One of the most infamous Arizona sports losses in history will be watching Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels leave Arizona State for LSU.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Daniels left the Sun Devils in 2022 after spending three years with the program to play for the Tigers, where he would cement himself as one of the greatest college football players in history.
The quarterback was named the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, sectoring him with the top players in the 2024 NFL Draft. Daniels was selected No. 2 overall by the Commanders.
It would be one of the best decisions made in the history of the organization. Daniels rookie season came to a close Sunday, losing in the NFC Championship to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jayden Daniels with one of the greatest rookie QB seasons we will ever see:
???? 12-5 regular season record
???? 37 total TD (reg. season + playoffs)
???? Led @Commanders to the NFC Title game for the first time in 33 years pic.twitter.com/QbWQptNTBA— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025
The defeat leaves Commander fans sad, as their history-making season comes to a close one game shy of the Super Bowl. Fans of Arizona State, on the other-hand, have a different reason to weep, watching their former quarterback ride off into the sunset of glory for someone else once again.
Daniels was named the Pro Football Writers of America Rookie and Offensive Rookie of the Year, leading the Commanders to their first NFC title match in 33 years. He completed 331-480 of his throws (69%) during the regular season, passing for 3,5688 yards and 25 touchdowns to his nine interceptions. He was just as dangerous with his legs, rushing for 891 yards and six touchdowns. He broke Robert Griffin Jr.’s 2012 rookie QB rushing record of 815 yards with the then named Redskins.
.@JayD__5 has been named the PFWA Rookie of the Year
???? https://t.co/Fs995xlGoe pic.twitter.com/d9gsv5KCzH
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 21, 2025
His regular season maturation blossomed from a quarterback with potential to a name that will be in the league for years to come by the end of the playoffs.
The rookie broke new ground for the Commanders, winning the NFC Wildcard in a valiant, last-second 23-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was the first playoff win since Washington changed its name in 2022, and the first for the organization in 19 years. The QB completed 24-35 passes (68.6%) for 268 yards and two touchdowns. He led the team in rushing with 36 yards.
Daniels led a dominating 45-31 upset over the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions the following week. He fired in another two scores, reaching 299 yards on 22-31 completions (71%). He tallied 51 yards on the ground.
Though he was overwhelmed by the Eagles in the NFC Championship and threw his first pick of the postseason, Daniels still put his best foot forward. He surpassed the 200-yard mark again, hitting 29-48 targets (60.4%) for 255 yards and one touchdown. He found the end zone for the first time in the playoffs using his leg, carrying the ball six times for 48 yards.
The quarterback set a new record for rookie QBs in the postseason with 822 total passing yards. Russell Wilson previously set the record in 2012 with 522 as a Seattle Seahawk.
THERE GOES THAT MAN ????
???? #WASvsPHI FOX pic.twitter.com/4Y8H3o0Dpl
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 26, 2025
It wasn’t the storybook ending Daniels and the Commanders would have hoped for, but it’s still a better ending than how he closed out his story at Arizona State.
As he rides off in the sunset with ASU far in his rearview mirror, Sun Devils fans are reminded of what once was.
Former ASU quarterback leads Commanders to first playoff win in 19 years
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Reporter Jordyn Bennett covers the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona State, Phoenix area sports and sports related topics. You can follow him on his X account, @j_bennett_live
