Daniel Jones is in the middle of one of the most incredible turnarounds we’ve ever seen in the NFL. The former sixth overall pick went from being a subpar playmaker on whose expense memes were doing the rounds to an MVP candidate in the span of a year. He has led the Indianapolis Colts to an unexpected 4-1 record this season, looking increasingly like a star in the making.
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Now, we know there’s still plenty of time for Jones to mess this up. But today, the man deserves some praise. Maybe he won’t stay in MVP discussions all season, but Comeback Player of the Year is certainly within reach given how well he’s played so far.
Jones was cut by the New York Giants in Week 11 of last year. He spent the rest of the season as the backup for the Minnesota Vikings. Back then, Jones admitted that he was struggling. And he was not just talking about on the gridiron.
“I don’t know if I could ever say I hated the game. But I mean, yeah, those drives back from the stadium Sunday after you lost, and you’re driving through traffic. You know, those are tough and they make you think about a lot of things,” Jones revealed on Fitz & Whit.
By the end of his time in New York, he was in a bad space mentally. “At the end of that time in New York, kind of how it ended was tough. You go through a lot,” Jones added.
It’s a part of the game that not many fans know. Most view the players as entertainers who are there to give them joy. But some forget that these players are human beings with feelings and personalities.
It must have been hard for Jones to cope with all the blowback he received after every game in New York. However, moving on to a new team helped him immensely.
“Being able to go to Minnesota, watch those guys, learn from Kevin [O’Connell], watch Sam [Darnold] play, see how they did things, taking some scout team reps, and just being there for that, I think was really valuable for me,” Jones shared.
O’Connell has a penchant for turning failed QB projects into successes. Most recently, he turned Darnold into a multi-million dollar star. O’Connell has also helped guys like Josh Dobbs and now Carson Wentz look like viable backup options.
There’s no doubt that he imparted some of this wisdom on Jones while he was with the team last year, even if that was for a brief time. It’s not just KOC, though. Or Darnold. Jones also credited his family and loved ones for always sticking by him and helping spark this turnaround.
“Mostly my family. I’d say my parents. I’m lucky to have, you know, both of my parents are very involved and care a lot and support us. My siblings come to all the games and are into it. So, I’m lucky, lucky to have them,” said Jones.
It seems like the Colts quarterback has got everything figured out on all fronts at this point. He’s reclaimed his status as a good QB with potential, found a team that supports him, and continues to have a strong family base to fall back on.
Maybe with all of the momentum going for him, he can continue to get better and turn the Colts into a legitimate Super Bowl contender. But, for now, it’s still one thing at a time for him.
This week, Jones and the Colts prepare to take on the Arizona Cardinals. It should be another win as the team looks to move to 5-1. Of course, nothing is ever a given in the NFL. And ‘Indiana Jones’ will need another strong showing to get the job done on Sunday.
