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Ever since Andrew Luck shocked the football world by retiring in 2019, the Indianapolis Colts have been searching for stability at quarterback. They’ve tried multiple options, but none have stuck. Now, head coach Shane Steichen is handing the keys to Daniel Jones in hopes that his steady play can finally bring some consistency under centre.
Jones earned the starting job over Anthony Richardson Sr., who had been the team’s starter. According to general manager Chris Ballard, the decision came down to dependability. With Jones, the Colts know what they’re getting. With Richardson, there’s more unpredictability.
The trade-off is obvious. Jones brings reliability, but he doesn’t bring much in the way of fireworks.
Pro Football Focus’ John Kosko recently outlined the biggest weakness for every NFL starting quarterback, and for Jones, it was clear: a lack of playmaking ability. “While this is also [Jared] Goff’s weakness, Jones’s lack of playmaking is an even bigger extreme,” Kosko wrote. “He has a combined 26 big-time throws across the past four seasons. Jones won the Colts’ starting job this offseason, and he should do a good job keeping the offence on schedule compared to Anthony Richardson Sr., but his lack of playmaking ability might be a problem for the team in 2025.”
That’s the dilemma for Indianapolis. By choosing Jones, they’ve essentially swapped explosiveness for consistency. Richardson offered flashes of brilliance but also mistakes. Jones, meanwhile, is experienced, better at reading defences, and more comfortable running the offence. But the Colts will have to live with the reality that his style limits the offence’s ceiling.
For Steichen, it means his scheme might need to adapt. There will be fewer deep shots and highlight-reel plays, but ideally, more drives that stay on schedule and end with points. The question is whether that approach will be enough in a league where the best teams often rely on quarterbacks who can make the impossible happen.
The Colts open their season on September 7, and all eyes will be on how Jones looks in blue and white. If he can keep the offence efficient and mistake-free, the Colts may finally find the stability they’ve been missing for six years. But if his lack of explosiveness becomes too glaring, the decision to move away from Richardson could be second-guessed quickly.