Compared to other young quarterbacks in the National Football League, Daniel Jones of the New York Giants is hardly a spotlight seeker. But in something of a trick of nature, the spotlight seems to keep finding him.
At this time last year, Jones became the butt of every joke after an 80-yard run against the Philadelphia Eagles ended short of the endzone when he tripped over his own feet with no one around him, spawning a cavalcade of Internet memes and other wisecracks at his expense
Now, Jones has taken off online once again for another remarkable play.
In the Giants' Week 7 win over the Carolina Panthers, Jones swung what had been a slugfest of a game in his team's favor on a trick play where he went up and caught a pass with one hand, pinned it against his facemask and then held onto it after taking a big hit from safety Sean Chandler.
Jones' catch has resulted in everything from Odell Beckham Jr. comparisons from his own teammates to the Giants' Twitter account making Jones larger and larger. Speaking on the All In with Art Stapleton podcast, Jones took things in stride and took such jokes as part of the territory in New York.
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 25, 2021
"I think it's funny. My friends and family get a kick out of it, so it's all good," Jones said. "I guess the first moment was the trip, so I definitely try to avoid those moments. But yeah, it's fun, it's part of it. Part of playing in New York for the Giants. So I enjoy it."
Jones' role in the Giants' 25-3 win over Carolina earned him significant attaboys, as he did the heavy lifting for a Giants offense that was missing running back Saquon Barkley, left tackle Andrew Thomas and three receivers in Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard and rookie Kadarius Toney.
Jones' development has been a bright spot in the Giants' frustrating 2-5 start, particularly a heroic Week 4 performance where he threw for over 400 yards and led a fourth quarter comeback to defeat the New Orleans Saints in overtime.
Next up is a potential statement game for Jones, as the Giants will go on the road to play Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. The Chiefs have been in on the joke in regards to Jones, as the team drew Jones with his shoes tied together while eating a slice of New York pizza as part of a drawing of their 2021 opponents.
