Daniel Jones has been the New York Giants’ starting quarterback since 2019 when he was selected with the No. 6 overall pick. Jones isn’t playing quarterback for the Giants in Week 13 as Big Blue takes on the Dallas Cowboys in their rival’s annual Thanksgiving Day game.
So, what happened to Jones, and why isn’t he with the Giants? Here are the details.
What Happened to Daniel Jones?
The Daniel Jones era in New York was a roller-coaster ride. The operative word in that sentence is “was” because that ride is over, and now Jones has joined the Minnesota Vikings.
The Giants waived Jones on Nov. 23. After he cleared waivers, he became a free agent, and Jones chose the Vikings to continue his career.
After ineffective play from Jones and a continued downward spiral for the team, the Giants decided to bench Jones. Not only did New York opt to replace him as the starter, they also planned to demote him to third string behind both Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock.
Jones met with Giants management after that decision and requested his release, which the organization granted.
From @NFLGameDay Kickoff: #Giants QB Daniel Jones is now a free agent. What’s next? pic.twitter.com/b5CizORZ36
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 26, 2024
Why Did the Giants Release Daniel Jones?
Through 10 games this season, the Giants were 2-8, and the offense was among the NFL’s least productive, particularly in the passing game. At the time of Jones’ release, the Giants ranked 31st in offensive points per game (15.0), 27th in passing yards, 29th in yards per passing attempt (5.9), and last in passing touchdowns (eight).
Exacerbating the frustration for the Giants’ organization and fan base was the outstanding performance from two former members of the team who were not retained in part, at least, because of the resources (cash and cap space) dedicated to Jones — running back Saquon Barkley and safety Xavier McKinney.
Barkley, the best player on the Giants’ roster since he was selected No. 2 overall in 2018 and a favorite of the fan base and team owner John Mara, is now starring for the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. Barkley leads the league in rushing with 1,392 yards and has 12 touchdowns (10 rushing, 2 receiving), as well.
McKinney, now one of the best players on the Green Bay Packers’ defense, is tied for the league lead in interceptions with seven.
The combination of Jones and the team’s underperformance, Barkley’s sensational season, and the Giants’ likely shift in priority from this year’s team to the prospects of future Giants teams, led to the benching of Jones.
Daniel Jones’ Up-and-Down Tenure With the Giants
Jones flashed some promise as early as his rookie season when he threw for 3,027 yards and 24 touchdowns in 13 games. The Giants struggled as a team, going 4-12, and responded by firing then-head coach Pat Shurmur.
But their investment in Jones was seemingly off to a solid start.
The next two seasons — 2020 and 2021 with new head coach Joe Judge — netted poor results. Jones had nearly as many interceptions (17) as touchdown passes (21), and the Giants went 10-13. The organization made yet another head-coaching move, firing Judge and hiring current coach Brian Daboll.
In Daboll’s first season with the Giants (2022), Jones again demonstrated franchise quarterback potential. He threw for a career-best 3,205 yards with 15 touchdowns compared to just five interceptions. More importantly, the Giants went 9-7-1 and qualified for the playoffs.
In the team’s Wild Card round game at Minnesota, Jones was the star of the show. He made NFL history by becoming the first player with 300+ passing yards, 2+ touchdown passes, and 70+ rushing yards in a playoff game. New York lost the following week in the Divisional Round, but the organization’s confidence in the young quarterback grew.
In March of the 2023 offseason, Jones signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension with the Giants. In Week 5 of the next season, though, he sustained a neck injury that cost him three games. In his first game back from that injury, Jones’ knee buckled as he dropped back for a passing attempt, and it was later determined he had torn his ACL and would miss the remainder of the season.
Jones rehabbed the knee in time to return for the start of the 2024 regular season. But poor performance by Jones and the team as a whole led to his benching and eventual release.