The Indianapolis Colts had to play hardball, but the team finally struck a two-year, $88 million deal with quarterback Daniel Jones. The deal comes with incentives that could raise the total value of the contract to $100 million, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Jones will reunite with the Colts after putting together a breakout season that was cut short after 13 games when he tore his right Achilles. The Colts also spent earlier in the offseason to bring back wideout Alec Pierce on a monster deal, keeping the big-play duo intact for at least the next two years.
The deal for Jones is historic, as it becomes the largest two-year deal in NFL history. Jones is set to make $50 million in the first season of the contract, according to Schultz, which is a record for this type of deal.
Before suffering a season-ending injury, Jones had the Colts looking like a Super Bowl contender and leading one of the most explosive offenses in the league. He finished the 2025 season with 3,101 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also rushed for another five touchdowns on the ground.
More News:Patriots Make $80 Million Splash Amid A.J. Brown Trade Rumors
Even though Pierce scored a huge payday, Schultz reports that Pierce took slightly less than he was expected to get in order to help bring Jones back to Indianapolis. The Colts also had more flexibility after missing out on edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who nearly chose the Colts before signing with the Ravens on Wednesday.
The Colts initially placed the transition tag on Jones this offseason, but the deal raises Jones' salary in 2026 by $12.2 million. It was clearly a priority for the Colts to bring Jones back and attempt to recapture the early-season success the team had before his injury.
As Jones comes off the market and supplies a QB-needy team, the options for veterans on the market like Aaron Rodgers, Kyler Murray and Kirk Cousins are thinning. The Minnesota Vikings are likely in line to sign one of the three, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have shown interest in re-signing Rodgers.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.