It’s January 2026, and the NFL world is still trying to wrap its head around the bizarre, rollercoaster year that Daniel Jones just had. If you look at the raw Daniel Jones season stats from 2025, you see a guy who finally looked like the franchise savior everyone in New York hoped he’d be—right before the floor fell out.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild.
A year ago, Jones was a punchline. He was getting booed in East Rutherford, released by the Giants in November 2024, and spent a quiet minute as a backup for the Vikings. Nobody thought he’d be leading the NFL in completion percentage through October 2025. But that’s exactly what happened in Indianapolis.
The Statistical Resurrection in Indy
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the numbers because they tell a story of two different seasons. Before the injury bug bit, Jones was basically "Indiana Jones," carving up defenses with a level of efficiency we hadn't seen since his 2022 playoff run.
In 13 games with the Indianapolis Colts, Jones put up:
- 3,101 passing yards
- 19 touchdowns against just 8 interceptions
- A career-high 68% completion rate
- 100.2 passer rating
Compare that to his 2024 stint with the Giants, where he struggled to even find the end zone. In those 10 games for New York, he barely scraped together 2,070 yards and 8 touchdowns. He looked hesitant. The pocket felt like it was shrinking every second.
Then he gets to the Colts, plays under Shane Steichen, and suddenly he’s throwing for 8.1 yards per attempt. That’s a massive jump from the 6.1 YPA he posted during his final days in New York. He wasn't just dinking and dunking; he was actually letting it rip.
Why the Daniel Jones Season Stats Don't Tell the Whole Story
Stats are great, but they don't capture the "vibe shift" that happened in November.
The Colts started the year 8-2. Jones was squarely in the MVP conversation—which sounds like a fever dream now, but it was real. He was handling blitzes better than almost anyone in the league. PFF even noted that in the first two weeks of the season, he faced a historic amount of pressure and still maintained a passer rating over 106.
But then, the wheels started to wobble.
Between Week 9 and Week 14, the production dipped. His completion percentage slid down to 62.4%. He was dealing with a fibula injury that most people didn't realize was as bad as it was. It sapped his mobility, and for a guy whose game relies heavily on his legs—he had 5 rushing touchdowns this year despite the limited games—that was a death sentence.
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Then came the Week 14 disaster against Jacksonville. A non-contact Achilles tear.
Just like that, the most promising statistical season of his career was over. The Colts, who looked like Super Bowl contenders, spiraled to an 8-9 finish. It goes to show how much the Daniel Jones season stats actually mattered to that team’s identity. When he was on, Jonathan Taylor was leading the league in rushing because teams couldn't just stack the box. When Jones went down, the offense became one-dimensional and flat.
The Contract Headache and 2026 Outlook
So, what happens now? Jones is technically an unrestricted free agent.
He signed a one-year, $14 million "prove it" deal with Indy, and man, did he prove it. But an Achilles tear at age 28 (he’ll be 29 when the 2026 season starts) is a massive red flag.
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Colts GM Chris Ballard has already said there’s "mutual interest" in bringing him back. It makes sense. Jones found a home in that system. He fit the city. He was "the guy" until his body gave out.
However, some analysts, like those over at Bleacher Report, are sounding the alarm. They're calling him one of the highest-risk free agents for the 2026 cycle. Spotrac has his "market value" estimated at nearly $45 million a year based on his 2025 production, but who is going to pay that for a quarterback coming off a major surgery who has only played 16 games once in his seven-year career?
Historical Context: The Career Arc
If we look at his total career numbers, Jones has now surpassed 17,000 passing yards and has 89 passing touchdowns. He’s also a sneaky-good runner with 20 career rushing scores.
- 2019-2022: The "Danny Dimes" era (high highs, very low lows).
- 2023-2024: The collapse (injuries and the New York exit).
- 2025: The renaissance (The Indy breakout).
- 2026: The great unknown.
It’s easy to forget he was the 6th overall pick once. People love to write him off, but the 2025 tape shows a player who has significantly improved his processing speed. He’s not the same guy who used to fumble every time a defender breathed on him. He only lost 3 fumbles this year. That’s growth.
What to Watch for This Offseason
If you're a fan or a front-office nut, the next few months are crucial. Jones says he’ll be ready for training camp, but we've heard that before from guys like Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers.
The Colts have a decision to make with Anthony Richardson, too. He’s entering the final year of his rookie deal and spent 2025 as the backup before a freak orbital bone injury ended his season early. Do they commit to Jones long-term, or do they draft another rookie and use Jones as a bridge?
The most likely scenario is a 2-year deal with the Colts that has heavy incentives. Something that acknowledges he was a top-10 QB for half of 2025 but protects the team if the Achilles injury limits his "freaky talent" (Ballard's words, not mine).
Actionable Next Steps for 2026
If you're tracking Jones for your 2026 fantasy draft or just following the Colts' rebuild, keep your eyes on the March free agency window. Watch the medical reports from the Combine; teams will be poking and prodding that Achilles to see if he’s lost his burst. If he signs a multi-year deal with Indy, expect the Colts to remain aggressive in the draft for a WR2 to pair with Michael Pittman, ensuring Jones has the tools to replicate those early 2025 numbers.