ASHBURN, Va. — Again within the spring, properly earlier than Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels had been named the starter, veteran teammates akin to tight finish Zach Ertz and vast receiver Terry McLaurin had a sense the rookie would excel within the NFL.
By the tip of coaching camp, they have been sure.
“I used to be telling everybody that will hear how good he could be,” Ertz mentioned. “Simply one thing bought me actually excited. I knew there could be some rising pains, however his capability to work and his humility to get higher is what units him aside.”
Now, the remainder of the NFL is catching up.
Daniels has been a transformational participant for the Commanders, serving to the franchise rebound from a 4-13 marketing campaign in 2023 to a 14-5 document (together with the playoffs) and taking part in in its first NFC Championship Sport because the 1991 season. And if they will beat the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, Fox), he’ll turn into the primary rookie QB to begin in a Tremendous Bowl.
Throughout the common season, Daniels ranked fourth in QBR, behind MVP front-runners Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. Over his two postseason video games, he has the very best Whole QBR (86.8), throwing for 567 yards passing and 4 touchdowns and amassing one other 87 yards speeding whereas fueling Washington to street upsets over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and top-seeded Detroit Lions within the wild-card and divisional rounds, respectively.
Teammates, coaches and members of the group say Daniels’ on-field success was sowed by what he has proven them behind the scenes since his arrival. They’ve noticed a diligent scholar who loves to arrange, an inquisitive thoughts with consideration to element unusual for rookie QBs, an instinctual chief, a cool head who embraces — and excels in — massive moments and a competitor who’s additionally capable of have enjoyable in any scenario.
Throughout a minicamp session in June, McLaurin — who had performed with 10 totally different beginning quarterbacks in Washington from 2019 to 2023 — was requested about Daniels. He beamed as he spoke in regards to the rookie’s preparation and want for further reps after observe.
A day later, as McLaurin warmed up on the sideline earlier than observe, a reporter informed the six-year professional that he had by no means seemed or sounded so enthusiastic a few quarterback.
“He is the true deal,” McLaurin mentioned.
SHORTLY AFTER THE organized group actions started in late Could, Ertz had seen sufficient of Daniels to make a daring comparability.
“I in contrast him to Andrew Luck, which is the last word praise,” Ertz mentioned.
Luck, the previous first general choose in 2012 who was tabbed as a generational quarterback prospect, performed with Ertz at Stanford.
“Andrew had a gravitational pull. Guys simply wished to be round him,” Ertz mentioned. “He simply wished to be one of many guys and Jayden may be very related. Guys simply wish to be round him as a result of he does not view himself as anybody aside from one of many guys.
“His method to the sport has actually been totally different in comparison with lots of people I have been round. A number of occasions whenever you’re younger there’s plenty of trial and error and oftentimes, you are reactionary when it comes to how your course of is: ‘After I fail a pair occasions perhaps I am going to do X, Y and Z extra.’ Whereas Jayden from the second he first bought right here he was the primary one within the constructing learning as a lot as potential.”
Washington’s plan within the spring was to have Daniels earn the beginning job by means of his preparation, habits and play all through the offseason program. Consequently, Daniels labored with the second unit whereas veteran Marcus Mariota took snaps because the starter.
However for Ertz, it was clear early Daniels could be QB1 when the 2024 season began (the Commanders made it official on Aug. 19). Daniels’ eagerness to study stood out. The rookie was always speaking to veterans throughout observe, from Ertz to McLaurin to 11-time All-Professional linebacker Bobby Wagner, peppering them with questions.
Anticipating Daniels’ eventual promotion, Ertz mentioned he started asking to run with the second-team offense in two-minute drills to get extra time — and a head begin — with Washington’s future quarterback.
“The bodily instruments stood out instantly,” Ertz mentioned, “the way in which the ball popped out of his arms. [But] it was the stuff that not everybody sees that caught out probably the most.”
Washington guard Sam Cosmi noticed it too. When he signed a four-year, $74 million extension days earlier than the season began, he cited Daniels as one of many causes he was thrilled to have his future tied to the franchise.
“We bought a particular, particular dude,” Cosmi mentioned in September. “That makes me excited to be right here.”
Daniels bought the teaching employees’s consideration early as properly. Throughout a rookie minicamp session in early Could, passing recreation coordinator Brian Johnson was left in awe as he watched Daniels function in observe.
“He got here out right here and it was like bang, bang, bang, bang,” Johnson mentioned. “Simply completion after completion and the ball did not hit the bottom. He had the set up fully dialed and locked in. You turn into impressed, not solely by the outcomes [but] by the work and the motion. It is not what you say, it is what you do — and he goes on the market and does it each single day.”
Daniels has continued his spectacular shows to teammates all through the season. Throughout a late November observe, security Jeremy Reaves performed a protection in a means that stunned Daniels. After observe, Daniels requested Reaves why he had accomplished it that means, and, “Do I have to do higher with my eyes right here? From an idea standpoint how can we make it [better]?”
“It is refreshing,” Reaves mentioned. “You do not see that rather a lot.”
Ertz agreed.
“I have been round excessive draft picks — they really feel they’ve all of the solutions,” Ertz mentioned. “Jayden was the exact opposite. He is asking me about sure performs, why I ran a sure route this time, how may the timing be just a little higher. It was the humility that stood out to me.”
IN WEEK 5 in opposition to the Cleveland Browns, McLaurin completed with 4 catches for 112 yards. However up 31-6 within the third quarter, he could not grasp onto a cross within the nook of the tip zone. It was not formally dominated a drop, however McLaurin thought-about it one and he had already fumbled that quarter.
It bothered him on the bench, and Daniels observed.
“I anticipate plenty of myself,” McLaurin mentioned. “He came visiting to me and sat down and talked to me and was like, ‘To start with, we’re successful. You are taking part in nice. You are going to make that play 9 occasions out of 10. We belief you and I belief you, so I’ll proceed to return again to you and do not sweat the small mishaps.'”
Later within the season in opposition to Atlanta, McLaurin was held to at least one catch for five yards. Once more, Daniels observed. And once more, after throwing a third-quarter landing cross to Ertz, Daniels ran over to McLaurin and mentioned, “Hey, take a look at me. Keep in it. You are going to make a play.”
McLaurin discovered alternatives to reciprocate. One week after beating the Browns, Washington misplaced at Baltimore 30-23. A visibly offended Daniels sat on a cooler subsequent to the bench because the Ravens ran out the clock — it was a glance McLaurin had not beforehand seen from the QB.
“I’ve by no means seen a quarterback that upset after a recreation,” McLaurin mentioned. “He wasn’t throwing his helmet, he wasn’t cussing anyone out, however you can see how mad and annoyed he was. That spoke to me. You may inform how a lot he cares. … I informed him, ‘I really like seeing that in you; do not ever lose that fireplace of hating to lose a recreation. That is what is going on to make you totally different.'”
Daniels additionally has the power to construct relationships, which has particularly been evident with Wagner — a Tremendous Bowl champ and future Corridor of Famer. The 2 developed a bond early on; Daniels talked typically with veterans however grew to become nearer with the previous chief of Seattle’s “Legion of Increase” protection.
The benefit with which Daniels developed a rapport with such a star veteran was unusual for a rookie, teammates and coaches mentioned. They sit collectively entrance and heart in group conferences. Additionally they bicker like siblings, with Daniels unafraid to needle the 13-year professional who’s 10 years his senior.
In a information convention earlier this month, Daniels started a solution about Wagner by saying, “He is annoying” earlier than praising Wagner’s management.
When requested what was annoying about Wagner, Daniels deadpanned to reporters, “Every part.”
On New 12 months’s Day, Wagner was requested about having Daniels and different rookies on their management committee. As he began to reply, Daniels walked previous and mentioned, “Shut up, Bobby.”
“See, I am attempting to offer him a praise and on cue he simply messes it up,” Wagner mentioned.
Daniels walked previous once more, and Wagner yelled to him, “Pull your pants up.”
The reply: “Bobby Wagner’s annoying.”
“That is how we’re beginning the brand new yr off,” Wagner mentioned.
DANIELS ARRIVES AT the Commanders’ facility between 5 and 5:30 a.m. each Wednesday by means of Friday in the course of the season to start engaged on the sport plan for the upcoming opponent.
Daniels spends round half-hour watching movie, typically alone within the quarterbacks assembly room and different occasions on his iPad whereas soaking within the scorching tub. Then, round 6 a.m., Daniels, Kingsbury and quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard head over to the observe bubble to stroll by means of the roughly 60 to 70 performs on the sport plan listing for that week.
“I imply, 6 a.m. is early for a youthful cat,” Kingsbury mentioned, “[Daniels] needs to be there. That is the factor I recognize. I’ve by no means as soon as felt that power [from him] like, ‘Oh, right here we go once more.’ It is like, ‘Let’s go!’ And that to me is probably the most spectacular factor I’ve seen up to now is simply the wish to be nice and the aggressive stamina to be … at all times open to studying.”
Certainly, Daniels does preparation with Washington’s digital actuality expertise — one thing he began his final yr at LSU — and work on the headset both earlier than or after observe day by day. However Kingsbury mentioned, “He likes to be on the market doing it, seeing it.”
“The perfect lesson in life is failure,” Daniels mentioned of the additional reps the morning walk-throughs afford him. “So, I get to fail in these varieties of conditions and transfer ahead. So, by the point recreation time comes, I am not serious about [it], simply going on the market and taking part in.”
To simulate recreation conditions, Kingsbury calls within the performs along with his telephone, then runs routes. Daniels, carrying a helmet, will get the playcall by means of his AirPods earlier than receiving the snap from Pritchard. Earlier than the snap, Kingsbury tells Daniels what protection he ought to anticipate and reminds him about his drops and reads. The objective, they are saying, is to color a psychological image so Daniels can visualize what it might seem like in a recreation.
Kingsbury is usually the first receiver. Typically he’ll say he is lined so Daniels has to seek out his subsequent learn. The three males go over numerous in-game situations: 30 seconds left, want a landing, purple zone work. They will name out one-word performs which have a number of choices and a particular snap rely — a two-word play, Taylor Swift, resulted in a landing cross to rookie Ben Sinnott earlier this yr.
Kingsbury and Pritchard mentioned Daniels hardly ever wants a reminder of his duty on a given play.
“He is had this materials for lower than 12 hours,” Pritchard mentioned. “He is actually in tune with the place we’re already.”
Daniels receives the sport plan from the employees round 6 p.m. Tuesday, research it for 90 minutes and sometimes attracts out the performs in a pocket book.
“Once I can get right here within the morning, I can go in there and form of simply stroll by means of it and I am going to visualize it, stroll by means of this or the reads, footwork,” he mentioned, “and if I’ve any questions? Kliff and [Pritchard] are answering them proper then and there.”
Daniels’ meticulous recreation prep does not finish within the bubble. He texts Kingsbury about performs he is seen in different video games or watched on YouTube. Kingsbury likes that the performs he sends match Washington’s ideas.
On the morning of the season opener at Tampa Bay, Daniels requested Kingsbury for yet one more walk-through earlier than heading to the stadium. So Kingsbury, Pritchard, assistant quarterbacks coach David Blough and quarterbacks Mariota and Jeff Driskel headed to a ballroom for one ultimate spherical of psychological reps. This scene has repeated itself each game-day morning since — a routine Kingsbury mentioned he is by no means seen earlier than however helps clarify what he is seen from Daniels’ means of processing all alongside.
“His soccer information is past what I feel any rookie quarterback anyone may ever probably anticipate it to be,” Kingsbury mentioned. “He’ll carry up issues and I am like, ‘Yeah, I did not even take into consideration that, however it’s a sound level.’ He’ll make corrections on performs that I’ve designed, I am going to f— him up and he’ll be like, ‘No, no coach, you have been on this facet after we have been doing our walk-through.’ ‘Actually? Yeah. OK. You are proper.'”
And a key a part of that information is homed within the bubble, ending round two and a half hours earlier than the primary group assembly of the day.
“All I do know,” one assistant coach mentioned, “is that after I get right here they’re popping out of the bubble.”
DANIELS HAS ALREADY turn into identified for being a late-game hero. He has led six game-winning drives within the fourth quarter or additional time, which highlights the competitiveness and tranquility underneath strain teammates have seen from him all season.
There was the 27-yard cross to McLaurin in a Week 3 “Monday Evening Soccer” win over Cincinnati with 2:17 left for a 38-26 lead. He led game-winning drives versus the New York Giants in Week 2; in opposition to Chicago in Week 8; in opposition to Philadelphia in Week 16; in opposition to Atlanta in Week 17; and at Tampa Bay within the wild-card playoff win on Jan. 12.
Daniels leads the NFL with six landing passes within the ultimate 4 minutes of regulation (and posted a 95.6 quarterback score).
“It is what you reside for,” he mentioned. “I am simply aggressive, man. I simply wish to win. I’ll do no matter it takes to win.”
Throughout practices, Washington’s quarterbacks will compete to see who probably the most correct passer is whereas throwing right into a web with three designated touchdown spots. On Fridays, they toss a ball from about 30 to 40 yards right into a yellow rubbish can positioned within the nook of the tip zone. Afterward, Daniels and Blough play a recreation of HORSE with throws into the online.
“He likes to trash speak. He is bought trash speak recreation. I am going to give him that,” Blough mentioned. “I am solely 29, however he makes me really feel like an previous man typically and he can inform I haven’t got the identical arm power I used to and it is the rationale I retired. He’ll remind me of that.”
The enjoyment Daniels brings whereas competing reveals itself in every recreation. Washington guard Nick Allegretti mentioned typically he’ll hear Daniels scream on the finish of scrambles.
“It is the joy to yell,” Allegretti mentioned. “It is such as you’re stealing yards, and it brings power to the entire group. It undoubtedly provides him juice. At any time when that occurs the circulation simply begins to really feel actually, actually good. He is cooking.”
Teammates say Daniels is even-keeled in tense moments, which is a by-product, Daniels mentioned, of all of the work he is put in behind the scenes — earlier than the season and through.
After Washington beat Tampa Bay with a last-second discipline objective, Daniels sat stone-faced on the bench for a second, earlier than standing up, smiling after which calmly strolling to an interview.
“He has a really distinctive calmness about it,” Johnson mentioned. “A silent murderer.”
