While the New York Giants are still basking in the glow of their season-opening win against the Dallas Cowboys, the crosstown rival New York Jets found similar success by beating up on Robert Saleh, Brian Daboll, and the Tennessee Titans. Oddly enough, both of these teams can owe some part of their success to former Giants bust Daniel Jones.
2026 marks the first time since way back in 2009 that both New York teams started the season 1-0, and both teams have their proverbial arrows pointing upward. Both of them owe some parts of their success to Jones, as a poor season with the Indianapolis Colts could mutually benefit both franchises.
Jones playing poorly will only make the decision to break away from him in favor of Jaxson Dart look like an even wiser move for this organization. On the Jets side of things, Jones may help them eventually land a quarterback who can get them on Big Blue's level.
Daniel Jones is helping both the New York Giants and Jets in 2026
Jones, who managed to rejuvinate his career with a strong start to 2025 in Indianapolis, saw his momentum brought to a crashing halt when he tore his Achilles midway through that season. His return in 2026 was underwhelming, as he managed just 166 yards and one interception in a 41-23 loss at the hands of Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
Jones' 2024 season was the deal-breaker for New York despite having signed him to a meaty long-term extension in the Daboll era. Even with the financial implications tied to giving up on him, enough was enough. Look no further than the pivot this team has made since getting rid of Jones as proof of how vindicated their decision was.
Even though they've only played one game, landing John Harbaugh and pairing him with an ascending quarterback in Dart could be the stability this franchise has been craving. Jones' futility also put them in a position to land Abdul Carter in the NFL Draft, and he appears to be coming into his own now that he has a year under his belt.
The New York Giants and Jets are benefitting from Daniel Jones' struggles
The Jets, meanwhile, traded Sauce Gardner to the Colts due to Indy's belief that Jones could carry them deep into the playoffs, giving up two first-round picks and Adonai Mitchell to show how serious they were. The Jets have already used one of those picks on Kenyon Sadiq, and they also own Indy's 2027 first-rounder.
If Jones, who recently signed an $88 million contract extension, keeps playing this bad, there is a good chance that Indianapolis' pick is high enough that the Jets could land a young quarterback who can eventually help them keep pace with Dart and the Giants.
It may have taken some time and changing franchises after his tenure in New York fizzled out, but Jones has finally put not just one, but two New York franchises on a mutual path to success that this city has not seen in decades.
Somehow out of all of these transactions, it is the Colts themselves who may come out worse for wear when the dust settles.
Add us as a preferred source on Google