Washington Commanders quarterback and offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels joined Friday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to recap his season.
Daniels and the Commanders had an unbelievable season as they made it to the NFC championship, eventually coming up short of the Philadelphia Eagles. Daniels shared that it’s a mix of emotions. There is disappointment in falling just short of the Super Bowl and pride in how far the Commanders came. He said the team truly believed they had a shot, making it challenging to accept the outcome. However, he appreciates the season they had and the excitement they brought back to the DMV. Given his success in the college ranks at LSU, Daniels gave the guys insight into his transition after being named the starter; he explained that it was all about earning the respect of his teammates. Washington gave him the chance to prove himself on the field, and by the time he was named the starter, everyone knew what he was about. He emphasized that building trust takes time, but he stayed focused, put in the work every day, and kept grinding.
Successful football teams thrive under a head coach who sets the standard and leads the way. Daniels spoke highly of Dan Quinn, emphasizing players’ deep respect for him. He described Quinn as a coach who genuinely cares about everyone in the locker room, whether they’re a star player or on the practice squad. Coming in, Quinn made it clear that nothing would be handed to him and that he had to earn everything. Additionally, Daniels opened up about his relationship with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. He expressed that he already had a connection with Kliff Kingsbury before working together. He described Kingsbury as a fierce competitor, like himself, who hates losing. That shared mindset helped their communication, allowing Daniels to be open about what plays he wasn’t comfortable with and have honest conversations about what would work best on the field.
One of the traits that made Daniels stand out amongst the other Rookie quarterbacks is his poise and calmness under pressure. Daniels credits his poise to the way he was raised. He sees football as fun, even though it’s a business, and believes overthinking or making it too complicated can shake a player’s confidence. He understands the game isn’t always perfect, and there will be good days and bad, but what matters most is how you respond and move forward. Zooming back out to the Super Bowl matchup between the Eagles and Chiefs, the Eagles are a team that Daniels is familiar with after playing them three times this season. When reflecting on what stood out while preparing to face them, he noted that the Eagles are a great team loaded with stars everyone knows and watches. Facing them three times in a season was no easy task, especially since beating a team that many times is always tough. He emphasized limiting mistakes against the Eagles because they thrive off negative plays. With playmakers like Jalen Carter and Darius Slay and a stacked defense, they’re always ready to capitalize on any slip-up.
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: MVP debates + Last Call, Super Bowl + Jalen Milroe & Jayden Daniels Join the Show
Hour 2: Super Acrostic + Joe Montana & Puka Nuca Join the Show + Mahomes’ Legacy + Final Super Bowl Predictions
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.
