New York Giants fans know a thing or two about the Daniel Jones Experience. The turnovers. The sacks. The occasional flash that convinces you maybe, just maybe, it's sustainable. The Brink's truck. And then, inevitably, the whole thing comes crashing back down to Earth.
Well, Indianapolis Colts fans are getting the full experience now, and apparently, six weeks were all it took for someone to lose their job. After Sunday’s 26-20 loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans, Indy fired general manager Chris Ballard on Monday, with the Colts sitting at a miserable 2-4.
And while Jones isn’t solely responsible for Indy’s problems, it’s getting hard to ignore the similarities to how things unraveled in North Jersey. The Colts handed the former Giants quarterback a two-year, $88 million deal this offseason after he went 8-5 in 13 starts last year before tearing his Achilles. Six games later, the 29-year-old is doing a pretty convincing impression of the guy New York gave $160 million to in 2023.
Colts are learning the Daniel Jones lesson Giants fans know by heart
Jones is completing just 59.6% of his passes, throwing for 1,290 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions. He’s also lost three fumbles, bringing his turnover total to nine. That’s taking costly turnovers a little too literally.
Sunday was especially ugly. The 29-year-old went 22-of-42 for 269 yards, a touchdown, and two picks while taking six sacks. Tennessee hadn’t won a game all year, but apparently facing Danny Dimes was just what the doctor ordered. And the frustration is starting to boil over all around.
Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner sounded like he’d had enough after the loss, telling reporters, “I’m sick and tired of the same song and dance every year.”
Sound familiar?
The funny thing is, I don’t even think Indianapolis was necessarily wrong to bring Jones back. He played well enough in 2025 to earn another shot, and coming off a torn Achilles, the Colts clearly believed he was still their best option.
But that’s also a pretty damning indictment of how the roster was built. Ballard spent years trying to figure out the QB position, only to commit $88 million to a guy the rest of the league already had the book on.
But if you thought Jones' struggles would have head coach Shane Steichen entertaining a change, you thought wrong.
“Yes, he is our starting quarterback,” Steichen told reporters after Sunday’s loss, adding that Jones needs to play better while acknowledging the coaching staff has plenty to clean up, too.
Fair enough. But with Indianapolis sitting at 2-4 and its GM already out the door, the pressure isn’t going away anytime soon.
Giants fans spent years waiting for Jones to turn the corner. Now Colts fans are essentially forced to do the same. At some point, you have to wonder how many front offices need to learn this lesson before the rest of the league catches on.
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