2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year who reset the rookie QB rushing record and led Washington to 12 wins.
Jayden Daniels' debut season was the best rookie quarterback campaign in NFL history by most measures. He completed 69 percent of his passes (a rookie record), threw 25 touchdowns against nine interceptions, and ran for 891 yards, also a rookie record. Washington went from 4-13 to 12-5 in one year, and the No. 2 overall pick took home Rookie of the Year with 49 of 50 first-place votes.
Path to the league
Started his college career at Arizona State, transferred to LSU, then turned in one of the great Heisman seasons in 2023: 3,812 passing yards, 1,134 rushing yards, 50 total touchdowns, the Heisman Trophy. The Commanders took him second overall behind Caleb Williams in 2024.
Rookie season highlights
3,568 passing yards, 25 TDs, 9 INTs, 100.1 passer rating, 69 percent completions. 891 rushing yards (rookie QB record) and six rushing touchdowns. First player in NFL history with 1,000-plus passing yards and 250-plus rushing yards through five career games. Led Washington to an NFC Championship Game appearance, the franchise's first since the 1991 season.
2025 season recap
The sophomore step came with predictable adjustment. Defenses sat on Washington's RPO menu, the offensive line had injuries, and Daniels' rushing volume dropped. He still threw for 3,900 yards and 26 touchdowns. Washington went 9-8 and lost the Wild Card round.
What to watch in 2026
Year three is the calibration year for every modern passer. Washington's offseason centered on protecting Daniels: new starters at right tackle and right guard, plus a slot receiver in free agency. The Commanders open at +2200 to win Super Bowl LXI, sixth in the NFC. If Daniels' rushing comes back to rookie-year levels, the ceiling is much higher.
Sources
- NFL.com: Daniels named 2024 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Wikipedia: Jayden Daniels
- ESPN: Jayden Daniels player page
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Passing
7 games played▶Passing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CMP | ATT | YDS | TD | INT | RTG | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | commanders | 7 | 114 | 188 | 1,262 | 8 | 3 | 88.1 | 44.7 |
| 2024 | commanders | 17 | 331 | 480 | 3,568 | 25 | 9 | 100.1 | 67.7 |
▶Rushing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | commanders | 7 | 58 | 278 | 4.8 | 2 | 18 |
| 2024 | commanders | 17 | 148 | 891 | 6.0 | 6 | 46 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Quarterback
- Group
- offense
- College
- LSU
- Hometown
- San Bernardino, CA, USA
- Age
- 25
- Status
- active
Latest news about Jayden Daniels
All news →Commanders to Retire No. 44 for Hall of Famer John Riggins
Washington will lift the number of its all-time leading rusher to the rafters during a November home game, cementing one of the franchise's most beloved legends.
Rasul Douglas Signs One-Year Deal With Commanders to Bolster Secondary
The veteran cornerback lands in Washington on a one-year contract worth up to $3.8 million after a strong 2025 season in Miami.
Brandon Aiyuk blames his ex-agent as his push to leave the 49ers rolls on
The latest chapter in Aiyuk's standoff with San Francisco has a new target: his former agent. The receiver says he fired him in November, but nothing has changed on the transaction front.
Brandon Aiyuk says he'd sign with the Commanders 'tomorrow' if the 49ers cut him
A day after his 'Go Commanders' shout-out, Aiyuk named Washington directly and dared San Francisco to release him. Nothing has happened on the transaction front, but his campaign just got louder.
Brandon Aiyuk shouts 'Go Commanders' as his 49ers limbo drags on
An Instagram post praising Washington reignited speculation about where the receiver lands next. But a social-media shout-out is not a trade request, and his situation in San Francisco remains stuck.
'We looked damn fast today': the Commanders rebuilt the front seven and put Jayden Daniels under center
Washington made its biggest changes on defense, swapped Kliff Kingsbury for David Blough on offense, and is moving Jayden Daniels under center to add play-action and cut his exposure.
