You know the clip. Even if you aren't a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan, or even a football junkie, you’ve probably scrolled past it on a "Top 10 Sports Bloopers" reel at some point. It’s the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. A massive human being—310 pounds of Mississippi State muscle named Chris Jones—is thundering down the 40-yard line. He looks fast. He looks explosive.
Then, everything goes sideways. Literally.
The "incident" involving Chris Jones at combine drills wasn't just a simple trip or a pulled hamstring. It was the wardrobe malfunction that launched a thousand memes and, surprisingly, did absolutely nothing to hurt his career. Honestly, if anything, it was the first time the world got a glimpse of the personality that would eventually make him the heart and soul of the Chiefs' defense.
The 40-Yard Dash No One Can Forget
Let’s set the scene. It’s February 28, 2016. Lucas Oil Stadium is quiet, filled only with the scratching of pens on scout notebooks and the occasional shout from a coach. Chris Jones steps up to the line for his 40-yard dash. For a guy his size, he’s remarkably athletic.
He takes off. 10 yards, 15 yards... he’s flying.
But about halfway through, you see his hands start to reach down toward his waist. He’s fumbling with his shorts. His stride breaks. He’s trying to stay upright while simultaneously trying to... well, put things back where they belong. He crosses the finish line with a time of 5.03 seconds, which is actually incredible considering he spent the last ten yards acting as his own tailor.
The second he crosses the line, he takes a massive, theatrical dive onto the turf. He’s not hurt. He’s just exposed.
Why the Tights Failed
Later on, Jones told the story on the New Heights podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce, and it’s pure gold. He basically admitted that the "tights" he was wearing weren't really tights at all.
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"Those black tights, they weren't really tights," Jones said. "They were boxers."
He had grabbed a bunch of gear from a "swag pile" provided by Under Armour, Nike, and Adidas. He saw the black ones and thought they looked fast. He didn't realize they had the traditional "lavatorial convenience" flap in the front. When you're a 6'6" defensive tackle generating that much force, a simple flap isn't going to hold back much of anything.
As Jones put it quite bluntly: "My d*** came out."
The Numbers That Actually Mattered
Look, the internet loved the blooper. But NFL GMs aren't drafting guys based on their underwear choices (thankfully). Despite the "third leg" trip-up, the actual data for Chris Jones at combine testing was elite.
People forget that he actually finished the 40-yard dash as one of the fastest 300-pounders in the class. If he hadn't had to tuck himself back in, he likely would have clocked in under 5 seconds.
Check out the raw measurables he put up that week:
- Height: 6'5 3/4"
- Weight: 310 lbs
- Arm Length: 34 1/2" (This is massive for a DT)
- 10-Yard Split: 1.69 seconds (This shows his "get-off" speed)
- Bench Press: 26 reps
The 10-yard split is what scouts really care about for defensive linemen. It shows how fast they can explode off the line of scrimmage to sack a quarterback. At 1.69 seconds, Jones was in the 83rd percentile for his position. He was a freak of nature, plain and simple.
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Did the Incident Hurt His Draft Stock?
There’s this misconception that the wardrobe malfunction made teams shy away. "Oh, he's a distraction," or "He's not serious."
That’s nonsense.
The real reason Chris Jones didn't go in the first round had nothing to do with his shorts. It was his tape at Mississippi State. Scouts loved his physical gifts, but they worried about his consistency. Some called him an "underachiever" who took plays off.
WalterFootball’s scouting report from 2016 highlighted his "rare movement skills" but also noted "concerns about maturity." The combine incident probably didn't help the maturity narrative, but it wasn't the dealbreaker.
The Kansas City Chiefs saw the upside. They took him with the 37th overall pick in the second round. Looking back, that’s one of the biggest steals in the history of the franchise. Every team that passed on him because he was "raw" or "inconsistent" is still kicking themselves today.
From Viral Moment to Hall of Fame Path
Most players would have been mortified. They would have hidden from the cameras or refused to talk about it. Not Chris. He leaned into it. He laughed.
"I'm probably the embarrassment king," he told Sports Illustrated a year later.
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That ability to shrug off a nightmare scenario and keep moving is exactly what makes him great on the field. You get pancake-blocked? Who cares. You miss a sack? Next play.
Since that day in 2016, Jones has become:
- A three-time Super Bowl Champion.
- A multi-time All-Pro.
- The guy who basically single-handedly wrecked the 49ers' late-game drives in Super Bowl LIV.
He’s no longer the "guy whose junk fell out at the combine." He’s the guy quarterbacks see in their nightmares.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Combine
The lesson of Chris Jones at combine is that the drills are a job interview, but they aren't the whole job.
Users often search for his "failure" at the combine, but from a professional standpoint, it was a massive success. He showed he was fast, he showed he was long, and most importantly, he showed he could handle pressure and embarrassment with a smile.
NFL locker rooms are intense. They are full of big personalities and constant ribbing. If a rookie can handle the entire world seeing him exposed on national TV and still show up to work the next day and dominate, that's a guy you want in your huddle.
Actionable Insights for Players and Fans
If you're an athlete heading into a high-stakes environment, or just someone who enjoys the chaotic history of the NFL, here’s what you can take away from the Chris Jones saga:
- Double-check your gear. Seriously. If you’re doing high-intensity movement, "standard" boxers are not compression shorts. Wear actual athletic gear designed for 100% effort.
- Own your mistakes. Jones’s stock didn’t drop because he didn't let the moment define him. He turned a potential career-ending embarrassment into a relatable human moment.
- Focus on the 10-yard split. If you're a scout or a fan looking at prospects, don't get hung up on the 40-yard dash time for big men. Look at the first 10 yards. That’s where the money is made in the trenches.
- Character matters. The Chiefs interviewed Jones and realized his "goofiness" was actually a high level of confidence. Don't mistake a sense of humor for a lack of dedication.
Chris Jones proved that you can trip over your own feet (or anything else) and still end up wearing a gold jacket one day. All you have to do is get back up.