Marcus Mariota Opens Up On Commanders Return Mentoring Jayden Daniels

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 17, 2025, 4:16 AM

marcus mariota opens up on commanders return mentoring jayden daniels

It was a big year for Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. He ended his rookie season by winning Offensive Rookie of the Year at the NFL Honors before Super Bowl LIX. Daniels showed out all season, setting a rookie quarterback rushing record with 891 yards, throwing for 3,568 yards, and scoring 25 touchdowns. While his talent and hard work got him far, he also had a key advantage—veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota as his mentor. Mariota, a former Oregon Ducks star, played a huge role in helping Daniels grow throughout the season. Even though he stayed out of the spotlight, his guidance made a difference.

Before the NFC Championship game, Mariota talked about his role backing up Daniels while also trying to guide him through the postseason. "Being consistent for him, helping him understand like, 'Hey, we understand this is round three, but let's continue just to find ways to get better and everything else will be taken care of,'" the... Head coach Dan Quinn saw how valuable Mariota’s experience was from the start. "In a perfect scenario, a young quarterback would have a leader to also learn from, but perfect rarely happens. But we do have that in Marcus Mariota. Him sharing nine years of gold with Jayden, I think, has been something that’s really cool for us to see.

Rookie quarterbacks usually don’t get that, and we do," Quinn said. Daniels had a historic season. He set a new record for rushing yards by a rookie quarterback and finished second in passing yards and touchdowns among rookies, behind Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix. He led the Commanders to a 12-5 record and a playoff spot as the sixth seed in the NFC. The Commanders made it all the way to the NFC Championship before falling to the Philadelphia Eagles. Marcus Mariota is finally OK with being a backup in the NFL, since he found the perfect situation.

The Washington Commanders‘ backup quarterback recently opened up about returning to the Commanders after he returned on a one-year, $8 million contract to back up Jayden Daniels. Mariota re-signing in Washington puts to bed his nomadic journey where he played with five teams in six seasons after spending his first five seasons with the Tennessee Titans. The 2014 Heisman Trophy winner was picked second overall by Tennessee in the 2015 NFL Draft. But Mariota, who has started 74 games in the NFL but just 19 in the past six seasons, decided to stay put in a situation where he will be backing up, and mentoring the... Mariota played with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021, the Atlanta Falcons in 2022, the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023 before finally signing with the Commanders before the 2024 season. On Sunday morning, the Washington Commanders hit the field in Spain to take on the Miami Dolphins, looking to push their record to 4-7 on the 2025 NFL season and keep their faint playoff...

Jayden Daniels missed this game, one of several he's been forced to sit out this year due to injury, and it was once again backup quarterback Marcus Mariota taking his place against Miami. Unfortunately for the Commanders, Mariota too went out with an injury in this game, opening the door for Josh Johnson to enter the game, per Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team on X, formerly... Mariota walked around for a few moments after getting hit by a Dolphins defender and then took a seat on the turf. However, the good news was that he was cleared to return to the game after being evaluated for a concussion, per the Commanders. Overall, it's just the latest development in what has been a nightmarish season for the Commanders on the heels of their NFC Championship Game run a year ago. Injuries have been a major issue for Washington throughout the year this season, with Daniels and several other players missing time due to various ailments, and the team overall has taken a step back...

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 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. AIEA, Hawaii — For the first time in a few years, Marcus Mariota was motivated to stay put.

Mariota, who agreed to a one-year, $8 million extension with the Washington Commanders in March, recently reflected on his decision to remain with the NFC contender in the role of primary backup and mentor... In an interview with Hawaii media at his annual Motiv8 Foundation fundraiser golf tournament on June 23, the 31-year-old Saint Louis School graduate spoke of his peace with the role at the 11-year mark... “For me, it was one of those things hard to pass up, and you want to go somewhere where you’re wanted,” Mariota said. “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. “To stand here 11 years in — very, very few people get an opportunity to do that,” Mariota added.

“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 (quarterback) 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.” 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 Opens Up On Commanders Return Mentoring Jayden Daniels

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