Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has a new teammate of the heart. The signal-caller and former Duke volleyball player Nicole ElAttrache have taken their relationship public, marking the occasion with a social media debut that has fans buzzing.
Jones, who is still working his way back from a torn Achilles, received a sweet birthday shoutout from ElAttrache on her Instagram Story. “Happy birthday Daniel,” she wrote, adding the three words that seal the deal: “I love you.” The post made things official in the digital age, confirming what many had speculated about the pair.
While the romance is fresh news, Jones’s primary focus remains on the gridiron. The former New York Giant is rehabbing his way back with hopes of being under center when the Colts open the 2026 season against the Baltimore Ravens on September 13.
“Definitely still work to be done and progress to be made,” Jones told The Athletic’s James Boyd. “So, I think it’s just continuing to get stronger, continuing to run faster, cut harder. And progress, kind of, according to the program.”
It’s a cautious but determined approach from a quarterback who knows the value of patience. Achilles injuries are notoriously tricky, and the Colts are likely to take every precaution with their investment.
ElAttrache, meanwhile, brings her own athletic pedigree to the relationship. She played volleyball at Duke University, where she developed the kind of competitive drive that fits right in with an NFL lifestyle. But her family connection to sports runs even deeper.
Nicole’s father is Dr. Neal ElAttrache, one of the most renowned orthopedic surgeons in the world. He serves as head team physician for both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Rams, and his patient list reads like a who’s who of professional sports. When a star athlete goes down with a major injury, Dr. ElAttrache is often the one wielding the scalpel.
Interestingly, Dr. ElAttrache did not perform Jones’s Achilles surgery, but the quarterback now has a direct line to elite medical insight through his girlfriend. The couple’s timeline remains unclear, but one thing is certain: Nicole will have a prime seat when Jones returns to the field.
For now, Jones is focused on the slow grind of recovery, while ElAttrache is by his side—officially, and publicly. The Colts’ 2026 campaign is still months away, but the team’s quarterback situation just got a lot more interesting off the field.
