Eli Manning Drops Surprising Endorsement: Which Colts Star Could Secure a Game-Changing Contract Extension?

Ever notice how sometimes the most unlikely stars shine the brightest? Take Daniel Jones, for instance—once cast aside by the Giants and Vikings, now leading the Colts into uncharted territory. Despite their recent hiccup against the Steelers, Indianapolis is still cruising atop the AFC South, and Jones is quietly turning heads. And who better to attest to his hustle and heart than Eli Manning—yes, the very same Eli who once shared that quarterback room and now believes Jones has earned every bit of a contract extension. It makes you wonder: can a forgotten backup really transform into the league’s next MVP? Stick around, because this isn’t just about stats—it’s a story of grit, growth, and maybe, just maybe, redemption.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 09: Eli Manning speaks at SiriusXM at Super Bowl LVIII on February 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. — (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

The Indianapolis Colts took a step back with a Week 9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers that ended a four-game winning streak.

They still have a firm lead in the AFC South and a legitimate shot at the No. 1 seed in the conference.

With how well Indianapolis has played this season, former NFL quarterback Eli Manning recently said one of the Colts’ stars deserves a contract extension: former New York Giants teammate Daniel Jones.

“Just excited for Daniel. No one deserves it more, has worked harder. He did it from Day One. He was with me in that quarterback room every single day. It was fun. He was a sponge. He wanted to learn. He asked questions. You saw the commitment. He wanted to do the right things all the time. Very coachable. Just thrilled for Daniel,” Manning said.

"No one deserves it more…"

— Eli Manning on a potential Daniel Jones contract extension@EliManning | @Daniel_Jones10 | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/tODsjfzmws

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) November 6, 2025

It’s nice to see Manning vouching for his former backup, and despite his multiple turnovers against Pittsburgh, Jones has become an MVP candidate as the quarterback for one of the league’s most dangerous offenses.

The Colts lead the league with 32.2 points per game and have scored at least 20 in every game, largely due to Jones being on pace to shatter his career highs across the board.

The Giants discarded him last season, as did the Minnesota Vikings after he latched on as their backup quarterback.

This preseason, he won an uninspiring quarterback competition over Anthony Richardson, and now he has put himself in line for a big-money deal.

It likely won’t happen during the season, as the Colts still need to see this play out and make a decision after the playoffs, but Jones is certainly making his case so far.

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