Jayden Daniels facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jayden Daniels

Daniels with the Washington Commanders in 2025
No. 5–Washington Commanders
Position	Template:Infobox gridiron football biography/position
Roster status	Template:Infobox gridiron football biography/position
Personal information
Born	Script error: No such module "person date". Fontana, California, U.S.
Died	Script error: No such module "person date".
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school	Cajon (San Bernardino, California)
College	Arizona State (2019–2021) LSU (2022–2023)
NFL draft	2024: 1st round, 2nd overall pick
Career history
Washington Commanders (2024–present)
Awards and highlights
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2024) Pro Bowl (2024) Heisman Trophy (2023) Walter Camp Award (2023) 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) First-team All-SEC (2023) SEC Male Athlete of the Year (2024)
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Passing attempts 668 Passing completions 445 Completion percentage 66.6% TD–INT 33–12 Passing yards 4,830 Passer rating 96.7 Rushing yards 1,169 Rushing touchdowns 8 Stats at Pro Football Reference
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Jayden Daniels, born on December 18, 2000, is an amazing American professional quarterback who plays for the Washington Commanders in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, Jayden played college football for five seasons. He spent three years with the Arizona State Sun Devils and then two years with the LSU Tigers. In 2023, he won the famous Heisman Trophy because he was the best player in college football, leading in total yards and setting a new record for passing efficiency.

The Commanders chose Jayden as the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. In his first year, he broke many rookie records and helped his team win more games than they had in a long time. He even led them to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991! Jayden was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year and was chosen for the Pro Bowl. One of his most exciting plays, a game-winning pass called the Hail Maryland, was even named the NFL's "Moment of the Year." His second season, in 2025, was tough because he had injuries and missed many games.

Who is Jayden Daniels?

Jayden Daniels is a talented American football player. He is known for his incredible skills as a quarterback. He can throw the ball accurately and also run with it very fast. This makes him a "dual-threat quarterback." He has achieved many awards and broken records in both college and professional football.

Jayden's Early Life and High School Football

Daniels at the 2019 Under Armour High School All-America Game

Jayden Daniels was born in Fontana, California, on December 18, 2000. He grew up in San Bernardino, California. He started playing flag football when he was five years old. At age seven, he began playing tackle football in Pop Warner leagues, where he became a quarterback. Jayden was a very active kid! He also ran track and played basketball and soccer.

When Jayden started Cajon High School in 2015, he was considered a bit small for football. But he got a special note from a doctor and joined the team. He became the starting quarterback for the varsity team as a freshman. In 2015, he led his team to the semifinals of a big championship.

During his junior year in 2017, Jayden set an amazing state record. He gained over 6,400 total yards for his team! He helped Cajon High win a league championship and reach the state finals. In his senior year in 2018, he led his team to another championship. Jayden won the Ken Hubbs Award, which honors the best high school athletes in his area.

Overall, Jayden played 53 games in high school. He set records with 210 touchdowns and more than 17,600 total yards. He was also a talented track athlete, competing in various sprint races and hurdles. After high school, many colleges wanted Jayden to play for them. He received 25 scholarship offers! He decided to join the Sun Devils at Arizona State University in December 2018. He started college in January 2019.

College Football Journey: Arizona State

Daniels (center, No. 5) playing for Arizona State against the Oregon Ducks in 2019.

In 2019, Jayden became the starting quarterback for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He was the first freshman quarterback in the team's history to start the very first game of the season! He had an amazing game against the No. 6 ranked Oregon Ducks, throwing for 408 yards and three touchdowns. This earned him the "Pac-12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week" award. He was also named the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the 2019 Sun Bowl game. Jayden set a new record for freshman passing yards at Arizona State.

The 2020 season was shorter because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the team only played four games. In 2021, Jayden again earned "Offensive Player of the Week" honors. He led the Pac-12 conference in how many passes he completed (65.4%). He helped his team achieve a great 8-4 record and play in the 2021 Las Vegas Bowl. After this season, Jayden decided to transfer to another university in February 2022.

College Football Journey: LSU Tigers and the Heisman Trophy

Daniels won the Heisman Trophy and several other awards after accounting for 50 touchdowns and nearly 5,000 total yards with the LSU Tigers in 2023.

Jayden transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU) in March 2022 to play for the Tigers. He quickly became the starting quarterback for the 2022 season. He had many standout games, including one against the No. 7 ranked Ole Miss. In that game, he threw two touchdowns and ran for over 100 yards and three more touchdowns! This earned him "SEC Offensive Player of the Week" honors.

The next game, against the No. 6 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, was even more exciting. Jayden ran for a 25-yard touchdown and then made a two-point conversion pass in overtime to win the game 32–31! He led the Tigers to a 9-3 record and a spot in the 2022 SEC Championship Game. Jayden was named the team's most valuable player for his 28 touchdowns and nearly 3,800 total yards.

In 2023, Jayden was named one of the team captains. He continued to shine, earning "SEC Offensive Player of the Week" honors multiple times. In one incredible game against the Florida Gators, he became the first player in college football history to have 350 passing yards and 200 rushing yards in a single game! A week later, he tied an SEC record with eight total touchdowns against the Georgia State Panthers.

For the 2023 season, Jayden threw for 40 touchdowns and ran for 10 more. He led all college players with nearly 5,000 total yards and set a new record for passing efficiency. His amazing performance earned him the 2023 Heisman Trophy, one of the most prestigious awards in college football. He also won several other awards, including the Walter Camp Award and the Davey O'Brien Award. Jayden finished his college career with over 16,000 total yards, placing him among the top players in college football history.

Jayden Daniels' College Football Stats

Jayden Daniels in the NFL: Washington Commanders

2024 NFL Season: A Record-Breaking Rookie Year

Daniels with the Washington Commanders in 2024. He was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year that season after setting various rookie records.

In the 2024 NFL draft, the Washington Commanders chose Jayden Daniels as the second overall pick. He was one of six quarterbacks picked in the first round, which tied an NFL record! Jayden chose jersey number 5, a number worn by some of his football heroes. He signed his first professional contract for $37.75 million. By the end of training camp, he was named the Commanders' starting quarterback.

Jayden scored two touchdowns in his very first NFL game. He got his first NFL win the next week against the New York Giants. In Week 3, he earned "NFC Offensive Player of the Week" honors. He scored three touchdowns and set an NFL rookie record by completing 91.3% of his passes! He was also named the "Offensive Rookie of the Month" for September.

Later in the season, Jayden suffered a rib fracture but returned quickly. In a game against the Chicago Bears, he threw an amazing 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass as time ran out to win the game! This play, called the Hail Maryland, was named the NFL's "Moment of the Year." In December, he became only the sixth rookie in NFL history to throw five touchdowns in a single game.

Jayden finished his rookie season with many records. He had the most points per game (28.5) and the highest completion percentage (69%) ever by an NFL rookie. He also set rookie records for rushing yards (891) and passing yards (3,568) for the Commanders. He 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, and made it to the playoffs. They won two playoff games before losing in the NFC Championship Game. Jayden set new rookie playoff records for passing yards, rushing yards, and completion percentage. He was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year and was chosen for the Pro Bowl. Many people consider his rookie season one of the greatest ever!

2025 NFL Season: Facing Challenges

Daniels missed ten games during the 2025 season due to various injuries.

The 2025 season started with a win against the New York Giants. However, Jayden faced several challenges with injuries. He suffered a left knee sprain in Week 2, which caused him to miss a few games. He returned in Week 5 but then had a right hamstring strain in Week 7, missing another game.

Jayden came back in Week 9 but suffered a dislocated left elbow during a game. Even though the injury was not season-ending, he later left a Week 14 game after landing on his elbow again. He was then ruled out for the rest of the season, missing a total of ten games. This season was tough for Jayden due to the injuries he faced.

Jayden Daniels' NFL Career Stats

How Jayden Daniels Plays Football

Jayden Daniels is known as a dual-threat quarterback. This means he is great at both throwing the ball and running with it. He has excellent awareness on the field and can throw accurately. He is also very fast and good at avoiding defenders when he runs. People often notice his calm and cool attitude during games, especially in tough situations.

Jayden is tall, standing at 6 feet 4 inches, and weighs around 210 pounds. He looks up to famous athletes like basketball player Kobe Bryant and football players Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb, and Reggie Bush. He chose his jersey number 5 because of McNabb and Bush. Jayden uses virtual reality (VR) to train, practicing plays and facing virtual opponents. He also warms up before games by throwing a basketball. He learned this trick from his friend and fellow NFL quarterback C. J. Stroud. He says it makes the football feel smaller and lighter afterward!

Jayden Daniels' Life Off the Field

Daniels is of partial Japanese ancestry through his great-grandmother.

Jayden's father, Javon "Jay" Daniels, also played college football in the 1990s. His mother, Regina Jackson, became a sports agent in 2024 and helps manage his career. Jayden has an older sister named Bianca. His maternal great-grandmother was Japanese, which means Jayden is one of the few NFL quarterbacks with Japanese ancestry. He is also a Christian and is open about his faith.

Jayden earned a degree in business communications from Arizona State in 2021. He also studied for a master's degree at LSU. On January 20, 2024, the mayor of San Bernardino, Helen Tran, gave Jayden a key to the city. She even declared that day "Jayden Daniels Day" and named Cajon High School's football stadium after him!

Jayden has been involved in many exciting events. He threw the ceremonial first pitch at a Washington Nationals baseball game in June 2024. He also presented an award at the 2024 ESPYs and accepted the "Best College Athlete, Men's Sports" award himself. In June 2025, Jayden attended Fanatics Fest, where he spoke on panels with NFL Hall of Famers like Joe Montana and Dan Marino. He also competed in the first-ever Fanatics Games, a tournament for athletes and celebrities. Jayden will also be a captain in a flag football tournament in Saudi Arabia in March 2026.