Jayden Daniels facts for kids
Daniels in 2024
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| No. 5 – Washington Commanders | |||||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born: | December 18, 2000 Fontana, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school: | Cajon (San Bernardino, California) | ||||||||||||||||
| College: |
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| NFL Draft: | 2024 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||||||
Jayden Daniels (born December 18, 2000) is an American professional football quarterback. He plays for the Washington Commanders in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils and the LSU Tigers. In 2023, he won the Heisman Trophy with the Tigers. He scored 50 touchdowns and led the league in total yards that year.
The Commanders picked Daniels second overall in the 2024 NFL draft. In his first season, he made the Pro Bowl. He also set records for the most rushing yards and highest pass completion rate by a rookie quarterback. He even threw a game-winning "Hail Mary pass" called the "Hail Maryland". His first season is seen as one of the best for a rookie in NFL history.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
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Jayden Daniels was born on December 18, 2000, in Fontana, California. He grew up in nearby San Bernardino. He started playing flag football at age five and contact football at seven. He briefly played cornerback before becoming a quarterback.
He also played basketball, soccer, and ran track when he was young. In 2015, he started high school at Cajon High School. Even though he was considered small at 125 pounds, he played on the varsity team as a freshman. He led his team to the playoffs that year.
In 2017, during his junior year, Daniels set a state record. He gained over 6,400 total yards. He helped Cajon win a league championship and reach the state finals. As a senior in 2018, he led Cajon to another league title. He also played in the CIF-SS Division 3 championship.
Daniels played 53 games at Cajon High. He set school records with 210 touchdowns and over 17,600 total yards. He was also a talented track athlete, competing in sprints and hurdles. He was a top "dual-threat quarterback" recruit. He chose to play for the Sun Devils at Arizona State University.
College Football Career
Playing for Arizona State (2019–2021)
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Daniels became the starting quarterback for the Arizona State Sun Devils in 2019. He was the first freshman quarterback to start the opening game for the team. He had a minor knee injury but did not miss many games.
He was named "player of the week" after throwing for 408 yards and three touchdowns against the Oregon Ducks. Daniels was also the MVP of the 2019 Sun Bowl. He set a freshman record for total yards at Arizona State.
In 2020, Daniels and the Sun Devils played only four games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, he led the Pac-12 in completion percentage (65.4%). After the 2021 season, Daniels decided to transfer to another school.
Playing for LSU (2022–2023)
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Daniels transferred to Louisiana State University to play for the LSU Tigers in 2022. He became the starting quarterback for the 2022 season. He led the Tigers to the 2022 SEC Championship Game.
He was named the team's MVP after scoring 28 touchdowns and gaining almost 3,800 total yards. In 2023, Daniels was named a team captain. He set an SEC record with 606 total yards in one game. He became the first player in college football history to have 350 yards passing and 200 yards rushing in a single game.
A week later, he tied another SEC record with eight touchdowns in one game. Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy. He scored 50 touchdowns and led the NCAA with almost 5,000 total yards. He also set a single-season passer rating record. He was the third LSU player to win the Heisman. Daniels chose not to play in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl to get ready for the NFL draft.
College Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Yds | TD | ||
| 2019 | Arizona State | 12 | 8–4 | 205 | 338 | 60.7 | 2,943 | 8.7 | 17 | 2 | 149.2 | 125 | 355 | 2.8 | 3 | 3,298 | 20 |
| 2020 | Arizona State | 4 | 2–2 | 49 | 84 | 58.3 | 701 | 8.3 | 5 | 1 | 145.7 | 33 | 223 | 6.8 | 4 | 924 | 9 |
| 2021 | Arizona State | 13 | 8–5 | 197 | 301 | 65.4 | 2,380 | 7.9 | 10 | 10 | 136.2 | 138 | 710 | 5.1 | 6 | 3,090 | 16 |
| 2022 | LSU | 14 | 10–4 | 266 | 388 | 68.6 | 2,913 | 7.5 | 17 | 3 | 144.5 | 186 | 885 | 4.8 | 11 | 3,798 | 28 |
| 2023 | LSU | 12 | 9–3 | 236 | 327 | 72.2 | 3,812 | 11.7 | 40 | 4 | 208.0 | 135 | 1,134 | 8.4 | 10 | 4,946 | 50 |
| Career | 55 | 37–18 | 953 | 1,438 | 66.3 | 12,749 | 8.9 | 89 | 20 | 158.4 | 617 | 3,307 | 5.4 | 34 | 16,056 | 123 | |
Professional Career with the Commanders
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The Washington Commanders picked Jayden Daniels second overall in the 2024 NFL draft. He was the second quarterback chosen in the first round. This tied a record for the most quarterbacks picked early in NFL history.
Daniels signed his first professional contract on June 14, 2024. It was a four-year deal. He was named the Commanders' starting quarterback before the season began. He scored two touchdowns in his first game. He got his first NFL win the next week.
In September, Daniels set an NFL rookie record for completion percentage (91.3%). He was also named "Offensive Rookie of the Month." He threw a game-winning 52-yard "Hail Mary pass" in October. This play is now famous as the "Hail Maryland".
Daniels finished his first season with the most rushing yards (891) and highest completion percentage (69%) by a rookie quarterback. He also threw a rookie-record 12 touchdown passes in the fourth quarter or overtime. The Commanders finished with a 12-5 record, their best since 1991. Daniels was chosen for the 2025 Pro Bowl Games. His rookie season is considered one of the greatest in NFL history.
Professional Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Total | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/G | Lng | TD | Int | Sck | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Y/G | Lng | TD | Yds | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2024 | WAS | 17 | 17 | 12−5 | 331 | 480 | 69.0 | 3,568 | 209.9 | 86 | 25 | 9 | 47 | 100.1 | 148 | 891 | 6.0 | 52.4 | 46 | 6 | 4,459 | 31 | 5 | 0 |
| Career | 17 | 17 | 12−5 | 331 | 480 | 69.0 | 3,568 | 209.9 | 86 | 25 | 9 | 47 | 100.1 | 148 | 891 | 6.0 | 52.4 | 46 | 6 | 4,459 | 31 | 5 | 0 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Total | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/G | Lng | TD | Int | Sck | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Y/G | Lng | TD | Yds | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2024 | WAS | 2 | 2 | 2−0 | 46 | 66 | 69.7 | 567 | 283.5 | 58 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 116.2 | 29 | 87 | 3.0 | 43.5 | 15 | 0 | 654 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 2 | 2 | 2−0 | 46 | 66 | 69.7 | 567 | 283.5 | 58 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 116.2 | 29 | 87 | 3.0 | 43.5 | 15 | 0 | 654 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
Awards and Records
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Jayden Daniels has earned many awards and set several records in his football career.
College Awards
- Heisman Trophy (2023)
- Walter Camp Award (2023)
- AP College Football Player of the Year (2023)
- Sporting News College Football Player of the Year (2023)
- Davey O'Brien Award (2023)
- Manning Award (2023)
- Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (2023)
- Consensus All-American (2023)
- SEC Male Athlete of the Year (2024)
- SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2023)
- Best College Athlete, Men's Sports (2024 ESPYs)
- First-team All-SEC (2023)
- 2022 LSU Tigers MVP
- 2019 Sun Bowl MVP
- 7× SEC Offensive Player of the Week
- 2× Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week
College Records
- Highest single-season passer rating in college football history: 208.0 (2023)
- Only player in college football history with 12,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards.
- Tied SEC record for single-game touchdowns: 8 (2023)
- SEC record for single-game total yards: 606 (2023)
- LSU career quarterback rushing yards: 2,019
- LSU single-season total yards: 4,946 (2023)
- LSU single-season quarterback rushing yards: 1,134 (2023)
- LSU single-season quarterback rushing touchdowns: 11 (2022)
- Only player in college football history with 350 yards passing and 200 yards rushing in a game.
- Arizona State freshman passing yards: 2,943 (2019)
NFL Awards
- Pro Bowl (2024)
- NFC Offensive Player of the Week (2024: Week 3)
- PWFA Rookie of the Year (2024)
- Offensive Rookie of the Month (September 2024)
- 11× Rookie of the Week
NFL Rookie Records
- Most quarterback rushing yards in a season: 891
- Highest completion percentage in a season: 69%
- Highest single-game completion percentage: 91.3%
- Commanders rookie total yards: 4,459
- Commanders rookie passing yards: 3,568
Player Profile and Style
Daniels is known as a "dual-threat quarterback". This means he is great at both throwing the ball accurately and running with it. He is fast and can avoid defenders. His playing style is often compared to famous quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson.
People also notice his calm and steady attitude, especially in tough game situations. He is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs around 210 pounds. Daniels has said that Kobe Bryant, Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb, and Reggie Bush inspired him when he was growing up. He chose his jersey number 5 because of McNabb and Bush.
Daniels uses virtual reality (VR) as part of his training. This VR software helps him practice game plans and adjust to different teams and stadiums. He started using VR in college and continues to use it in the NFL. Before games, he warms up with a basketball. He learned this from his friend C. J. Stroud. He says it makes footballs feel smaller and lighter afterwards.
Personal Life
Jayden Daniels' parents are Javon "Jay" Daniels and Regina Jackson. His father played college football. His mother became a certified sports agent in 2024. He also has an older sister named Bianca. Jayden is a Christian.
Daniels earned his college degree from Arizona State in 2021. He then studied for a master's degree at LSU. In college, he had deals with companies like Raising Cane's and Powerade. He was also featured in a TV show called The Money Game: LSU. This show followed him and other LSU athletes.
In 2024, the mayor of San Bernardino, Helen Tran, gave Daniels the key to the city. She also declared January 20 "Jayden Daniels Day." His high school, Cajon High School, even renamed their football stadium after him. Daniels threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Washington Nationals baseball game in June 2024. He also presented an award at the 2024 ESPYs.
