Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels shared a heartwarming moment with his mother on Saturday night after his team stunned the Lions in the divisional round.
The rookie continued his incredible debut season as he tallied 350 total yards and threw two touchdowns (with no interceptions) as Washington beat the NFC’s No. 1 seed 45-31.
And after the game, Daniels made sure to pay his mom, Regina, a visit before heading to the locker room, as FOX cameras captured him giving her the game ball.
Regina jumped up and down in the stands after receiving the ball from her son, before appearing to offer some words of encouragement to him.
Daniels then jogged off to the locker room with a huge grin on his face.
Facing either the Rams or Eagles next week in the NFC Championship Game, he’ll now set his sights on trying to become the first rookie quarterback to ever start in a Super Bowl.
Jayden Daniels handed his mom the game ball after the Commanders beat the Lions
Daniels’ mom, Regina, jumped up and down after her son came over to greet her
Daniels was tremendous as he led the Commanders to a shocking upset of the No. 1 seed Lions
Jayden Daniels made sure to give his mom the game ball ❤️(📺 FOX) pic.twitter.com/obAnhcGCWf
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 19, 2025
The LSU product also became just the second rookie pᴀsser ever to defeat a No. 1 seed in the postseason, joining Joe Flacco after he and the Ravens achieved the feat against the тιтans in 2009.
The sixth-seeded Commanders (14-5) were nearly double-digit underdogs against the Lions (15-3), but managed to overcome the Super Bowl contenders away from home.
Read More Devastated Lions coach Dan Campbell fights back the tears after shock playoff defeat vs Commanders
‘I always believed that we could achieve more than people give us credit for,’ Daniels said.
‘I prepare the right way,’ he continued after the game on FOX to Tom Brady. ‘I don’t cheat the game, you gotta’ put in the work to get the product out on Sundays. So I just thank my coaching staff, really.’
Detroit, the NFC’s No. 1 seed for the first time, doomed its chances by turning it over five times.
‘If you turn the ball over five times against that team, it is going to be hard to win,’ Lions coach Dan Campbell said.
The Rams and Eagles will kick off at 3pm ET on Sunday for a spot in the NFC Championship Game next week.
