BB.Daniel Jones’ Vikings Take Has Colts Fans Seeing Red — “It’s Either a Pass or an Interception!”

Indianapolis Colts fans are buzzing, and not in a good way. Their quarterback, Daniel Jones, is suddenly looking like a polished gem after years of being a rough stone with the New York Giants. But his recent comments praising the Minnesota Vikings for his turnaround have Colts fans split—some see it as a perfect spiral, others an outright interception. Is Jones’ newfound success a testament to Indy’s head coach Shane Steichen’s offensive wizardry, or is it a damning indictment of his former team and a nod to a brief but impactful stint with the Vikings?

Jones’ journey to Indy has been anything but straightforward. Drafted by the Giants in 2019, he spent six seasons in New York, where he was known for protecting the ball but failing to light up the scoreboard. His tenure was a mixed bag—flashes of potential drowned out by inconsistent play and a stagnant offense. By mid-2024, the Giants had seen enough, cutting ties with the quarterback. Jones then signed with the Minnesota Vikings, a move that seemed like a footnote at the time. He didn’t play a single down in Minnesota, but according to Jones himself, those two months were a game-changer.

Speaking on the Fritz and Whit Show with former NFL stars Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth, Jones dropped a bombshell that’s left Colts fans reeling. “I always thought I worked really hard,” Jones said. “But then, going to Minnesota, I saw how Sam Darnold prepared. How Kevin O’Connell prepared those guys… Every little bit of the plan, and how they’re going to study. What they’re looking for, walking through it, quizzing each other in the quarterback room. That made a big impression on me.”

Ouch. For Colts fans, this feels like a backhanded compliment at best. Jones is crediting Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell—a known quarterback whisperer—for flipping a switch in his approach to the game. O’Connell’s track record speaks for itself: he turned Sam Darnold from a journeyman into a revelation last season. Apparently, Jones soaked up the same magic in Minnesota’s quarterback room, even if he never saw the field. But where does this leave Shane Steichen, the man currently steering Indy’s offense?

Steichen, no stranger to quarterback success himself, has a history of elevating signal-callers. His offensive scheme in Indianapolis has Jones playing the best football of his career, with crisp decision-making and a newfound knack for driving the Colts’ offense downfield. Yet Jones’ glowing praise for O’Connell’s preparation methods has some Indy fans wondering: is Steichen’s system just a cherry on top of what Minnesota started? Or is Jones’ success a true team effort, with Steichen’s play-calling and Indy’s offensive weapons unlocking his potential?

The real sting, though, is reserved for the New York Giants. Jones’ comments are a brutal critique of his former team. After six years in New York, it wasn’t until he landed in Minnesota that he saw the light. The Giants’ dysfunction—whether it was coaching, scheme, or culture—seems to have held him back. Now, with a fresh start in Indy, Jones is proving he’s more than the turnover-averse, low-impact quarterback the Giants let walk.

For Colts fans, the debate rages on. Some see Jones’ Vikings shoutout as a classy nod to a coach who helped him grow, a perfect pass to O’Connell’s influence. Others view it as a fumble, a slight to Steichen’s role in his breakout season. The truth likely lies in the middle: Jones’ time in Minnesota gave him the tools, but Steichen’s system is letting him shine. One thing’s for sure—Indianapolis is reaping the rewards, and Giants fans are left wondering what could have been.

As the Colts push through the 2025 season, Jones’ resurgence is a storyline to watch. Will he continue to credit his Vikings detour, or will Steichen’s leadership take center stage? For now, Indy fans are left to decide: is Jones’ take a touchdown or a pick-six? There’s no in-between.