Daniel Jones' struggles put his Colts future in doubt after Ballard's ouster

In the first six weeks of 2026, everything has changed for Daniel Jones in Indianapolis. The Colts made a huge commitment to the quarterback last offseason, signing him to a two-year, $88 million deal, which indicated the team believed he could be the franchise's quarterback of the future. However, Jones has struggled to meet that expectation, leading to the firing of general manager Chris Ballard on Monday.

The Colts started the season 2-4, prompting the firing of Ballard. With a new general manager on the horizon, there is a possibility that Jones' future with the Colts is uncertain. If the team were to get out of Jones' contract next season, it would only cost $35.2 million in dead money, saving $11.6 million in cap space for a team that might be undergoing a deep rebuild.

Daniel Jones has acknowledged the pressure and the need to focus on playing good football, rather than worrying about his long-term future or the team's long-term strategy. Despite his struggles this season, Jones has not played up to the level he did during the 2025 season, when he led the NFL with a 68% completion rate, averaging 8.1 yards per attempt, and posting a 100.2 rating.

While Jones' performance is a significant reason for the Colts' 2-4 start, he is not solely responsible for the team's struggles. Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon made it clear that she still expects the team to win games this season, and Jones emphasized the importance of his own performance in securing those victories.