Giants Country

Eli Manning Thinks Daniel Jones is Built Tough for New York

Daniel Jones's maturity and thick skin have helped turn him into a confident young signal caller.

Patricia Traina

Eli Manning Thinks Daniel Jones is Built Tough for New York
Eli Manning Thinks Daniel Jones is Built Tough for New York /
In this story:

Perhaps no one knows the challenges and pressures of playing in the New York market more than retired New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

Yet Manning successfully navigated through the maze thanks to his steel-like resolve and dedication to his job. Those traits were just a few examples that Manning taught Daniel Jones, his successor. And Jones, like Manning, has built up enough callouses to survive the sometimes-brutal environment that can eat some professional athletes alive.

“Daniel has handled it so well,” Manning said during a recent appearance on the NFL Network's Good Morning Football program. “Every game, you could come in and throw four touchdowns, and they’ll say you’re the greatest player and the MVP. But the next week, you throw two interceptions, and they’re saying you’re a bust and a big mistake.

“You’ve got to deal with that, and you’ve got to handle that. But I think he’s handled it so well.”

Jones’s professional demeanor closely resembles Manning’s from back in the day that it’s almost scary. The 26-year-old doesn’t let anything bother him, he is guarded with what he says to the media, and he just goes about his business as though he never earned that four-year $160 million payday he signed in March.

“If you know anything about Daniel, that guy is the hardest worker no matter what the situation is,” receiver Sterling Shepard said earlier this month. “I expect him to have the mentality of, I'm going to show everybody why I deserve this money, and I mean, he's always approached the game and practiced day-to-day work with the right mindset. I'm looking forward to seeing him out there balling.”

Unlike Manning, who was rarely spotted letting his hair down, Jones doesn't seem bothered if he's caught in public living his life. He recently took the stage at a Zach Bryan concert, doing what any other music fan might want to do by singing and dancing along and even taking a good-natured jab from Bryan, a noted Eagles fan.

And then there is another side of Jones that only his teammates and those closest to him get to see: his sense of humor.

“He's got a lot of personality that you get to see once you get to know him some more,” said tight end Darren Waller. “It's been fun, man. Getting extra throwing sessions in, workout in the weight room. A lot of jokes. Just having lunch together. You can tell guys are really close around here, and he leads that energy.”

Shepard chuckled that Jones doesn’t have that “money swag” that some players get after signing a new lucrative contract, but Jones does have a different sort of air about him that is hard not to notice: confidence.

“I’d just say that he's got much more comfort level with our offense,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “We've added, I'd say, considerably new things to these camps just to see how they look. But he's got good give-and-take with (offensive coordinator Mike) Kafka, seeing how players look in different spots. He's had a really good camp.”

Jones is coming off his best season as a pro last year, in which he led the team to a 9-7-1 regular season finish, their first winning record since 2016, and their first postseason berth since then.

He cut down—way down—on interceptions (five), something he’s done a little bit each year since throwing 12 as a rookie. He also did a much better job of protecting the ball, tossed a career-high 3,205 passing yards, finishing with a 67.2 completion percentage, and rushed for 708 yards (on 120 carries), two more career highs.

More from Giants Country

“Each year, he’s made improvements,” Manning said. “He’s seen things he needs to work on and fixed them. He came out last year and played his best, made it to playoffs, and won a playoff game. He played phenomenally in that playoff game — maybe his best game of the whole season. He can rise to the occasion and win the big games.”

The Giants apparently agree, which is why they turned Danny Dimes into Danny Dollars. And the team is hoping the best is still yet to come from Jones now that he has perhaps his best supporting cast around him.

“I think we’ll continue to see him grow and take more of that leadership role,” Manning said. “I think he’s more comfortable in that position — just how to deal with New York. He knows he can rise to the occasion. He’s a tough kid, so I think he’ll continue to get better.”

Published
Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

Home/Big Blue+