Shane Steichen keeps Daniel Jones as Indianapolis Colts quarterback after 42-7 loss
Shane Steichen is deciding to stick with Daniel Jones as the Indianapolis Colts’ starting quarterback, he told reporters Monday, following a 42-7 defeat in Jacksonville that marked 21 games under center for Jones with the franchise.
Getting soundly beaten in Duval County was not enough for Indy’s coach to make a quarterback change like the one he made after 10 starts with his first draft selection, Anthony Richardson. Indianapolis sits at 2-6 after four consecutive defeats, having lost 13 of their last 15 games dating back to the 2025 collapse. During that stretch, Jones has lost nine of his last 11 starts, while Richardson holds an 8-7 record across 15 career starts.
Jones is halfway through the least-efficient season of his eight-year NFL career. Across eight games, the veteran quarterback has recorded career-lows with a 60% completion rate and a 68.7 passer rating, throwing just five passing touchdowns against nine interceptions alongside 12 total turnovers. Since signing with Indianapolis, Jones has accumulated 30 total touchdowns against 17 interceptions.
Steichen defended his roster choice during his media session on Monday.
It goes back to the preparation and the command he has of the offense
Steichen doubled down by asserting that he believes Jones gives the Colts the best chance to win right now.
Front office moves change 2026 direction
The organization has already begun a fire sale, sending cornerstone All-Pros Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, while trading DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2027 fourth-round pick. Whatever playoff aspirations that remained by Halloween have effectively disappeared, leaving the team to evaluate its options in the final year of Richardson’s rookie contract.
#Colts HC Shane Steichen says Daniel Jones will remain the team's starting QB.
During training camp practices at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, observers noted persistent issues with Richardson handling snaps, pre-snap reads and the finer details of operating an NFL offense. While Jones ran Steichen’s run-pass-option scheme more effectively with the starting unit, Richardson split time working with the second and third teams.
Jones operates more comfortably within the play-action and run-pass-option concepts that form Steichen’s offensive framework, but that scheme has stalled. The Colts allowed six touchdowns to the Jaguars while their offense managed just five total touchdowns across the last four games. Jones has faced heavy pressure, struggled to push the ball downfield, and repeatedly placed the defense in short-field situations through turnovers.
Shane Steichen said Daniel Jones will remain the Colts starting QB vs. the Cowboys on Sunday.
The financial investment versus on-field production
Indianapolis carries a $100 million financial commitment to Jones spanning from 2025 through 2027. Star running back Jonathan Taylor noted that Richardson’s athleticism, mobility, arm strength and capability to threaten defenses with his legs and his arms is something that opponents “foam at the mouth at” when facing the Colts today.
The Colts face the struggling Dallas defense at home four games before their upcoming bye week. Steichen maintains that Jones offers the immediate path to victory, leaving open the question of why Jones retains a secure starting role after 21 games while Richardson was benched after just 10 career starts.
