The great ones have that “It Factor” that goes beyond what the other players have in tangible tools. We knew that Tom Brady had it. We know that Patrick Mahomes has it. In a different sport, Derek Jeter had it. They have that “clutch gene” that allows them to step up in the biggest spots and highest leverage moments. They are leaders on their team. And they lead to victory. Right now, you have to be thinking that Jayden Daniels has that gene.
They say that football is the ultimate team sport, and the quarterback is the key position on the team. Of course, you could say that middle-of-the-road quarterbacks like Trent Dilfer have won a Super Bowl. He did it with the Ravens while Lamar Jackson hasn’t sniffed the Lombardi Trophy. So sure, you can go all the way with a mediocre quarterback — but let’s face it, the road to win a Super Bowl usually starts with a great quarterback with that “It Factor.”
The phone is ringing off the hook at Rubicon Talent, the marketing agency that represents Daniels off the field. On the field, Daniels is repped by Ron Butler and Agency 1 Sports Group. The most important agent in Daniels’ life is his mother, Regina Jackson. This year she took the exam to become an NFLPA sports agent and passed. For now, she is just her son’s most trusted advisor.
In order to become an NFLPA certified agent, an applicant needs a college degree from a 4 year university plus a Post Graduate degree (Masters or Law) from an accredited college/university. In lieu of this education requirement, you must provide proof of at least 7 years of sufficient negotiating experience. An applicant must also pass a background investigation. Once all of that is completed, the applicant must attend a mandatory virtual seminar plus an additional day for administration of the exam at a testing center and successfully complete a multiple-choice, proctored, computer-based examination. Daniels’ mother, per what sources told us, exceeded all requirements with her MBA and passed her agent’s exam to become a certified agent.
Hello Mz. Jackson, she is for real. Her tweet, seen by over 3.3 million in the Twitterverse, had a calming effect during the game against Carolina, when Daniels injured his rib(s).
“I wanted to play quarterback when I was eight [years old]. … I got my [college] degree early as a promise to my mom. … My mother has never missed a game.”
— Daniels said on The Pivot show last year after he won the Heisman Trophy.
“If it’s raining out there, she’s going to be out there. If it’s minus degrees, she’s going to be out there standing up the whole time making sure she’s cheering me on. … The sacrifices my mom made, both my parents made, to help me get to this point.”
Other key people in Daniels’ life are his father, Jay, who was a cornerback in college, and his paternal grandparents who both passed away from COVID in early 2021. His parents met as teenagers during their years as students at Cajon High School in San Bernardino, California, and that is where Jayden Daniels would go to high school. He wrote in the The Players’ Tribune, “Everybody in my family went to Cajon High School. That’s where my parents met.”
After high school, Daniels played football at Arizona State University for three years before transferring to LSU in 2022. In 2023, Jayden received the Heisman Trophy after throwing 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns and rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns that season for LSU.
Going into the draft, the Bears were linked early on with Caleb Williams. They were the only other team that could draft Daniels away from Washington and they passed on him. The Commanders had choices with several players or even trading back. The team stuck with Daniels at the No. 2 overall pick. He is leading in the offensive Rookie of the Year race, and maybe even becoming a serious contender for MVP honors.
This is the same kid who needed a weight waiver to play freshman football at Cajon High School because he only weighed 125 pounds. This is the same kid who persevered at every level and got good grades as a student-athlete. He got his college degree at Arizona State and enrolled in Master’s classes at LSU. Every step along the way, people can influence your life, positively, and negatively if you let them. Daniels took the positive course. As his star shines brighter, they have to make sure that nobody tries to take advantage of him. That’s a big part of what his mom is trying to make sure that he surrounds himself with good people.
“I’m grateful for the people who loved and believed in me enough to invest their time and energy, just so I could have a shot at reaching my dreams.”
— Daniels said in his The Player’s Tribune article
Time will tell on Daniels’ career. In fairness, he is only 8-games into his NFL career. Also in fairness, he is playing like a seasoned veteran. While the 2024 season is just about at the halfway point of the season, Daniels has stepped up and made Commanders’ GM Adam Peters, and his coaches look smart.
Even before the RaiseHailMary play that is the talk of football, Daniels was a big deal in the NFL. Statistically, he is having a better season than most of the NFL quarterbacks including Mahomes, and Daniels doesn’t have the supporting cast around him like Mahomes and some of the other quarterbacks. What Daniels is doing is reminiscent of Peyton Manning and Brady where they raised the performances of players around them. The great ones can do that.
