Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen offered a look into why Daniel Jones has become a prominent leader for Indy, pointing to the quarterback’s work away from the field as much as what he does on Sundays.
Speaking with reporters ahead of Week 1, Steichen highlighted the relationships Jones has built throughout the locker room.
“I think what people don’t see is outside this building,” Steichen said, via Roundtable.io's Jake Arthur. “He connects with the players a lot. They go out to dinner, they’ve got great relationships, and it’s all about relationships and connecting off the field, not only on the field, and he does a great job with that.”
Steichen also pointed to Jones’ daily approach as something veteran teammates notice.
“Going back
to his work ethic, I think that speaks volumes because the veteran leadership in that locker room sees a veteran player who’s our quarterback that does that day in and day out,” Steichen said.
That praise makes sense after Jones was selected as one of Indianapolis’ five captains for the 2026 season.
Jones is coming off a strong first season with the Colts, completing 68% of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 13 games.
As Indianapolis prepares for its opener against Baltimore, Steichen’s comments show Jones’ standing inside the building extends well beyond his production.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Steichen reveals what people don’t see about Daniel Jones’ leadership
