Marcus Mariota Discusses Why He Re Signed With Commanders

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 17, 2025, 4:16 AM

marcus mariota discusses why he re signed with commanders

Marcus Mariota was an underrated member of the 2024 Washington Commanders. Signed to be the backup quarterback to rookie Jayden Daniels, Mariota didn't expect to play much, but instead serve as a mentor and sounding board to Daniels. That's what happened. Daniels and Mariota grew close, with the star rookie explaining how important Mariota was to him last season. Meanwhile, Mariota enjoyed passing along the lessons of a fellow former No. 2 overall pick to the eager rookie.

Mariota did get to play last season and was pivotal in two of Washington's 12 regular-season wins. In a Week 8 game against Carolina, Daniels was injured in the first half, and Mariota relieved him, completing 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards with two touchdowns, while also rushing for 34... The Commanders won the game, 40-7. In the regular-season finale at Dallas, Mariota played the second half against the Cowboys after the first-team offense struggled. Mariota completed 15 of 18 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for 56 yards on five carries, including a critical 33-yard run on fourth down to keep the eventual game-winning drive alive.

A few plays later, Mariota found Terry McLaurin in the end zone to give Washington the come-from-behind win. Mariota enjoyed his one season in Washington but understood there was no path forward for him to start. Still, the Commanders wanted him back, and Mariota wanted to come back, too. This offseason, he signed a one-year deal to return and back up Daniels for another season. The Washington Commanders are entering their second season with backup quarterback Marcus Mariota. The No.

2 overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner is getting ready for his 11th season in the NFL, where he hopes to win his first Super Bowl with the Commanders. Mariota spoke with reporters at a local event in his home state of Hawaii about the decision to stay with the Commanders for the upcoming season. READ MORE: Commanders set to reveal bold new look with upcoming uniform announcement “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, DQ (Dan Quinn) and just Kliff (coordinator Kingsbury) and the offense, and for me, it was like a no brainer.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota understood when he re-signed with the Washington Commanders this past March that he won't see significant playing time during the upcoming season unless starter Jayden Daniels goes down with an injury. Mariota seems just fine with continuing to mentor Daniels for at least one more year. "For me, it was one of those things hard to pass up, and you want to go somewhere where you’re wanted," Mariota recently said about staying with Washington, as shared by Brian Mcinnis of... "And they were very adamant that they wanted me back for another year. I love coach [head coach Dan Quinn] and just [offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury] and the offense. And for me, it was, like, a no-brainer.

...Whatever comes, if they need me, I'm ready to play. Otherwise, I'm here for [Daniels], and just making sure he's playing to the best of his ability." In June, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated detailed how the Commanders retaining Kingsbury, Mariota, pass game coordinator Brian Johnson and quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard made it "easy for the entire quarterbacks room... Daniels ran away with the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award after he completed what's been called one of the best debut seasons ever produced by a quarterback, and he'll once again have Mariota... As for Mariota, he ultimately became a journeyman after the Tennessee Titans made him the No. 2 pick of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Thus, he has seen and experienced things as a pro that are foreign to a younger potential superstar such as Daniels, the second overall choice of the 2024 player-selection process. 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. 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. 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. ASHBURN, Va. — Marcus Mariota’s voice cracked as his mind ran through the last 10 years — the steep highs, and the lows just as deep.

Beads of sweat dotted his brow and cheeks as a smile of pure gratification formed. He knew this feeling. He had been here many times during his record-setting days at Oregon and his early years in the NFL. But this one was sweetened by time and adversity. As a starter for the first time in three years, Mariota had just guided the Washington Commanders to a 41-24 thrashing of one of his former teams, the Las Vegas Raiders. He totaled 247 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground and in the air and, more significantly, played a complete game with unbridled joy.

For much of his time in the NFL, Mariota endured an overwhelming anxiety born from a chase for perfection and an identity carved around the game. Football was both a blessing and a burden, turning his career into a roller coaster that only began to slow when he became a Commander in 2024. “It’s been such an interesting journey for me and I would never trade it for anything in the world,” he said after last Sunday’s win. “I think I’m here for a reason. I believe in it.”

Marcus Mariota Discusses Why He Re Signed With Commanders

People Also Search

Marcus Mariota Was An Underrated Member Of The 2024 Washington

Mariota Did Get To Play Last Season And Was Pivotal

A Few Plays Later, Mariota Found Terry McLaurin In The

2 Overall Pick And Heisman Trophy Winner Is Getting Ready

Quarterback Marcus Mariota Understood When He Re-signed With The Washington