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Commanders Quarterback Marcus Mariota Reveals Why He Returned In 2025

Bonisiwe Shabane
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commanders quarterback marcus mariota reveals why he returned in 2025

The grass isn't always greener on the other side. That's precisely what Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota said on Thursday about re-signing with Washington instead of potentially pursuing starting options elsewhere. "At the end of the day, the grass isn't always greener, and being around this league for a long time, you understand that when you have a good thing, you have a great culture,... "So, I really, at the end of the day, somebody was going to have to really knock my socks off to leave this place. I am very happy, very blessed to be back, and I'm excited to make another run with this team." Mariota continued to praise Washington, calling it the best place he's ever been a part of.

He credited head coach Dan Quinn for making him enjoy coming to work. The 2025 season is Mariota's 11th NFL season. A former No. 2 overall pick, Washington is Mariota's fifth NFL team. While he would like the chance to start again, he's appreciative of his current opportunity, serving as a backup to Jayden Daniels, and a mentor to the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Speaking of Daniels, Mariota said he had been in contact with him and plans to meet him soon in Southern California.

Daniels and Sam Hartman are working out together in California, and Mariota said he'll meet with them and buy them dinner. Backup quarterbacks in the NFL, veterans specifically, are amongst the most underrated players in the locker room. Beyond typically having experience on the field, they bring a presence to the locker room and meeting room that basically doubles as a coach in the field and a mentor to younger players. Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota is that presence for the NFC East playoff team. The former Oregon Ducks Heisman Trophy winner recently spoke about his decision to return to Washington, Dan Quinn as his coach, and what it means to be a mentor for young quarterback Jayden Daniels... Mariota is a decade in, but still as valuable as he’s ever been.

“For me, it was one of those things hard to pass up, and you want to go somewhere where you’re wanted,” Mariota said, via Spectrum News. “And they were very adamant that they wanted me back for another year. I love coach [Dan Quinn] and just [offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury] and the offense, and for me, it was like a no-brainer. To stand here 11 years in — very, very few people get an opportunity to do that.” “So I’m thankful for every day and the ability to go into work and have fun, cut it loose, and have such a great room that makes it so much better, too. I’m just kind of having fun with it, rolling with the punches.

Whatever comes, if they need me, I’m ready to play. Otherwise, I’m here for Jay, and just making sure he’s playing to the best of his ability,” Mariota said. MORE: Oregon Ducks Four-Star Linebacker Commit Shuts Down Recruitment The 2025 season is shaping up to be about more than just shaking things up within the Washington Commanders franchise—it’s also about keeping some things steady. This goes for their young starting quarterback and the seasoned pro backing him up. Marcus Mariota is sticking around for a second year in the nation’s capital, opting for the comfort of familiarity instead of jumping to yet another team in his already well-traveled NFL journey.

Mariota, who will once again be the backup to Jayden Daniels, re-signed with the Commanders early in the offseason. The former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft has suited up for four different teams over the past four years, but this spring, he made it clear that Washington felt like the right fit to... While Daniels is officially the starter after an exceptional rookie year, Mariota is very much looking forward to the opportunity to mentor the young quarterback through the rigors of the NFL experience. “It’s like reliving my own career,” he said, talking about trying to avoid the mistakes he made early in his career. His relationship with the coaching staff also played a key role in his decision.

“It was a difficult opportunity to pass up. You want to go where you’re wanted,” Mariota continued at a community event in Hawaii, referencing head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's support. “Very few people get the opportunity to play 11 years in this league,” he said. Marcus Mariota is returning to the Washington Commanders for the 2025 season. According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the veteran quarterback is re-signing with the Commanders on a one-year, $8 million contract. Pelissero explained why Mariota decided to return to Washington.

“Other teams tried to lure Mariota away,” Pelissero wrote on X/Twitter. “But he loves Washington, where he’s back to back up Jayden Daniels.” As a backup QB for the Commanders last year, Mariota completed 77.3 percent of his passes for 364 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in three games. He also rushed for 92 and one touchdown and 18 carries in his limited action last year. “We have a brotherhood here, and it’s very unique, something that is very different from other teams that I’ve been on, and just that kind of belief in each other really settled me down,”... In that game, Mariota completed 18 of his 23 pass attempts for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

Marcus Mariota signed a one-year contract with the Commanders in March of last year. His goal was to be the starting QB, but the Commanders went with Jayden Daniels, who went on to lead the team to the NFC Championship game and earned Offensive Rookie of the Year... The Washington Commanders are going to need to rattle off some wins to save their season. They're going to have to do it with backup quarterback Marcus Mariota as the new starter in place of the injured Jayden Daniels. Mariota's new stint starts Sunday in Week 10. The Commanders take on the Detroit Lions in the late afternoon window.

In a bit of irony, Mariota was once the No. 2 overall pick, just like the player he is replacing, Daniels. The Commanders and their fanbase will hope he can play like a guy once drafted that high. The Washington Commanders’ roster for the upcoming season is beginning to take shape. Washington added valuable pieces during the offseason via trade, acquiring two Pro Bowl players in the process. Additionally, the Commanders signed multiple defenders who can help that unit continue improving this season.

Now, Washington is turning its focus to players who were previously on the roster, re-signing several individuals to deals for the 2025 season. Quarterback Marcus Mariota is one of those players who re-signed with the Commanders, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $8 million. As Washington Commanders rookie sensation Jayden Daniels took the NFL by storm last season, it was easy to forget about the contribution made by the team's second-string passer. Daniels won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He threw for 3,568 yards and rushed for 891 more, accounting for 31 total scores. He led the Commanders to a 12-5 regular-season record, an eight-game improvement from the prior year, and added a pair of playoff victories en route to reaching Washington's first NFC Championship game since the...

It wouldn't have been possible without the mentorship and availability to step in when necessary of his backup, Marcus Mariota, who will be back in D.C. once again this fall. The 10-year NFL veteran and onetime No. 2 overall pick of the Tennessee Titans decided to return to Washington rather than pursue short-term starter opportunities, citing that it was hard to pass up being where he is wanted. Last season, Mariota appeared in three games, seeing significant playing time in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers (Daniels left with a rib injury) and in Week 18 against the Dallas Cowboys (Washington pulled... He passed for 364 yards and four touchdowns while adding 92 more yards and another score on the ground, proving himself to be one of the league's highest quality backups.

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