Daniel Stephen Jones III was born on May 27, 1997, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is an American professional football quarterback currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League. Nicknamed “Danny Dimes,” Jones played college football at Duke University before being selected sixth overall by the New York Giants in the 2019 NFL Draft. During his tenure with the Giants, he led the team to its first playoff appearance since 2016 and signed a lucrative contract extension. After a brief stint with the Minnesota Vikings, Jones joined the Colts in 2025 and won the starting job, demonstrating his passing skills and athleticism while setting career benchmarks throughout his professional journey.
Daniel Jones Early Life and Background
Jones was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 27, 1997, as the oldest son of Becca and Steve Jones. He grew up in his hometown as a fan of the Carolina Panthers, his hometown team. Jones attended Charlotte Latin School in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he developed his skills as a quarterback during his high school career. Despite compiling 6,997 passing yards and 98 touchdowns at Charlotte Latin, Jones was barely recruited coming out of high school and was not ranked by Rivals.com.
After high school, Jones originally committed to Princeton University to play college football but then opted to become a walk-on at Duke University instead. This decision proved pivotal in shaping his career trajectory. Jones graduated from Duke in December 2018 with a degree in economics, demonstrating his commitment to both athletics and academics during his collegiate years.
Daniel Jones Path to the NFL
After redshirting his first year at Duke in 2015, Jones became the starting quarterback in his sophomore season in 2016 after quarterback Thomas Sirk suffered a season-ending injury. Jones started all 12 games that season, completing 270 of 430 passes for 2,836 yards, 16 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. This early opportunity to start at a major college program laid the foundation for his professional career.
During his junior year in 2017, Jones completed 230 of 413 passes for 2,439 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He was named MVP of the 2017 Quick Lane Bowl against Northern Illinois, where he went 27-of-40 with 252 passing yards and two touchdowns, along with 86 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. His senior year saw him earn MVP honors in the 2018 Independence Bowl, where he went 30-for-41 with 423 passing yards and five touchdowns in a 56-27 victory over Temple.
Jones played in the 2019 Senior Bowl for the North team, earning MVP honors by going 8-of-11 with 115 passing yards and one touchdown. His strong showing in the Senior Bowl, combined with his productive college career at Duke, elevated his draft stock significantly leading into the 2019 NFL Draft.
Daniel Jones Career
New York Giants (2019-2024)
Jones was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. On July 22, 2019, Jones signed his four-year rookie contract worth $25.664 million, including a $16.7 million signing bonus. Despite a stellar preseason, Jones began the season as the backup behind Eli Manning. He played his first regular season game on September 8 against the Dallas Cowboys in relief of Manning, completing 3-of-4 passes for 17 yards and losing a fumble in the 35-17 loss.
On September 17, after an 0-2 start to the season, head coach Pat Shurmur named Jones the starter over Manning for their Week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his first NFL career start, Jones completed 23-of-36 pass attempts for 336 yards with a 112.7 passer rating and two passing touchdowns, along with 28 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, in a 32-31 comeback win against the Buccaneers. He became the first Giants rookie quarterback to win his first career start since Scott Brunner in 1980 and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.
Jones finished his rookie season with 3,027 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, to go along with 45 carries for 279 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and a league-leading 18 fumbles with 11 lost. His 2020 season was marked by an impressive 80-yard run against the Philadelphia Eagles, which became the longest run in Giants quarterback history, with Jones reaching a top speed of 21.23 mph, the fastest by an NFL quarterback since 2018.
2021-2022 Breakthrough Seasons
The 2021 season saw Jones throw for a career-high 402 passing yards against the New Orleans Saints, earning him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. However, he suffered a neck injury in Week 12 against the Eagles, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. He was placed on injured reserve on December 20, 2021, finishing with 2,428 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
In 2022, Jones led the Giants to their first playoff appearance since 2016 and their first playoff win since 2011. He threw for 3,205 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions while adding 708 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. In the Wild Card Round against the Vikings, Jones made NFL history by becoming the first player ever with 300-plus passing yards, two-plus touchdown passes, and 70-plus rushing yards in a playoff game. He earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors twice during the season.
Minnesota Vikings (2024)
After signing a four-year, $160 million contract extension in March 2023, Jones struggled with injuries during the 2023 season, sustaining a neck injury in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins and a torn ACL in his right knee in Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders, which ended his season. He finished the 2023 campaign with 909 passing yards, two touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 1-5 record.
On November 18, 2024, Jones was benched in favor of Tommy DeVito due to poor performance. On November 22, Jones asked to be released by the Giants, a request granted by owner and president John Mara. Jones concluded his six-year tenure in New York with a 24-44-1 record as a starter. On November 29, 2024, Jones was signed onto the Minnesota Vikings practice squad and was promoted to the active roster on January 7, 2025, serving as the emergency quarterback behind Sam Darnold during the Vikings’ playoff run.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2025-Present)
On March 13, 2025, Jones signed with the Indianapolis Colts on a one-year, $14 million contract. His signing came after general manager Chris Ballard stated there would be an open competition with Anthony Richardson for the starting quarterback position. On August 19, 2025, Jones was named the starting quarterback for the season. In his Colts debut against the Miami Dolphins, Jones completed 22 of his 29 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown, along with two rushing touchdowns, guiding the team to their first Week 1 victory since 2013.
Against the Denver Broncos in Week 2, Jones completed 23 of 34 passes for 316 yards and a touchdown pass to Jonathan Taylor. Against the division rival Tennessee Titans, Jones completed 18 of 25 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown, helping lead the Colts to a 3-0 start, their first since 2009. Due to his newfound success, fans began dubbing him “Indiana Jones,” a play on his surname and the team’s location. Jones suffered his first loss as the Colts starting quarterback in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams, where he threw for 262 yards and a touchdown but two interceptions.
During the first quarter of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 7, 2025, Jones dropped back in the pocket to pass, released the pass, then fell to the ground clutching his right calf. He was ruled out for the rest of the game with an Achilles tendon injury. The next day, Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Jones had torn his Achilles tendon and would miss the remainder of the season. He was placed on injured reserve on December 9, 2025. On March 3, 2026, the Colts placed the transition tag on Jones, and on March 12, he signed a two-year, $88 million contract extension with the team.
Playing Style and Strengths
Jones has developed a reputation as a dual-threat quarterback capable of making plays both through the air and on the ground. His scrambling ability and athleticism have allowed him to extend plays and pick up crucial yards. His rushing ability set Giants franchise records and made him a valuable asset in short-yardage situations. His elusiveness and ability to read defenses helped him find open receivers while avoiding pressure. His connection with his coaching staff and understanding of offensive schemes enabled him to deliver consistent performances throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Jones led the Giants to their first playoff appearance since 2016 and their first playoff victory since 2011 during the 2022 season. His historic playoff performance against the Vikings made him the first player in NFL history to achieve 300-plus passing yards, two-plus touchdowns, and 70-plus rushing yards in a playoff game. His college career included multiple bowl MVP honors and an impressive 423-yard, five-touchdown performance against Temple in the 2018 Independence Bowl. The Colts’ 3-0 start to begin the 2025 season marked the team’s best opening since 2009, while his Week 1 victory over the Dolphins was their first such win since 2013. He signed a two-year, $88 million extension with the Colts in March 2026.
Daniel Jones Career Statistics and Highlights
Throughout his NFL career, Jones has established himself as a capable quarterback with impressive passing and rushing statistics. His career passing statistics include 2,625 passing attempts with 1,698 completions for a 64.7% completion rate, accumulating 17,683 passing yards with 89 touchdowns and 55 interceptions. He has also contributed 2,343 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns on the ground. His career passer rating stands at 86.6, reflecting his overall efficiency as a quarterback. In his standout 2022 season, Jones led the Giants to their first playoff berth in six years and secured their first playoff victory since 2011.
Career Milestone Wins
Jones’s most memorable performance came in his NFL debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019, where he led a 32-31 comeback victory. He passed for 336 yards with a 112.7 passer rating and two touchdowns through the air, adding two more scores on the ground. He became only the seventh rookie quarterback since 2010 to orchestrate a game-winning drive in his first career start. In Week 16 of his rookie season against Washington, Jones threw for 352 yards and five touchdowns, becoming the fifth rookie quarterback in NFL history to accomplish that feat. His 2025 season with the Colts began with a Week 1 victory over the Dolphins, the Colts’ first such win since 2013, and he guided the team to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2009.
College Career Highlights
During his collegiate career at Duke, Jones earned MVP honors in the 2017 Quick Lane Bowl against Northern Illinois and the 2018 Independence Bowl against Temple. His performance against Temple in the 2018 Independence Bowl was particularly impressive, as he went 30-for-41 with 423 passing yards and five touchdowns. He was also named MVP of the 2019 Senior Bowl, further cementing his reputation as a rising talent in college football.
Daniel Jones Family
Family Background
Jones was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, as the oldest son of Becca and Steve Jones. His upbringing in Charlotte exposed him to football culture from a young age, as he grew up as a fan of the Carolina Panthers, his hometown team. This early connection to football helped shape his passion for the sport and contributed to his development as a quarterback.
Personal Life
Jones has a younger brother named Bates, who played one season of collegiate basketball at Duke during the 2021-22 season after previously playing four years at Davidson College. The Jones family has shown athletic versatility, with Daniel pursuing football while Bates competed in basketball at the collegiate level. Jones has remained connected to his roots in North Carolina throughout his professional career, and his journey from Charlotte Latin School to Duke University to the NFL reflects his dedication and perseverance.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a significant chapter in Jones’s career as he joined the Indianapolis Colts. After being named the starting quarterback following a competitive training camp, Jones immediately proved his value by leading the Colts to their first 3-0 start since 2009. His debut performance against the Dolphins showcased his dual-threat abilities, with 272 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns. His connection with running back Jonathan Taylor developed throughout the early season, creating a formidable offensive partnership.
Despite suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jones’s performance during the 2025 season demonstrated his growth as a quarterback and his ability to lead a team. The Colts’ offense showed promise under his leadership, with Jones displaying the passing accuracy and athleticism that had characterized his career. His season was cut short by injury, but his impact on the team was evident in their competitive performances throughout the year.
Jones’s resilience and determination were evident throughout his career, from overcoming early skepticism during his recruitment process to battling through injuries with the Giants. His successful transition to the Colts and immediate impact as a starter highlighted his adaptability and football intelligence. Looking ahead, Jones’s two-year extension with the Colts positions him as a key part of the team’s future plans. His ability to blend traditional quarterback skills with his rushing capabilities makes him a unique asset in the modern NFL, and his performance in 2025, despite its premature ending, reinforced his potential as a franchise quarterback capable of leading a team to success.