Picture this: a quarterback who thought he was giving it his all suddenly realizes his efforts were only scratching the surface. That's the eye-opening revelation Daniel Jones shared about his journey from the Giants to the Vikings – and it might just leave you questioning everything about team preparation in the NFL. But here's where it gets controversial: his glowing words about Minnesota's approach could be seen as a subtle jab at his former team. Stick around to dive deeper into this story and see if you agree with the implications.
During a recent chat on the 'Fitz and Whit' podcast hosted by Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth, Jones – now the starting quarterback for the 4-1 Colts – candidly discussed how his training routine transformed after joining the Vikings last season following his release from the Giants in November. 'I always believed I put in the effort, pushing myself to study film, prepare diligently, and work hard,' Jones explained. 'But stepping into the Minnesota setup, I witnessed firsthand how Sam Darnold approached his prep, along with the meticulous strategies from head coach Kevin O'Connell, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, and then-assistant offensive coordinator Grant Udinski. Their crew was incredibly thorough, breaking down every detail of the game plan day after day – from analyzing footage to quizzing one another in the quarterback room. It really opened my eyes; I thought, wow, this is elevating things to a whole new tier.'
For those new to football, this 'next level' refers to an advanced, almost obsessive focus on every nuance of the game, like dissecting opponent tendencies or rehearsing plays repeatedly to build muscle memory and decision-making speed. It's the kind of dedication that can turn good players into elite ones, and Jones, at 28, described his stint with the Vikings as 'incredibly beneficial.'
To provide some context, Jones was sidelined by Giants head coach Brian Daboll in favor of rookie Tommy DeVito back in November, after the team stumbled to a 2-8 start. In his 10 games as the starter that season, Jones racked up 2,070 passing yards, tossed eight touchdowns, and threw seven interceptions. Over his six-year tenure with the Giants, he compiled a 24-44-1 record, amassing 14,582 yards through the air, 70 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions. Yet, he played a pivotal role in guiding Big Blue to the playoffs in 2022, Daboll's inaugural year as head coach. That campaign saw Jones throw for an impressive 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just five interceptions, while also rushing for 708 yards and seven more scores. The Giants even upset the Vikings on the road in the wild-card round before bowing out to the Eagles.
Following that success, Jones inked a lucrative four-year deal worth $160 million, with $81 million guaranteed. However, his 2023 season was cut short after going 1-5 as a starter and suffering a torn ACL. This past offseason, he signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Colts and edged out Anthony Richardson for the starting gig. So far this year, through five games, he's thrown for 1,290 yards with six touchdowns, two interceptions, and a solid 71.3 completion percentage, plus three rushing touchdowns.
And this is the part most people miss: while Jones credits the Vikings for refining his skills, it raises eyebrows about whether the Giants' system under Daboll was truly supportive or if it held him back. Was it a coaching mismatch, or did Jones simply need a fresh environment to thrive? Some fans might argue that Daboll's decision to bench him was a smart move for team morale, while others see it as a missed opportunity. What do you think – does this praise for Minnesota imply the Giants dropped the ball on player development? Is there a counterpoint here, like maybe Jones' success with the Colts shows he's adaptable regardless? We'd love to hear your take in the comments – agree, disagree, or share your own NFL coaching theories!
