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Friday 24 January 2025

Best rookie year of all time?’ Jayden Daniels has the Commanders

a win away from the Super Bowl

‘By STEPHEN WHYNO much as possible.”
AP Sports Writer Daniels, who still warms up
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — with a basketball and loves
Jayden Daniels has the that sport, too, earned the
Washington Commanders reputation of being a gym
in the NFC championship rat during offseason prac-
game, and his list of admir- tices.
ers around the league con- He showed up early to take
tinues to grow. part in walkthroughs before
Just this week, Philadelphia others and stayed late to
Eagles defensive coordina- make sure he got the play-
tor Vic Fangio called Dan- book down pat.
iels “a young quarterback Quinn, himself one win from
by birth certificate, not by returning to the Super Bowl
the tape.” C.J. Stroud of eight years since he and
the Houston Texans be- the Atlanta Falcons lost to
lieves Daniels has “had the New England, appreciates
best rookie year of all time.” Daniels’ competitiveness
If he and the Commanders but respects even more
beat the Eagles on Sunday, how much stems from the
Daniels would become the rookie’s preparation.
first rookie quarterback to “There’s a feeling of being a
lead his team to the Super leg up, and doing that type
Bowl. of extra work sometimes
And even as the hype train just also provides the right
picks up speed, Daniels motivation for yourself: ‘I’ve
remains the same laser- seen that look. I’m ready,’”
focused competitor and Quinn said. “You’ve done
down-to-earth person the work at it, so when the
he was when he walked Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) throws against the Detroit Lions during moment comes, you’re
through the door as the the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Detroit. ready to deliver.”
Associated Press
second pick in the draft. Daniels has delivered Wash-
“He stays as even-keeled as iels said he was “not even ning the first five on the fi- pass to Noah Brown when ington’s best season-to-
any player I’ve ever been thinking that far” about nal play of scrimmage and veteran tight end Zach Ertz season win improvement
around,” top receiver Terry making the Super Bowl and beating the 15-win Lions 45- asked that everyone out- from 4-13 to 12-5, and he
McLaurin said Wednesday. the trail he would be blaz- 31 in Detroit. He has thrown side the organization stop has been the centerpiece
“We’ve played in some of ing by facing the Buffalo for 17 TDs during this stretch, acting like Daniels is a rook- of an offense that has 10
the most hostile environ- Bills or Kansas City Chiefs in and while Washington is an ie because he had seen games with zero turnovers
ments, we’ve been play- New Orleans on Feb. 9. underdog at Philadelphia, signs of it for months. the most for the franchise
ing on some of the biggest “It would obviously be a Daniels’ magic is the big- “He was very proactive since at least 1940, accord-
stages and he’s treating blessing, but I’m just fo- gest reason to think the in his approach to be- ing to Sportradar.
it the same each and ev- cused on how can I be Commanders could pull off ing great,” said Ertz, who Each step along the way,
ery week. I love that about better day by day,” Daniels another upset. helped the Eagles win the Daniels has shown that no
him.” said. “He’s got rare, in-the-mo- Super Bowl seven years situation is too much pres-
Daniels is making a strong “There’s countless teams ment skills that have al- ago. sure for him, something he
case to back up Stroud’s that want to be in this po- lowed us to be into this “A lot of times when you’re credits to football being a
opinion. The 24-year-old sition. You can’t really take spot,” Quinn said. “When young in the league, it’s a fun escape for him.
out of LSU is the first player it for granted, but you also it’s mental chaos going lot of trial and error to see “I’m not really going out
in franchise history to throw just got to be in the mo- down and two minutes (left) what works for you. And, there and stressing about
for 25 touchdown passes ment.” and these tight moments oftentimes, you’re reac- the moment because at
with fewer than 10 inter- No problem there. Coach where it can feel that tight, tionary in terms of how your the end of the day I get
ceptions, and his 891 yards Dan Quinn likens Daniels he’s got the experience of process is. to do what I love each
rushing are the most of any on the sideline to “The Ter- somebody that’s played And it’s like, ‘Oh, after I and every week win, lose
rookie QB in NFL history. minator” because of his a lot more football than a failed a couple times, may- or draw,” Daniels said. “It’s
After winning the Heisman steely-eyed demeanor and first-year player.” be I’ll do X, Y and Z a little just a blessing to be one of
Trophy in college and be- avoidance of distractions. Daniels isn’t sure when more.’ Whereas Jayden, those kids that are able to
coming the overwhelming On the field, Daniels has teammates stopped treat- the moment he first got fulfill their dream and live
favorite to win AP Offensive led the Commanders to six ing him like a rookie. It was here, he was the first one out their dream of playing
Rookie of the Year, Dan- consecutive victories win- Week 8 after his Hail Mary in the building studying as on Sundays in the NFL.”q