Colts GM hints at Daniel Jones’ future with team after Achille injury

The one-season union between Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts seems poised for an extension.

On Thursday, returning general manager Chris Ballard provided insight on where the Colts stand with their 2025 starting quarterback, who was enjoying a career resurgence before sustaining a season-ending Achilles injury late last year.

“I think it’s mutual on both sides,” Ballard said of Jones, who agreed to a one-year, $14 million deal with Indy last March. “I feel very good about Daniel Jones. Where he’s at and where he’s going.”

Ballard also made it clear that he believes the former Giants quarterback “has a really bright future here in Indianapolis,” per USA Today.

A first-round pick in 2019, Jones endured a rocky five-and-a-half-season tenure in New York, where he reached the postseason just once (2022) and sustained significant injuries, including to his neck.

He was released by the team in late 2024 following a 2-8 start — roughly two years into a four-year, $160 million contract extension — before joining the Vikings’ practice squad.

Upon linking up with the Colts in free agency, he won the starting quarterback job over 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson and led the team to a surprise 8-2 start.

Things started to go awry following the Week 11 bye, with Indianapolis losing Jones to an Achilles injury in December amid a multi-game skid.

Although the Colts enlisted retired QB Philip Rivers as a replacement, the 44-year-old fell short in three straight starts, with the club finishing at 8-9 on the year and missing the playoffs.

Colts ownership confirmed Monday that Ballard would return for his 10th season, in addition to head coach Shane Steichen, who joined the organization in 2023.

“We were all encouraged by our first half,” Colts CEO and owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon said. “We experienced a lot of progress, which gives us optimism for the future and the direction we are heading as a team.”