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Commanders’ $37 million rookie quarterback equals the NFL record set by the two-time Super Bowl champion.

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Jayden Daniels, quarterback for the Washington Commanders.

The sudden relevance of the Washington Commanders under three newcomers—general manager Adam Peters, head coach Dan Quinn, and, most crucially, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels—has shocked NFL fans more than few other things in 2024.

Heading into a Week 16 home game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Daniels has the Commanders at 9-5 and in position to earn their first postseason participation since 2020. They have already secured their first winning season since 2016. In addition, Daniels is the clear favorite to earn NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

After Week 15, Daniels lifted himself into a tie with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in 2004 and won NFL Rookie of the Week for the ninth time this season, snatching a piece of NFL history.

In a 20-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints, Daniels went 25-of-31 passing for 226 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions in addition to 11 carries for 66 yards.

On December 19, Caleb Skinner of Sports Illustrated wrote, “Daniels’ ninth Rookie of the Week victory places him among the best rookies ever after tying Roethlisberger, who accomplished this feat 20 years ago back in 2004. He will have three games left in the season to surpass the record as the Commanders continue to hunt for a playoff spot, with much of that hanging on whether or not they can beat the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17.”

Daniels transformed the franchise’s fortunes.

After winning the Heisman Trophy at LSU in 2023, Daniels was taken No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL draft, and since then, it’s difficult to think of a player in recent memory who has turned a franchise’s fortunes around as swiftly.

Daniels has already seen the emotional ups and downs that an NFL season can bring. With a 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown throw to Noah Brown as time ran out to upset the Chicago Bears in Week 8, Daniels wrote the NFL’s most memorable moment of the 2024 regular season. The Commanders’ 7-2 start to the season was their best since 1996.

After a 7-2 start, the Commanders suffered three straight defeats and a wave of skepticism before winning their last two games in a row against the Tennessee Titans and Saints.

According to NFL.com, the Commanders have an 85% probability of qualifying for the postseason and are presently in the seventh and final playoff slot in the NFC.

Roethlisberger’s First Two Seasons Are Hard to Beat

Daniels will be under pressure to duplicate the Steelers’ scorching run during Big Ben’s first two seasons, regardless of whether he is able to surpass Roethlisberger’s record during the final three games of the season.

After being selected with the eleventh overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft from Miami, Ohio, Roethlisberger played with the Steelers for eighteen seasons. He became the first quarterback to win unanimous NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 34 years and established an NFL record as a rookie by going 13-0 as the starting quarterback.

At age 23, Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to win the Super Bowl when he led the Steelers to the first of two Super Bowl victories in his second season.

For Heavy.com, Tony Adame covers the NFL, concentrating on the Denver Broncos, Washington Commanders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His work has appeared in Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News, and Pensacola News Journal. He has been a seasoned sports writer and editor since 2004.Additional information on Tony Adame

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