When the Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was drafted into the league, he was slated to lead a massive rebuild effort following the mistakes of previous owner Dan Synder that left the team marred in scandal and controversy.
Daniels has surpassed all reasonable expectations, securing a 12-5 record while quickly becoming the face of a young Commanders team that has brought excitement to its Washington, D.C. fans.
“Jayden coming down to Washington as young as he is and performing the way he has is giving hope and pride to the community,” Martin Ohakah, a Commanders fan and Howard student said.
The Commanders, who earned their first NFC championship game berth in over 30 years, are experiencing their most successful single season since the initial name change from the Washington Redskins in 2020. The quickness of the Commanders’ rise to success comes as a surprise even to some fans of the team.
“This was supposed to be a rebuilding year, but we ended up going to the NFC Championship. I’m sure everyone in the D.C. community believes they are a part of it too,” Ohakah said.
The rise of Daniels has been highlighted by numerous moments, most notably seen in week eight with a Hail Mary touchdown pass to Noah Brown to help the Commanders defeat the Chicago Bears 18-15, earning it the nickname “Maryland Miracle.”
“For me, that’ll always be in the top three greatest moments in Commanders or Redskins history,” Darryl Conway said. “That was just kind of the galvanizing moment where you just knew that there’s something special about this franchise that’s happened.”
Since then, the momentum has continued to grow week after week as the Commanders dominate the end zone and Daniels’ performance continues to amaze. Fans are rolling with unprecedented confidence going into next Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I think the team’s got confidence, and I have confidence. I’m about to go get my Jayden Daniels jersey tomorrow,” Commanders fan Tim Martin said. “I think at this point anything’s possible when you have a quarterback and the way the team’s playing collectively.”
With a chance for the Commanders to go back to the SuperBowl for the first time since 1991, fans are reminded of the fleeting ascension of quarterback Robert Griffin III in 2012.
“Last time we saw a young Black quarterback in Washington, D.C. as great as Daniels was back during RG3. He was supposed to be our franchise player,” Ohakah said. “But he ended up getting hurt, which left us with no franchise quarterback for the next decade and three years. But now that we have Daniels, it’s starting to look like the young Black quarterback that we had lost is back.”
The Washington Commanders are set to face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game on Sunday, Jan. 26.
Copy edited by Aniyah Genama
