Washington’s quarterback sat down with Alison Starling to discuss a variety of topics.
Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota
Jayden Daniels has quickly become the type of athlete whose image reaches beyond the game.
When he was drafted No. 2 overall by the Washington Commanders last spring, he was considered a promising selection who could, in time, become a long-term solution to the franchise’s perpetual quarterback purgatory. But he’s so much more than that.
No one expected the impact Daniels made in Year 1. He was the runaway winner of NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors while guiding the Commanders to the NFC Championship game. More importantly, he captivated an entire fan base and got Washington’s football franchise back on the map.
Now in his first full offseason, he’s doing all the things that the big stars do. In this case, sitting down for an extensive interview with former WJLA-TV news anchor Alison Starling on her “Living Well” podcast.
Jayden Daniels avoiding complacency as Commanders aim for sustained greatness
Daniels touched on a wide variety of subjects, including adjusting to his superstar status as well as the anticipation for the Commanders’ upcoming season and how he is mentally preparing for higher expectations. Starling inquired as to how close he believes Washington is to winning a Super Bowl, to which the Heisman Trophy winner gave an honest response.
“We’ve got to take it day by day… what we did last year was special, but nothing is going to be given to us this year. Obviously we’ve got some new pieces, we’ve got to be able to gel with each other, and hopefully at the end of the day we can make a run.”
Jayden Daniels
The conversation then went on to discuss how Daniels takes care of his mental health both in and out of football. He credits a strong support system with both his immediate family and his Commanders’ teammates and coaching staff. June is Men’s Mental Health Month, and the subject was a primary catalyst for this appearance.
“In an NFL locker room, you’re around people so much that they start to know stuff about you outside of football. So if you’re going through something, you can always talk to one of your teammates and you never know, they might’ve gone through something similar. That’s the continuity we’ve built, where you can go out there and be vulnerable because you know everyone wants the best interests for you at heart.”
Jayden Daniels
Finally, the conversation ended on a more lighthearted note as Daniels discussed his pre-game routine. This included a hearty breakfast of waffles and a phone call to pray with his father on every game day.
All in all, it’s a productive discussion that’s worth your time to listen to if you have about 20 minutes to spare.
For as much as Washington appreciates Daniels, the quarterback, it’s a wonderful opportunity to get to know Daniels, the human.
Leave a Reply