ASHBURN, Va. — Jayden Daniels’ maturity stood out before his first NFL season commenced. However, football lifer Dan Quinn knew not to thrust the rookie quarterback into a leadership role regardless.
The Washington Commanders head coach recognized Daniels’ “humility and confidence” during the pre-draft process and early practices. Others in his position might have anointed the quarterback a team captain to earn applause from fans, regardless of whether the player had yet to demonstrate team-leader attributes on the pro level.
The first-year Washington coach wasn’t solely responsible for helping the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft become a standout, regardless of positional importance. Quinn also needed to lobotomize the football culture and get players to buy into his team-over-me standard. It would be inarguable that proven veterans such as Terry McLaurin, Bobby Wagner or Jeremy Reaves would be named captains. Pushing a rookie into a front-of-the-room role before he played a game could damage the coach’s credibility.
“I think if you do it beforehand, it’s not authentic,” Quinn said. “If you anoint somebody as a leader and they’re not, it’s bulls—.”
“The players know. These guys have been bulls—— their whole life as great players coming up. And so they see through it way faster than anybody else. So if I had done that to them, they’d say, ‘Man, you’re not real.’ And so I wanted to make sure that I stay consistent with that, too.”
Naming weekly captains for all three phases became the plan. McLaurin, Wagner and Reaves were all selected before Daniels’ initial nod. Unsung players such as running back Jeremy McNichols and safety Percy Butler were also named captains before Daniels received the honor in the Week 5 home game against the Cleveland Browns.
By then, the offense had demolished historic efficiency records, and a national television audience witnessed the quarterback’s poise and audacity during a thrilling “Monday Night Football” victory in Cincinnati.
The productivity and accolades have continued, along with team wins. The latest, a thrilling 36-33 comeback victory over the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles, put Washington on the cusp of its first playoff appearance since 2020 and cemented Daniels as the massive favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
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Beat the Atlanta Falcons Sunday night at Northwest Stadium and the Commanders will lock up the team’s first 11-win season since 1991. More importantly, that clinches a playoff berth for only the sixth time this century. The NFC’s seventh seed is the most likely outcome, but Washington can catch the Green Bay Packers (11-4) for the sixth seed.
There is also a long-shot possibility of winning the division with a 2-0 finish and Philadelphia losing its final two. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts yet to clear concussion protocol gives this scenario more juice.
Though wildly unimpressive over the past six games, the Falcons have won two in a row, including a 34-7 romp over the brutal New York Giants in rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s solid debut. While Washington cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) is uncertain for Sunday’s matchup against Falcons receiver Drake London, Atlanta safety Jessie Bates III and cornerback A.J. Terrell present Daniels and McLaurin a formidable challenge. McLaurin was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice with an ankle injury.
Both teams could receive good news before taking the field. Washington cliches a postseason berth if another NFC South squad, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, loses in the 1 o’clock window to the Carolina Panthers.
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Quinn’s weekly message includes telling his players to keep their eye on the task ahead rather than contemplate their future path. One ally with such thinking is the man under center, who demonstrates consistency in play and temperament. Whether Daniels throws a Hail Mary touchdown or must overcome a mistake, his vibe comes across like a person waiting in line to order a burrito bowl at Chipotle.
“I mean, it would be a blessing,” Daniels said Tuesday about possibly clinching a wild-card spot this weekend. “You still gotta go out there and prove it, win this football game. Hopefully we’re on the right side of that scoreboard, but you gotta go out there and earn it. Nothing’s given to you in this league.”
Philadelphia was reminded of that lesson in the rematch with Daniels and Washington.
After trailing by 13 points with 3:11 remaining in the third quarter, Daniels threw three of his career-high five touchdown passes during a 22-point fourth quarter.
Washington’s final drive — nine plays, 57 yards — culminated with a 9-yard, game-winning touchdown strike to wide receiver Jamison Crowder with six seconds remaining.
Despite the pressure — game and playoff picture — teammates never saw Daniels blink. Frankly, they haven’t from the jump.
“You don’t get that from a lot of quarterbacks,” said Crowder, a 2015 fourth-round pick by Washington. “(Late in Sunday’s game), he was poised. We let him go down the field and put the ball in his arm.”
Jayden Daniels threw three of his career-high five touchdown passes in the fourth quarter of the Commanders’ come-from-behind win over the Eagles. (Peter Casey / Imagn Images)
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury called Daniels one of the smartest players he’s ever been around. Coaches are typically reluctant to give rookie quarterbacks autonomy, even deep into a season. Daniels began earning trust from Kingsbury in rookie mini-camp. Whether defensive coverages or receiver releases, “If he said something, it was spot on,” Kingsbury said. “He nailed it.”
That aspect continued regardless of the circumstances. There were moments against Philadelphia’s usually stingy defense where Daniels could have folded. He threw two interceptions that were on him. The second one, a late throw to Luke McCaffrey over the middle while backpedaling, led to the Eagles’ fourth field goal and a 33-28 lead at the two-minute warning.
Daniels responded by completing all four pass attempts (excluding the clock-stopping spike) and rushing for 24 of his team-high 81 yards. Nothing about thriving in the clutch was unusual. The rookie treats the highs and lows equally. Kingsbury said Daniels’ “belief in himself” and ability “to lock and focus” are off the charts.
When it comes to playing the next play, the former quarterback and coach called Daniels “as good as I’ve ever been around. He doesn’t let much faze him.”
NFL players won’t respond to talent alone when following a leader. Not even if the person set a franchise single-season rookie record with 28 combined touchdowns or became the sixth rookie quarterback in NFL history to throw five touchdown passes in a single game. Earning an honest connection with others turned the locker room and coaching staff into a group of Daniels believers.
“I would say that as good a player as he is, he’s an even better person,” Kingsbury said. “Toward his teammates, his coaches. He’s a phenomenal human being above all else.”
While the Commanders did not press Daniels into the spotlight beyond what comes with being the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and high draft selection, they also didn’t suppress his leadership instincts.
Daniels is part of a leadership council that meets with Quinn weekly. Players, even those several years older, gravitate toward the 24-year-old. Allowing Daniels to display that he can command the locker room naturally is among Quinn’s better decisions, and one that should pay off as the pressure mounts.
“I wanted to allow him to fully develop into the leader he is now,” Quinn said. “There’s no need for me to guard him from any of that. They trust him, they have belief in him.”
(Top photo: Geoff Burke / Imagn Images)
