Can the Colts trust Daniel Jones?

Dec 28, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones moves along the sideline on a scooter ahead a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images | Grace Hollars-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Daniel Jones was given a golden opportunity to resurrect his career with the Indianapolis Colts. After a failed stint with the New York Giants, of which Jones certainly doesn't carry all the blame, his career was in flux. Another first round quarterback found himself without a home. It was good to see what Jones had to offer in 2025, but then again, what really does he have to offer? Last season was a mixed bag that should leave the Colts wondering just how much they can trust Jones going forward.

The hot start, followed by an extreme cooling off, made fans second guess if what they were seeing was actually fool's gold. Let's look beyond last year. As stated, the Giants organization bears the brunt of the failures for not putting a good team around him, but we can't ignore Jones' role in things. A .358 winning percentage over six years is quite abysmal. Every year, a great quarterback makes a bad team look good. How many times did we see that with Manning and Luck? Sure, Jones couldn't do it all alone, but a record that bad indicates he might not be able to carry a franchise when needed.

Jones played 16 games once in his career. The only other season in which it looked like he might be healthy enough to complete the season was 2024. Unfortunately, we didn't get to find out because he was benched and released after a 2-8 start and ended up in Minnesota as the backup. His career has been all over the place. One can hope he discovers the magic that Sam Darnold found, but even with all their similarities, they are still extremely different and no two situations are the same. Simply wishing and hoping he turns it around like Darnold doesn't seem to be a sign of solid judgment.

The trust level in Daniel Jones should be low. What would a high level of trust be built on? The first ten or so weeks of 2025 can't erase what came before or after. It could be the start of something more, but it could also be a flash in the pan. Expectations were low last season, and Jones did come out of the gate performing well. This isn't to say he can't be the guy. This is simply saying, in your gut, do you really trust that he is the guy?