Shane Steichen reveals what has made Daniel Jones a success for Colts

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has experienced a revival. The former No. 6 overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, "Danny Dimes" was seen as a failure and a bust thanks to his 24-44-1 record as a starting quarterback over six seasons.

In fact, the Giants released him from the team in November of last season, and he cleared waivers without anyone picking him up. The NFL is a quarterback-hungry league, so that move seemingly marked the beginning of the end for Jones' NFL career.

The Colts signed him as an unrestricted free agent this offseason to compete with Anthony Richardson, and that was a quarterback battle that Jones not only won, but he now finds himself thriving in Indy. The Colts are 3-0, and Jones is playing like one of the best quarterbacks in football. So far, he's completed 71.6% of his passes for 816 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. 

His 85.8 quarterback rating leads all NFL quarterbacks. QBR accounts for a quarterback's impact on the level of success or failure on every play. Average quarterbacks have a QBR of 50. A QBR of 75 would be a quarterback playing at a Pro Bowl level.

Daniel Jones is "grinding" with the Indianapolis Colts 

This may be a shock to the outside world, but within the Colts organization, one gets the sense that Jones' early success was expected. According to head coach Shane Steichen, nobody works harder than Jones. Yes, talent plays a role in success in the NFL, but there's always a correlation between "the grind" and success as well. Jones — "first to arrive, last to leave" type of player — is becoming proof of that.

“(He) looks at tape all day every day, grinding, looking at different things, knowing the checks, understanding what we’re trying to get done offensively, getting us in and out of the right plays,” Steichen said, according to James Boyd of The Athletic. “That stuff pays huge dividends in this league because there’s a lot going on. Obviously, this is one of the toughest positions in all of sports to play, and he’s doing it right now as good as it gets.”

Focus and hustle leading Daniel Jones' revival 

Wideout Michael Pittman Jr. revealed that the quarterback has often been late to dinner because he's so focused on his job.

“Every single time he’s like, ‘Yeah, I’m on the way. I just had to break down these last couple plays,’” Pittman revealed. “And I’m like, ‘Bro, take a break!’ But that’s just who he is.”

Perhaps Jones has always had the talent of an elite quarterback, and he just didn't have the system and structure around him in New York to make it happen. Maybe it was the pressure of being a first-round pick in The Big Apple. Or maybe — as we've seen with players like Geno Smith, Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold — he just needed a change of scenery and the right opportunity.

Either way, Jones is playing at an elite level early in the 2025 season.