Leaders often have to do difficult things publicly.
Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders’ starting quarterback, is learning that leadership lesson the hard way this week. Thursday, in his weekly press conference, Daniels not only stepped up to the microphone, but he also learned another way a leader actually leads.
Sunday, Daniels took the final snap, and instead of simply spiking the pass into the ground or passing out of bounds to stop the clock, Daniels attempted to run. He was unsuccessful, was tackled in bounds, and the clock ran out as he tried to get his teammates lined up for one final spike to stop the clock and have Drew Stevens boot the game-winner from 42 yards.
Thursday, Daniels did a much, much better job at the microphone than he did Sunday, following the loss. Sunday, Daniels spoke of ‘we didn’t execute’ and ‘we need to do better,’ etc. That simply doesn’t meet the standard of leadership, when publicly speaking of what others did wrong and not first pointing the attention to yourself.
“Ultimately it’s on me…I’m the guy on the field…I’m not proud of it; I’m better than that,” expressed Daniels. He’s right. He is the quarterback, the position where the ball is in your hands every play. The quarterback is responsible for getting the ball where it needs to go. That’s the case on every offensive snap. He needed to own it publicly, showing he'd accept responsibility not only for his good plays but his poor ones, too.
“I know DQ (Dan Quinn) is getting a lot of slack for it, whatever. But regardless of what happens, I'm the person on the field who's supposed to calm everything and control everything. I fell to the standard I hold myself to and the standard in this organization.”
Jayden Daniels - Ultimately it’s on me…I’m the guy on the field…I’m not proud of it, I’m better than that pic.twitter.com/hqzMgaZ4Xc
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 15, 2026
Daniels then spoke about taking accountability, taking responsibility, learning from it, and moving forward.
Yes, Daniels had not only good moments but great ones on Sunday, when he ran for 38- and 26-yard touchdown runs. Daniels should be praised for getting out there with the restrictive brace on his left elbow, as he did. But it is also true he blew the final opportunity for the Commanders, and the team never had an opportunity to kick the game-winning field goal.
38-yard TD run! Jayden Daniels is so back@NYGvsWAS on FOX/FOX One
— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2026
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/un8ws01KAe
Leaders set a tone by how they respond not only to their successes but also to their failures. They need to own both fully, give credit where credit is due, and confess their own failures. Leading this way leads others to do the same, not making excuses or shifting blame. Head coach Dan Quinn immediately took the blame on Sunday, publicly protecting offensive coordinator David Blough and Daniels.
On Friday, when Blough speaks to the media, he should also own his errors in what led to the final horrible play. It’s the reality of the situation. Quinn, Blough, and Daniels all erred, and each of them needs to own it privately and publicly.
It’s all part of learning in life, and Daniels displayed Thursday that he is learning how to lead more effectively as well, in good times and bad.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels exhibits true leadership qualities