Exactly one week after being released by the New York Giants, Daniel Jones was officially seen wearing the Minnesota Vikings emblem for the first time on Friday. Jones, who signed a four-year, $160 million contract with the Giants back in 2023, cleared waivers on Monday due to the sizable financial commitment of his deal.
Once he became a free agent, however, there was significant interest from teams around the NFL. Ultimately, Jones was seeking an opportunity to join a contending team, and he chose to sign with the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday, reportedly turning down offers from nine other teams.
Why did Jones decide that Minnesota was the right fit for him?
“You look at offensively what they’ve been able to do, the system, coach [Kevin] O’Connell and his staff. Just a lot of good things happening across the board as a team and organization, and on offense especially,” Jones explained. “I’m just excited to join that and help out where I can.”
Head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings have seemingly cultivated a reputation as a welcoming environment for quarterbacks looking to reshape their careers. A perfect example is Sam Darnold, the former No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft who struggled to find success as the franchise quarterback for the New York Jets. Since joining the Vikings, Darnold has found his footing, proving that he still belongs as an NFL starter. Through 11 games this season, Darnold has led the Vikings to nine wins, throwing 21 touchdown passes and posting a career-best 101.7 passer rating.
Jones, who also faced challenges during his tenure as the franchise quarterback for the Giants, has been closely observing Darnold’s resurgence. Whether Jones remains with the Vikings for just a week on the practice squad or ends up re-signing for a longer stint, he hopes to follow a similar path to career redemption.
“We haven’t had a ton of crossover on film, so I haven’t watched too closely,” Jones said when asked about Darnold. “But just from following him and seeing some games on TV, it’s clear he’s been playing at an extremely high level and doing a lot of good things. I’m genuinely happy for him. I’ve known Sam for a while now, and I’ve always pulled for him. He’s had a great year and played at a really high level.”
Jones will be on the Vikings’ sideline this Sunday when they face off against the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. It will mark his first time returning to Minneapolis since leading the Giants to a thrilling 31-24 upset victory over the Vikings in the wild-card round of the playoffs on January 15, 2023. That performance was arguably what convinced the Giants to offer Jones the lucrative four-year extension in the first place.
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Reflecting on his upcoming return to Minneapolis, Jones couldn’t help but smile. “I like U.S. Bank Stadium,” he said. “It’s an incredible stadium, and the fans there are incredible. I’m looking forward to being back and seeing it again on Sunday.”
For Jones, the move to Minnesota represents a new chapter—one filled with the potential for growth, redemption, and perhaps the opportunity to reclaim the promise he once showed as a franchise quarterback.
With a supportive coaching staff and a dynamic offensive system, the Vikings may just provide the spark Jones needs to get his career back on track.
