Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen might be improving his reputation as a quarterback whisperer after Daniel Jones’ season-opening win over the Miami Dolphins.
As one NFC coach reportedly texted The Athletic’s Dianna Russini after the Colts’ 33-8 win last Sunday: “Don’t forget what Shane Steichen did for Jalen Hurts when they were together in Philly. This could be a match.”
Steichen joined the Philadelphia Eagles as an offensive coordinator ahead of Jalen Hurts’ first full season as an NFL starter in 2021.
Hurts finished the 2021 campaign with an 87.2 passer rating, per Pro Football Reference. In one year with Steichen, he improved that rating to 101.5 and finished as MVP runner-up in his second season after leading the Eagles to a 14-1 record in 2022.
Jones is facing a steeper climb to potential MVP status, given that he was released by the New York Giants last season after going 3-13 in his last two seasons with the team.
Steichen still named him the Colts’ starter over incumbent QB1 Anthony Richardson in August, saying at the time that Jones would hold the position “for the season.”
“I don’t want to have a quick leash on that. I feel confident in his abilities,” Steichen said in August, per Colts.com’s JJ Stankevitz.
Jones repaid that confidence by going 22-for-29 with no interceptions and recording three total touchdowns during the Colts’ season-opening win over the Dolphins.
The win marked just the 10th time in Jones’ career he had recorded a completion percentage of 75 percent or more, per Pro Football Reference. His 272 passing yards against the Dolphins were the most he recorded in any of those games.
Jones may need more than one win against a struggling Dolphins defense to prove he’s taken a permanent step forward this season. His and Steichen’s next test will take place when the Colts kick off against the Denver Broncos for Sunday’s Week 2 matchup at 4:05 p.m. ET.
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