Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels met with the media on Thursday and took full accountability for Sunday’s end-of-game gaffe against the New York Giants that cost the team a win. Instead of improving to 2-3, Washington tied with the Giants and sits at 1-3-1 heading into Week 6.
“Just going back and reflecting on it and, you know, sitting back and ultimately, I know it’s a lot of he say or whatever you’re trying to make, but ultimately, like, it’s on me at the end,” Daniels said. “I know DQ is getting a lot of slack for it or whatever, you know, but regardless of what happens, I’m the person on the field that’s supposed to calm everything, control everything, and I failed to the standard I told myself to and the standard in this organization. So, it's just something for me to move on. Not saying I’m proud of it or anything. Obviously, looking back, like, it could have resulted in a loss; we tied, but it was a fail in my eyes, and, you know, I know I’m better than that. I hold myself to a higher standard than that.”
Daniels’s statement was excellent and shows why he’s considered such an outstanding leader. One part that stood out was his acknowledgment of what head coach Dan Quinn has gone through this week. Some in the media and among fans have called for Quinn’s job, which is ridiculous. If you want to criticize Quinn for his record, that’s understandable, but jumping on a soapbox to call for his job over Sunday’s end-of-game debacle was foolish.
Daniels later explained what it meant to him that Quinn took the heat for Sunday’s debacle.
“I mean, that’s just the person he is, you know, the type of person that he is and obviously, you know, all eyes are on him, all eyes are on me,” Daniels said. “And regardless of how people talk about him, we love DQ here. You know, I appreciate him. I always say that for making my dreams come true of being a starting quarterback in the NFL. And, you know, he helped me with the opportunity, so, super blessed to have DQ, and, you know, he means a lot to me.”
If you had any doubt about how Washington’s locker room will respond to Quinn, you shouldn’t have any longer. Does that mean the Commanders will go out and upset the 49ers on Monday night? Of course not. But this team won’t quit on Quinn. When he talks culture and character, that’s what he’s talking about. His team is built to respond to adversity and lean on one another in tough times.
Daniels and Quinn have maintained a close relationship since they both arrived in Washington in 2024. That relationship is closer than ever because of the difficult times they’ve faced together.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Jayden Daniels makes it clear how he feels about Dan Quinn