Chandler Jones fuels concerns about his mental health as the sidelined NFL star posts extended, tearful video suggesting Raiders coach Josh McDaniels faked Aaron Hernandez’s 2017 suicide
Sidelined Las Vegas Raiders star Chandler Jones has sparked concerns about his own mental health after a rollicking, tearful, self-shot video posted to social media in which he makes bizarre claims about his coach, Josh McDaniels, and deceased former teammate, Aaron Hernandez.
Jones has faced questions about his mental stability for weeks after the Raiders sidelined him at the start of the season with a non-football injury. Since then, he has posted relentlessly on X, formerly Twitter, about a range of disturbing topics.
This behavior continued Thursday when he appeared to suggest that McDaniels had somehow staged Hernandez’s 2017 suicide in a Massachusetts prison. Hernandez, a tight end for the New England Patriots, hanged himself in 2017 after his arrest and conviction for the murder of Odin Lloyd. McDaniels worked directly with Hernandez during the troubled star’s three-year career from 2010 to 2012.
“You guys don’t know what Josh McDaniels really did to Aaron Hernandez,” said Jones, who played with Hernandez in New England as a rookie in 2012. “Did you all think Chico committed suicide in prison? Did you all think my idiot committed suicide in prison?’
Jones, who had been laughing just moments earlier, quickly began to cry as he remembered his former teammate.
Sidelined Las Vegas Raiders star Chandler Jones has sparked concerns about his own mental health after posting a rollicking, tearful, homemade video on social media
Josh McDaniels has been the subject of several recent posts from Chandler Jones on X
Hernandez, a tight end for the New England Patriots, hanged himself in 2017 after his arrest and conviction for the murder of Odin Lloyd. McDaniels coached Hernandez with the Patriots
The football world reacted to Jones’ latest fatigue with great concern.
“Let’s all pray for Chandler Jones and his family,” former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III wrote on he must feel that he is being heard at this moment. I reached out to him and encouraged all of his NFL brothers to do the same.”
Jones didn’t hear it.
“Bro, you washed up,” Jones replied. “RG so and so… sit down… I’m still in the league… you twitter fingers.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter apparently reached out via direct message, but again, Jones didn’t hear back.
“The only news that matters is that you are doing better,” read the message Jones posted on X, purportedly from Schefter. “Your family cares about you, your friends care about you, and all that matters is that you take care of yourself now. Everyone is committed to helping you get better as quickly as possible.’
Jones responded directly to Schefter with a direct message of his own: “Get better? I’m fine brother…I’m praying for you and your family…I’m worried about you and them lol.”