Daniel Jones spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the New York Giants.
There were flashes of excellence during that time, but for the most part, Jones underperformed. The Giants waived Jones in the middle of the 2024 season and it seemed like the quarterback was destined to become another first-round bust quarterback in the league.
This offseason, Jones signed a one-year deal worth $14 million with the Indianapolis Colts. At the time, the move didn't generate much buzz, considering the Colts had fellow first-round pick Anthony Richardson on the roster already.
However, Jones beat Richardson out for the starting gig this preseason, and he hasn't looked back since. On Sunday, Jones led the Colts to a dominant 41-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans to improve the team to 3-0.
Jones threw for 228 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for 27 yards. After the game, the quarterback seemingly threw shade at his former team.
"Something that's impressed me here, I think we've got a smart football team," said Jones of his time in Indianapolis so far. "We have a lot of guys who can handle information and know what to expect going out there."
It's easy to hear that and think Jones was implying that his former teammates didn't play smart. Considering the lack of success the Giants have had over the last decade, it wouldn't be surprising to learn there were some issues.
Jones never played amazingly with the Giants, but he didn't have much help either. The quarterback had multiple general managers and three different head coaches in six years. Overall, Jones only had one winning season during his six years with the Giants. That came in 2022 when Jones led the Giants to a 9-6-1 record in 16 starts.
In that 2022 season, Jones threw for a career-high 3,205 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. That season is why the Giants felt comfortable giving the quarterback a hefty extension, but just a couple seasons later, the team decided to move on.
So far, it looks like the Colts got a huge bargain. Through three games, the Colts are undefeated and Jones has thrown for 816 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
While Jones and the Colts are thriving, it seems like the Giants are due for another tough season. The team is looking to avoid an 0-3 start against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.