On Feb. 6th, 2025, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was named the 2024 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year at the NFL Honors in New Orleans, Louisiana. The rookie had been the favorite to win the award, with betting odds nearing -16000 before the award ceremony. The award is the culmination of Daniels’ remarkable season, as he broke records and logged stats that no rookie had ever done before. Daniels led his 12-5 squad to the NFC Championship game, a feat the Commanders haven’t achieved since 1992. Daniels was able to win with a large margin as he garnered 495 points and 49 out of 50 first-place votes, with Raiders tight end Brock Bowers coming in second.
“I’m so glad to see him win this after all he’s done for us this season,” Commanders fan Derek Sarpong said. “If this is what he can do his rookie year, who knows what the future holds for us.”
Looking at the stats, Daniels’ rookie season will be one to remember. Daniels boasted 3,568 passing yards, a 25:9 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and a 100.1 passer rating. The speedy and slippery quarterback was the only rookie in NFL history to have 3500+ passing yards and 750+ rushing yards in one season. Daniels was only the third rookie QB to lead his team to 12+ wins, a stark difference from the Commanders’ 4-13 season last year. Daniels marks a new era in Washington football, and the Heisman Winner out of LSU has made himself the face of the Commanders franchise. Fans all across the DMV have high hopes for next season, as this could just be the beginning of Daniels’s prosperous career.
