New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll benching quarterback Daniel Jones in favor of Tommy DeVito ahead of Sunday’s home game between 2-8 New York and the 4-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers almost certainly represented the beginning of the end of Jones’ time with the Giants.
Jones addressed his benching and future via a statement he read on Thursday afternoon.
New York made Jones the sixth overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he began his rookie season as a backup behind franchise legend Eli Manning but was then named the starter after Week 2 of that campaign. Jones ultimately endured plenty of ups and downs over the next several years until the regime led by Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen declined the fifth-year option attached to the signal-caller’s rookie contract in the spring of 2022.
Jones responded to that disappointment by producing his best season, to date. He went 9-6-1 as a starter to guide the Giants to a playoff berth, and he then passed for 301 yards and two touchdowns to go along with 78 rushing yards in a postseason victory at the Minnesota Vikings. That performance helped him land a new four-year contract, but it also proved to be the final major highlight of his Giants career.
Jones missed a total of nine games from the start of the 2021 campaign through 2023 due to different neck-related issues before he went down with a torn ACL last November. He was also, statistically speaking, one of the league’s worst starting quarterbacks over the past two seasons when healthy. In total, he went 3-13 as a starter from the signing of his deal to his benching.
While answering questions on Thursday, Jones suggested the injury guarantee attached to his contract played a role in Daboll’s decision. It’s no secret the Giants can escape Jones’ deal this coming offseason as long as he stays healthy enough to pass a physical when the new league year opens in March 2025.
Jones also declined to confirm or deny he could ask to be released so he doesn’t have to spend the remainder of this season as an inactive benched spectator.
Earlier in the week, Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence referred to Jones as his “best friend” and as “the best quarterback on the team.” Jones shared what it meant to play alongside teammates such as Lawrence and represent the Giants over the past six seasons.
Barring what would be a surprising development, Jones seemingly won’t take another snap in a meaningful game before September 2025 at the earliest.
