Football

Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels notches playoff win with 'trust in the Lord God'

By Kevin Mercer Jan 13, 2025
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels eludes a Buccaneers defender, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

The first home team in the 2025 NFL playoffs fell on Sunday night, as the NFC’s No. 3-seeded Tampa Bay Buccaneers were upended by the No. 6-seeded Washington Commanders and their rookie sensation, quarterback Jayden Daniels, 23-20.

The back-and-forth affair ended with Washington’s game-winning field goal that redirected off of the right goalpost and through as the clock hit triple zeroes. Washington’s win was the franchise’s first playoff victory since the 2005 wild-card round, a game which also occurred on the road against Tampa Bay.

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Daniels became the third rookie QB in the past three years to win a playoff game, joining C.J. Stroud and Brock Purdy, but the first rookie QB to win on the road since 2012. The former Heisman Trophy winner completed 24 of his 35 passes for 268 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in his first taste of NFL postseason football. He was also Washington’s leading rusher on the day, with 36 yards on 13 attempts.

One of Daniels’ touchdowns came on a crucial fourth-and-2 from the Tampa Bay 5-yard line with 9:46 remaining and the Bucs leading by four. The 2025 Pro Bowler calmly stood in the pocket and found wide receiver Terry McLaurin in the back of the end zone for the go-ahead score.

Washington went 4-13 a season ago before hiring head coach Dan Quinn and drafting Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in last April’s NFL Draft. Together, Quinn and Daniels led the Commanders to a 12-5 regular-season record in which the team won eight one-score games.

In an on-field interview after Sunday’s victory, NBC asked Daniels how he’s been able to be so calm under pressure as a rookie.

“Trust in the Lord God,” he answered. “There’s nothing I should worry about, man, put all my worries on Him and He’ll take care of the rest.”

Even as a rookie who turned 24 less than a month ago, Daniels hasn’t shied away from speaking about and displaying his faith publicly. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner from LSU often references God in postgame interviews and has been known to pray on the field. Last month in an interview with Boardroom, he reflected on what God has done in his life when asked about the adversity of his transfer from Arizona State to LSU.

“I was dealing with stuff in my personal life and had to go across the [country] to a whole different university without knowing anybody there,” he said. “Trusting what God had for me and the plan He had set out for me.”

As it turns out, God’s plan for Daniels in Baton Rouge was to meet LSU Director of Player Retention Sherman Wilson. Daniels credits Wilson with not only helping him transition to the school but also with his growing in his faith.

“Being around [Wilson], I kind of got back into my faith more, always giving glory to God. [Jesus] died on the cross for us; anything is possible with Him,” Daniels said in November 2023, according to the LSU athletics website. “Coming back out here, trying to figure out my life, I wanted to stop trying to put so much pressure on me and just give everything to God, letting Him take care of it.

“… As I mature, grow up more and dive deeper into my faith, I just know that it’s God’s plan with everything. As much as I want to rush stuff, I can’t. What’s there for me and what’s meant for me, God’s always going to provide that.”

Now in Washington, Daniels sees clearly all the good God was doing in his life in college. He was preparing him for NFL football, and most importantly, preparing him to share the good news of Jesus.

“It’s been nothing but blessings (with the Commanders),” Daniels told Boardroom. “My main platform off the field is spreading the Gospel, bringing people closer to God and knowing that without Him, nothing is possible. With Him? Everything’s possible.

“… Hopefully, one day I can reach that full potential that God has set for me. I’ve got to have that humility that I’m a rookie and still have a lot to learn.”

 

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Resolute in his faith and strengthened by the trust of his Commanders teammates, Daniels will lead Washington to Detroit in the divisional round and a matchup with the No. 1-seeded Lions (15-2). A win would advance the Washington franchise to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the Super Bowl-winning team of 1991-92. Kickoff from Detroit is set for Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.

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