10 Takes with Kyle BrandtThe Washington Commanders rookie franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels joins Kyle Brandt for an exclusive interview on the 10 Takes with Kyle Brandt podcast. Jayden tells Kyle why he’s hyped to face the division rival Philadelphia Eagles coming of a bye week. He has the Commanders on a march towards the playoffs, and he tells Kyle how he’s gained the trust of his teammates to lead them there. Jayden also shares his thoughts on the possibility of making Super Bowl history as a rookie. And what did 13-year-old Jayden tweet that came true? Tune in to find out!
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Ten Takes is a production of the NFL in partnership with iheartradioub Jon Daniels Man, It's great to see. How's life.
It's going good?
How about you?
Really really good. I'm excited to talk to you. I'm thinking you're fourteen games into the season now, and college season would already be over even at LSU. You still got a lot of work to do. How are you feeling mentally right now this part of the grind?
Honestly, I feel real good. You know, we had a bye week that came. It took a minute, but it came out the right time to be able to reset. So it feels good. I'm in a good place mentally moving forward for that that.
Lay bye week is sweet, isn't it? Man? That's Christmas come early?
Oh man, it is. I mean, it takes a minute to get here, but once it's here, is like okay, we could we say, and we got a couple of games left in the season.
You can't get used to it, though, because you know next year they'll like drop you with the week four by that what is going on?
This is different? Man?
Yeah, I'd be crazy, I mean, but I can control I can control I can't control on the bye weekids.
No doubt, and you've controlled everything beautifully. Let's go back to the beginning of the season, Jayden, what was the moment on the field after so much success in college where you were like, damn, this is the NFL, Like this is different.
Yeah, I'll probably say my first game when you start seeing a lot of exotic, different pressures and you're playing against eight year plus veterans and people at you you know, usually watch on Sundays. So I say my first game is probably was like, man, this is the NFL.
Do you anticipate that you're going to get another one of those moments when you say, wow, this is the NFL playoffs?
Now, I mean hopefully, you know, we got to take care of business the last couple of games, but hopefully I'm able to say that this year. But now you know, I plan on saying that in my career for sure.
So Jay and now I'm gonna hit you with the pop quiz because I know you can handle it. And your subject is NFL history. Jade Daniels, how many rookie quarterbacks have ever started a Super Bowl?
I'm gonna say zero, If not one was it was it Ben Big Ben.
Zero dude, zero zero. It has never been done.
Broethlisberger was great his rookie year but did not make it all the way to the Super Bowl.
I got to ask, how much do you think about, you know what this year?
Why not us? Why not make a run this year? Why not grab this thing as a rookie and make some history.
I mean, honestly, you know, the whole thing is to get into the dance. And you know, if we're able to get into the dance, is anybody's game from there. So the main thing for us is like, man, we gotta get into We gotta handle the business. And that starts with Philly this week. And it's gonna be a great matchup to be able to go out there and compete against those guys and obviously what they just in the team they have. But for us, it's like, okay, Philly, and then you move on to the next game and then let the chips fall, you know, hopefully get in that dances.
Philly game's big, man. I mean, it kind of feels like it's Bama or it's Georgia and they haven't lost the game in three months. They're coming to your house. There's going to be a buzz there. What would it mean for you to end this streak that they're on in front of your fans.
Man, I mean a lot to be able to go out there and handle business. I mean, it's a great team in Philly and what they're doing, Like you said, the win streak, it's kind of that game. The atmosphere is like, Okay, you got Bama or Georgia coming into town. They're rolling, you know, you know where the underdogs. Everybody's looking at them to go out there and handle business. So it'd be great to be out there and be able to go out there and get a win and move forward from there.
Get that win. A couple of weeks away from the playoffs, life's looking good. Everybody has a happy New Year, you know right now, Jaden, everybody's got takes. You gotta have a take on something, and there is no one who does not have a take on whether you should win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
What's your take on it? Leave I'll leave that up to them. That's their takes. I'll leave it up to everybody has those decisions. I'll just go out there and try to play my best ball each in every week.
Kind of nice to slide that trophy next to the heisman, wouldn't it.
It would be awesome to do that.
It would be And I listen my take, I think you guys beat Philly and in this streak, I think you're putting that trophy right up there on the shelf.
You got work to do, and I know you know that for sure, for sure have to.
So I've been doing my work on you, and I'm trying to hit you with something that you don't get asked every single day. Don't get nervous. I found an old tweet of yours July of twenty fourteen. You're thirteen years old and you tweeted one day you guys gonna hear my name? First of all, what's it like to look back at that tweet ten years later?
That's crazy. It's crazy. I am remember even tweeting something out like that. It's crazy. But I mean, once you tweet something ouse on the internet for forever. So it's crazy to be able to see that right now and be in this position today.
That tweet two likes, by the way, two likes before this interview, and now it's going.
To blow up.
Yeah, I probably will.
So when you're saying, one day everyone's going to be saying my name. That kid who said that, is this what he was talking about? You're in the NFL, winning games, going towards the playoff. Is this what he had in mind? Or is there maybe more?
Yeah? I think this is part of it. I think it's more to it. I was just a kid that was, you know, chasing the dream and aspiration I had said for myself to be able to play in the NFL. And it's crazy how life uns full circle.
If someone had grabbed that kid before that tweet or after that tweet and thirteen years old, growing up in California and said, young Jayden, what do you want to do in life?
What's your ultimate goal? What do you think he would have said?
Hmmm, I the NFL players is the ultimate. You know. I had this dream set out for it, but as I got older, it's like, okay, more I saw the NFL players, like the impact in the person who I am each and every day, how I carry myself.
And how you carry yourself really shows, and how your teammates treat you, and I just have to be totally honest with you, Jaden. This whole season There's only one time that I've seen you rattled, and the time you were rattled was when you're in the middle of a press conference and your teammate walks in with the cake, singing Happy birthday to you in front of everybody.
Is there anything more awkward than that? Tell me what that was like?
Yeah? I knew something was up because I seen him walking away and he told me after he was like, he was like, dang, Jane, see me. So I knew something was up, but I didn't know he was going to walk in and sing me Happy birthday and everything. So that caught me out of guard.
For real, Would you rather stand in against an eight man blitz on third and nine or have somebody sing you Happy birthday in front of a room of people?
Which one? Is it?
Standing with the blitz Amen Blitz on thirdy nine? For sure?
Listen.
I also think there's a serious side to this because this is a fellow rookie coming in and giving you your cake. And I know the way your teammates talk about you as a guy who's so young in the league playing with some vets. How have you gone about earning that respect? Because it looks like your teammates love you.
How'd you put that off so fast?
I just came in and it was constantly myself each and every day put in the work. And you know, that's how you gain the respect is putting it in the work. And he starts to make some plays here and there throughout OTAs and training camp and you know, preseason games and they come to games. You know, you go out there, you just be you.
And you're always so comfortable in your own skin and it doesn't feel like you're trying to be somebody.
You're not. The Sunday thing.
It matters, right, I mean, you can put in all the work, the weight room, the film work, but you really do have to make plays when they get them to follow you.
Right for sure.
I think that's how the ultimate space is. Like, Okay, his kid puts in the work. He's here early, leaves late, and you know, shows up on Sundays.
Jane, we're in fourteen weeks into your rookie year on the field. What has been your favorite moment of this season so far?
Favorite moment, I'll probably say my first win the Giants game. Be able to go out there and get your first one under your belt against one of my best friends, myleak neighbors, So you know what I means a lot to me for sure.
Yeah, how's my Leak doing? Man? I'm here in New York.
You know, the Giants are what they are, the Jets are what they are, and Malik's trying to just make plays through tough circumstances.
We're rooting for him. How's he getting through his rookie year?
You doing good? Everybody's rookie year is different. Everybody has ups and downs, and you know, you try to stay the course and keep working. So when I talk to him, you know, we're kind of just talking about everything, and you know, we're trying to get better each and every day.
Well, I'm going to close with this. My nephew is eight years old here in New York and he has one item on his Crew Ristmas list. All he wants is a number five jade and Daniels Commander's jersey and he lives in New York. Dude, he is really really a fan of yours. So from the football world, he wants to know. We all want to know what's on your Christmas list? What do you want for Christmas this year? A couple more wins, for sure. That's on my Christmas list.
A couple more wins, you know, family, friends and family to be around, just to embrace this time together because it's new for everybody. You know, me being in the NFL, me playing around Christmas is first time I ever did this in my life. So hopefully you get a win and then you know, just enjoyable family.
You're all about family, You're all about team, and I know you're all about business.
Jade. It's great to meet you.
Merry Christmas, and I think we're going to be watching you play some football next month.
My man, pleasure, appreciate you.
Appreciate you too, Jay, nice to meet you.
Ten take.
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