A Minnesota starter turned Rutgers leader, Athan Kaliakmanis brings pro-style experience and a low turnover rate to Washington's quarterback room as a seventh-round pick.
Athan Kaliakmanis rebuilt his career by transferring from Minnesota to Rutgers, where he beat out an incumbent starter and threw for nearly 3,000 yards in his final season. Washington took him in the seventh round of the 2026 draft as a developmental arm with good size and football intelligence.
Path to the league
A Greek American quarterback from Antioch, Illinois who was named Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021, Kaliakmanis started his college career at Minnesota, where he was a two-year starter. He transferred to Rutgers in January 2024, reuniting with his brother Dino, a wide receiver who made the same move, and won the starting job over incumbent Gavin Wimsatt.
Career highlights
At Minnesota, Kaliakmanis started 17 games over two seasons, including a 2023 season in which he threw for 1,838 yards and 14 touchdowns. At Rutgers in 2024, he started 13 games and passed for 2,696 yards with 18 touchdowns. Washington selected him in the seventh round (No. 223 overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft, with evaluators projecting him as a developmental backup thanks to his accuracy and low turnover rate.
2025 season recap
In his second and final season at Rutgers, Kaliakmanis passed for 3,124 total yards, 20 touchdowns and 7 interceptions while completing 62.2 percent of his throws, closing out his college career as the clear leader of the Scarlet Knights' offense before heading to the NFL as a rookie.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Athan Kaliakmanis
- 247Sports: Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis selected by Washington Commanders
Statistics
2025 season and career▶Passing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CMP | ATT | YDS | TD | INT | RTG | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | commanders | 1 | 15 | 33 | 186 | 1 | 1 | 60.9 | 21.7 |
▶Rushing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | commanders | 1 | 3 | 16 | 5.3 | 0 | 9 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Quarterback
- Group
- offense
- College
- Rutgers
- Hometown
- Antioch, IL, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
Latest news about Athan Kaliakmanis
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Mariota hurt the MCL in his right knee on a sack near the goal line. Dan Quinn says the hope is that Jayden Daniels returns from his elbow dislocation against the Giants in Week 5.
Colts Rout Commanders 30-13 in Week 4
Indianapolis Colts 30, Washington Commanders 13 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Daniel Jones went 19 of 34 for 143 yards with 1 interception.
Jayden Daniels Opts for Brace Over Surgery, Could Return From Elbow Dislocation in London
Update: Daniels returned Sunday against the Giants, ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 199 without a turnover, in a 27-27 tie that ended with a botched final play he took the blame for.
Lions Beat Commanders 17-13 in Preseason Week 2
Detroit Lions 17, Washington Commanders 13 at Ford Field. Luke Altmyer went 9 of 13 for 86 yards.
Malik Willis Impresses in Debut as Commanders' Mariota Exits Injured
Willis led a 93-yard touchdown drive in his lone series for Miami, while Washington's backup quarterback suffered a sprained MCL that's expected to sideline him for the rest of the preseason.
