Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has done many impressive things this season. Perhaps his most remarkable trait is that he never gets rattled. Entering Sunday’s wild-card win over Tampa Bay, Daniels had 12 touchdown passes in the fourth quarter or overtime.
He added another in Sunday’s win. Daniels is phenomenal throughout the game, but his work in the clutch moments of games separates him from other young quarterbacks. Washington’s coaches, players, and fans believe that the Commanders will win if the ball is in Daniels’ hands late and the game is close.
He’s proven that to be true over and over.
That begs the question: Does Daniels ever get nervous in these moments?
“I don’t know,” Daniels responded when asked the last time he was nervous on a football field. “I don’t want to say nervous, but I think you just get butterflies. My dad always told me you get butterflies; that means you’re alive, but it’s not necessarily nervous because I’m always prepared.”
He then explained why he never really gets nervous.
“I don’t think I was ever nervous because it was just fun,” Daniels said. “Football was fun for me, but I just know that I’m always prepared for the moment. I could just go out there and live with what happens.”
Daniels has made football fun for the Commanders and the team’s fan base again. It’s why his jersey is one of the NFL’s top sellers.
On Saturday, Daniels will face his most formidable challenge yet on the road at Detroit. If the Commanders can keep it close, watch out.