Daniel Jones was under constant pressure on 23 dropbacks and was sacked seven times during a humiliating 40-0 loss at home to the Dallas Cowboys. His primary protector, left tackle Andrew Thomas, sustained a hamstring injury and didn’t return until later in the season.
Jones was released on Friday, 439 days after that crushing defeat to the Cowboys. During his tenure, he won only three of 16 starts, with a stat line of 10 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. He was benched this week in favor of Tommy DeVito. Jones, 27, approached the Giants’ ownership on Friday to request his release after an unusual practice session on Thursday where he spent time playing scout-team safety. The decision was made to part ways with seven games left in the season.
“I fully accept responsibility for my performance,” Jones said in his farewell press conference on Thursday. “This season has been disappointing for everyone, and I wish I could’ve done more to help the team. I wasn’t consistent enough to deliver the results we needed.”
Despite some flashes of competence, things didn’t improve after that Cowboys disaster. Jones showed promise in the second half of the following week’s game against Arizona, but by Week 4, he found himself struggling under the national spotlight in a blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks on “Monday Night Football,” where he was sacked 10 times and threw a pick-six.
Jones’ injuries compounded his difficulties. He sustained a neck injury late in a loss to the Miami Dolphins, which sidelined him for several weeks. He returned to action, only to tear his ACL in his right knee during the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders, ending his season prematurely.
His backup, Tommy DeVito, commented on the toll injuries took on Jones: “He was clearly banged up a lot last year, and though he gave his best effort, he probably wasn’t ever fully healthy. Some of his struggles weren’t fair to him, but when you’re out there, you just have to play through it.”
Jones’ career in New York will be judged by results, which were lacking after the high point of a playoff win in 2022, his best season. That year, he ranked 6th in the NFL with a QBR of 62.9, but since entering the league in 2019, his overall QBR has dropped to 26th, sitting at just 53.0.
This past offseason, the Giants considered drafting a quarterback, a topic highlighted on HBO’s Hard Knocks. The series revealed coach Brian Daboll discussing the possibility of trading up for LSU’s Jayden Daniels. General Manager Joe Schoen was also heard expressing interest in trading up for the No. 3 pick, and the Giants were linked to North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, who ultimately was drafted by the Patriots.
Sources close to Jones suggested that the public speculation over his replacement may have added extra pressure on him this season. Coming off a serious knee injury, he was expected to perform immediately, which seemed to affect his play. He struggled with his accuracy, something that hadn’t been a major issue for him before. Throughout training camp, he often underthrew deep passes and admitted to overcompensating, trying to correct his mechanics.
Despite the Giants’ investment in an upgraded receiving corps, which featured rookie standout Malik Nabers, Jones’ confidence appeared to wane. Multiple players indicated a shift in his relationship with Daboll, with one describing it as “weird” at times.
The tension reached its peak during an international game in Germany against the Carolina Panthers. Daboll, who had taken over play-calling duties in hopes of fixing the offense, called for a flea-flicker on a crucial third-and-1. Two receivers were wide open, but Jones hesitated and didn’t throw the ball. Daboll was visibly upset, running down the sideline, eventually slapping hands with Wan’Dale Robinson, one of the open receivers. It was a moment that underscored the growing disconnect.
With Jones’ struggles continuing and a career-worst QBR of 46.5 for the season, it was clear the Giants would soon move on. They turned to DeVito, the third-string quarterback, over second-stringer Drew Lock, signaling the end of Jones’ time with the team. His contract, now regarded as one of the worst in Giants history, and his unsuccessful tenure will be remembered as a major misstep in the franchise’s recent history.
