As a former New York quarterback It thrives in Minnesotaanother one standing on the sidelines now in a position he never thought he'd be in after being drafted sixth overall in 2019.
Danielle JonesHis time with the New York Giants unceremoniously ended when he was released after a 2-8 start this season, leaving him to find a new home in the NFL for the first time in six years.
Weighing his options, Jones decided to take on the quarterback role for the Minnesota Vikings, calling it a “fantastic opportunity” to work with head coach Kevin O'Connell and rookie Sam Darnold, the former New York Jet whose career was revitalized this year. season.
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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (AP Photo/Leinart Press)
Could this be what Jones is looking for with the Vikings after watching Darnold regain his confidence and lead the team to an 11-2 record?
Vikings legend Kyle Rudolph, a former teammate of Jones during their year with the Giants, said that might be the plan after spending time with Jones two weeks ago before, during and after the team's win over Arizona Cardinals.
“He's excited to be in that environment in Minnesota,” Rudolph told Fox News Digital, while also touching on his surprise with two Minnesota military veterans after teaming up with Polaris and Call of Duty in Week 13. “To be around Kevin O'Connell, Josh McCown, the quarterbacks coach, is going to be able to take a backseat and learn and try to re-establish himself as a good quarterback in this league and a guy who, by the way, won a playoff game in that building and went to the divisional round.”
Jones broke out in the 2022 season Rudolph referred to, which included a Wild Card Round win on the road at US Bank Stadium against a Wild Card Round team. Kirk Cousins– Led by the Vikings. This ultimately led to a decision by the Giants to extend Jones long-term, believing that he had proven himself worthy of a new contract to remain the team's franchise quarterback.
But that didn't work out, as the Giants released him this offseason before they had a chance to opt out of his deal. Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley, who was franchised after Jones received his big deal, is having an MVP season with the Philadelphia Eagles in his first year after walking into free agency.
But as the Giants vacillate over their next quarterback amid a terrible campaign, Jones may have found a new life in Minnesota.
“What's to stop DJ from being Baker Mayfield (or) Sam Darnold next year?” Rudolph said.
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (AP Photo/John Munson)
“It's a big reason why he chose to go to Minnesota, knowing there might be an opportunity for me in the future.”
As for Darnold, he signed a one-year, lock-in deal with the Vikings last season, knowing it would be a quarterback competition with rookie JJ McCarthy, the team's No. 1 starter from Michigan. But when McCarthy went down with a knee injury, Darnold knew he needed to step up for the Vikings all season long, not just Week 1 when he won the starting job out of training camp.
He did just that with an 11-2 record over 13 games while putting up career numbers. Remember, this is a quarterback who fell short of the third overall pick with the New York Jets, couldn't stick with the Carolina Panthers and was in the same role that Jones now plays with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.
Meanwhile, Mayfield was also in Carolina with Darnold after his tenure as the first overall pick and hoped-for savior of the Cleveland Browns ended. Mayfield bounced around the NFL until the Bucs gave him a similar deal in 2023 like the one Darnold has now. Not only did Mayfield prove he can win in Tampa Bay, beating the Eagles in the Wild Card round at home, cementing his role as the team's starting quarterback, but he earned a three-year, $100 million extension to show for it.
Rudolph said Darnold earned this big extension with more games remaining, and Jones could do the same with the Vikings, a team Rudolph doesn't think wants to spend big on Darnold, knowing McCarthy is waiting in the wings.
“In today’s world, young quarterbacks don’t have to play their first two years,” Rudolph said. “JJ's going through what he's going through with his knee injury, and ultimately, yeah, they'll compete if DJ decides to stay out there next year. He's got a great chance to get out there, and it's only one year away.”
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (AP Photo/Leinart Press)
Right now, Rudolph knows Jones is itching to get back on the field, but he's playing his role well in his first few weeks with Minnesota.
“I think the biggest challenge for DJ is that he's always been the guy. He was the sixth overall pick and the quarterback for the New York Giants,” Rudolph said. “Last Sunday, he watched the game from the sidelines as the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. That's not easy. As a competitor, I know that when he talked to him, he was like, 'Man, I felt so useless standing there basically watching a game . It's part of the process.”
Giving back to veterans
Rudolph was able to watch Darnold & Co. He's coming off a Week 13 win over the Arizona Cardinals in the Twin Cities, where he also surprised two Minnesota veterans with Polaris RZR Pro R vehicles during the Salute to Service game on Dec. 1.
Rudolph leveraged his fundraising platform, Alltroo, and teamed up with Polaris and Call of Duty to pull off this special surprise.
“Two gentlemen Marines from Minnesota felt undeserving of this amazing honor because they said, ‘There are so many others who have done what I have done who deserve it more than me,’” Rudolph said. “They couldn’t believe they were the ones chosen to receive Polaris.” RZRs”.
Newly acquired Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones walks off the field after the game against the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium. (Photos by Jeffrey Baker-Imagine)
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The veterans also played the new “Call of Duty Black Ops 6” video game with Vikings defensemen Pat Jones II and Evan Pace Jr.
Until March 1, 2025, Rudolph said soccer fans can enter in Ultra For a chance to win a Polaris RZR Pro R through donations that benefit the Call of Duty Endowment, a program that helps veterans into quality jobs and supports veteran well-being.
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