again,” Jones said. “I saw him in the hallway coming here. I just gave him a big hug and squeezed him really tight. Who would have thought this would have happened?”