Colts QB Daniel Jones
Getty
Colts QB Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones wasn’t supposed to look like this inIndianapolis. Two games into the 2025 season, the Colts have gone from cautiously optimistic to fully convinced they’ve found their quarterback. And now, he’s got the nickname to match.
Daniel ‘Indiana’ Jones.
A New Identity in Indy
Daniel Jones
GettyColts QB Daniel Jones.
After six uneven seasons with theNew York Giants, Jones arrived in Indianapolis with more questions than answers. Could he stay healthy? Can he command an offense? Will he be more than a placeholder whileAnthony Richardson recovered and developed?
The early returns have been shocking.
Jones has made Richardson an afterthought almost overnight, giving the Colts a level of efficiency they haven’t seen in years. He’s spreading the ball around, pushing it downfield, and showing poise under pressure.
No one predicted Indy would open the season with scoring drives on its first 10 possessions. That had never been done in NFL history until Jones pulled it off. And he hasn’t slowed down.
Against Denver in Week 2, Jones went 23 of 34 for 316 yards with a passing touchdown and a rushing score in a 29-28 thriller. Facing theBroncos’ talented defense (which ranked top three in nearly every category last year) he calmly dissected their secondary, pushing the ball downfield and keeping the Colts alive.
Through two games, Jones ranks second in the NFL in passing yards (588) and sixth in passer rating (111.1).Jonathan Taylor leads the league in rushing, giving Indy a one two punch that’s shredding defenses.
But make no mistake, the Colts’ sudden offensive surge is tied to Jones’ presence and confidence. He looks like a completely different quarterback than the one who stumbled through six seasons in New York. His timing is sharp, his pocket awareness improved, and his leadership undeniable.
“He showed us the guy that’s shown us since Day 1,”Michael Pittman Jr. said after the win. “He’s a winner.”
The Colts’ QB Answer?
Colts QB Daniel Jones
GettyColts QB Daniel Jones
It’s early, but the signs are hard to ignore. Indianapolis has not only survived its first two weeks, it’s thrived, with Jones leading the way against two of the NFL’s toughest defenses. The confidence he’s shown in the pocket has spilled over to the rest of the roster, and it’s given the Colts something they’ve lacked for years: stability under center.
General manager Chris Ballard may soon have no choice but to consider a long term extension. If Jones keeps stacking performances like this, the question won’t be whether he’s a bridge quarterback, it’ll be how much Indy is willing to invest in keeping him around as the face of the franchise.
For now, Colts fans can simply enjoy watching their new quarterback play at a level few thought possible. He’s already erased doubts about whether Anthony Richardson would get another shot at starting this year, and he’s turned Indy’s offense into one of the league’s early season surprises.
And if the new nickname Daniel ‘Indiana’ Jones already catching on around the team is any indication, Jones has finally found the place where he belongs. The Colts wanted a steady hand, a leader, and a spark. Through two weeks, Daniel Jones has been all three. And in the process, he may have just written the opening chapter of the best stretch of his career.