Chandler Jones has a few personal goals. After Arizona’s premier pass-rusher recorded a personal-best 19 sacks last season, one of those goals is breaking the NFL single-season record set by Michael Strahan (22.5) in 2001.
Jones feels like he’s close. When he shared his 2020 aspirations with media earlier this month, the ninth-year defensive end admitted his age hasn’t yet caught up to him. The numbers back that up. Jones, who joined Arizona in 2016 after four seasons with the New England Patriots, has almost progressively gotten better each season with the Cardinals.
“I don't feel older,” he said, via the team’s website. “I had a pretty decent year last year, and I feel even better with this time off, my body got some time to rest. Why not? Why can't I break the record?”
Jones was 3.5 sacks shy from Strahan’s record last season and has had at least 13 sacks in each of the last three years. In 2017, he led the league with 17. Jones is confident he can reach that illustrious mark all pass-rushers have in mind. After all, he reached 19 sacks last season despite not recording a single one in three games (Week 2, Week 8, and Week 17).
Jones’ confidence also stems from the surrounding talent in the Cardinals’ defense. Devon Kennard will be his running mate at outside linebacker and defensive lineman Jordan Phillips can provide power up the middle. Both combined for 16 sacks last season with their respective teams; Kennard for the Detroit Lions and Phillips for the Buffalo Bills. It will be important for Jones to not miss a beat next season in order to break the record.
The additions to the defense—Kennard, Phillips, and top-10 2020 NFL Draft pick Isaiah Simmons—will allow Jones to focus on what he does best: get after the quarterback.
“Where I am right now in my career, I definitely feel I have mastered the art of pass rush,” Jones said. “Half of the battle is just having confidence, knowing no one can block you. You can say it out loud or say it to yourself. Each and every week, I feel no one in the NFL can block me.”
Jones, however, will have stiff competition. Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Shaquil Barrett led the NFL last season with 19.5 sacks, and then there’s the Denver Broncos’ Von Miller and the New Orleans Saints’ Cameron Jordan, among others.
Jones could have beaten Strahan’s record last season if it weren’t for the handful of games he came up with a goose egg. It would be no surprise that, with a couple extra sacks here and there, Jones can set a new league record this upcoming season.
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