Daniel Jones Reflects on Giants Tenure

The Daniel Jones era of New York Giants football is over, and so are the excuses. General manager Joe Schoen is returning 10 starters to the conference’s worst offense, making the bet that the improvement from Jones to Russell Wilson can push his roster into meaningful late-season games.

The Giants have turned the page, drafting passer Jaxson Dart as their next chance at franchise quarterbacking. Like 2019, the eyes of the fanbase are focused on one player, living and dying with every rep.

They’ll hope things go better for Dart than Jones, who was benched and (amicably) released by New York in the middle of last season. After latching onto the Minnesota Vikings’ playoff run, Jones signed with the Indianapolis Colts in free agency.

In the wake of his tumultuous departure and a new start, the former Giants quarterback reflected on his disastrous 2024 with Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.

“Obviously it’s very competitive,” Jones told Schwartz. “You put your whole life into it, you’re very dedicated and committed to winning, to make sure it goes well on the field, playing at a high level, winning for your teammates, winning for the people in the organization, winning for the fans, and when it doesn’t work out, yeah, it is certainly tough.”

To his credit, Jones spent the duration of his time in New York embodying the role of franchise quarterback incredibly well. Between injuries and inconsistencies, it didn’t work out on the field. Off it, he represented the organization well, always stayed cordial with the media, and aptly dealt with the pressures of the fanbase.

“I try not to hold any of that bitterness or hurt, hold anything personal against anybody, just knowing that’s going to prevent you from the next step, from succeeding and learning what you need to learn wherever you are going next,” he added.

The football gods may reward him for his outlook. In Indianapolis, Jones’ $14 million deal makes him a backup who can expect to see playing time. After Anthony Richardson suffered another shoulder injury, it seems increasingly likely that Jones will see Sunday action once again.

With a quarterback guru willing to run his quarterbacks, a strong ground game, and a first-round tight end, he may even be in a position to find success with the Colts. The New York faithful may not be pulling for him after a long six seasons, but there’s little reason for malice, especially after his recent comments.