Robert Griffin III couldn’t be happier for Jayden Daniels, Washington: ‘He has invigorated the city’
Star Black quarterbacks no longer are the exception – they’re the rule. Throughout the football season, this series will explore the prominence and impact of Black quarterbacks from the grassroots level to the NFL.
The buzz intensified weekly in Washington as a gifted young quarterback revived a stagnant franchise. He led the team’s unexpected surge to the top of the NFC East standings and, in the process, inspired something many of Washington’s supporters had lost: hope.
To be sure, Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is a rising star. However, long before Daniels captivated the nation’s capital with his signature moves and late-game heroics, Robert Griffin III was the talk of the town.
Like Daniels, Griffin was a Heisman Trophy winner who was chosen second overall in the NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. In some respects, Griffin’s rookie season was even more magical than Daniels’ current thrill ride. With Griffin out front, Washington won the 2012-13 NFC East title – the franchise’s first in 13 seasons. He possessed a powerful passing arm, sprinter’s speed and a megawatt smile that endeared him to fans. In Washington, RG3 was the next big thing.
But after suffering a severe knee injury during his rookie season, Griffin never recaptured the success of his first year in Washington. Today, Griffin, 34, is enjoying watching Daniels from afar while reveling in Washington’s exciting new path.
In a long phone discussion Wednesday with Andscape, Griffin looked backward and forward, expressing his happiness for the club and its fans.
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“For Washington coming into this season, there isn’t an analyst in the world [who] thought [the Commanders] would be 6-2 right now. Not one, right? Not based off the schedule, not based off the roster or any of that stuff. And I’ve heard some people say that one guy changed it all. And when you say that … you have no idea what you’re talking about. In D.C., it’s always about more than one guy. In 2012, we were 3-6 at the bye week. Then we went on a seven-game heater [winning streak]. We finished 10-6, won the division, made it to the playoffs. Everyone else knows the rest of that story.
“But for Washington now, it’s not just Jayden Daniels. He is the one [who] has invigorated the city and taken over the city. And I’ll say this, and I’ve told you this before, ‘When you win in D.C., there’s no better city to be in. And when you win in D.C., the quarterback is more important than the president of the United States.’ That’s what Jayden Daniels has accomplished. … But it’s not just Jayden Daniels. It’s Josh Harris, the new owner. It’s Adam Peters, the new GM. It’s the new head coach, Dan Quinn. It’s the new offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury. It’s about bringing in a vet like [tight end] Zach Ertz. It’s about bringing in a vet like [running back] Austin Ekeler.
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“It’s about [running back] Brian Robinson. It’s about [wide receiver] Terry McLaurin. They’ve done so many things to get a fresh scent of Febreze from the top of the organization down. Peters has done an amazing job putting his team together with guys that know how to win. … Daniels, he was the most explosive passer and the most explosive runner in all of college football last year. The stats back it up, and that’s why he won the Heisman Trophy. He was absolutely incredible. But when you actually look at his [NFL] stats, he’s [tied for] 22nd in the league in touchdown passes with seven. He’s top five in yards per attempt [fifth, 8.4-yards per attempt]. And for yardage, he is 12th in the league.
“But the way that you feel when he’s on the field, you would think he was leading the league in touchdown passes, leading the league in passing yards and all of that. It’s because Washington is winning and not asking the world of Jayden Daniels. So, when they need the world from him, like they did on that Hail Mary, he delivers. It’s a beautiful recipe for success. As he continues to grow and develop, he’s not trying to do too much. He’s not trying to put the team on his back. It’s just natural for him. And that’s what makes it so exciting. I am so happy for him.
I’m an old head now, which is kind of crazy. I don’t think it’s right for the old heads to look at the younger generation and not want them to be successful. You hear analysts all the time today take the approach of, ‘Well, I was this and that. I was a Pro Bowler. I was an All-Pro. I was a Hall of Famer. I’m gonna tell you why these guys stink.’ I don’t think that’s the right approach. I think the approach is, you look at the younger generation and you speak about what makes ’em great. You tell their story of who they are, so people can really get to know them. And then if they mess up, you tell them why they messed up and how they can get better. To me, that’s how you push it forward.
“So with Jayden, that’s how I’ve approached this. I’m honored to be connected to him and his family and be a mentor when he needs me to be. Jayden Daniels is top level when it comes to his mindset, how cerebral he is, how smart he is. You see it in his play. He doesn’t force many things. He has a natural ability to make big plays happen at just the right time. So, yeah, I am genuinely happy for him. And I’m even more happy for the city.”
Griffin had the greatest season statistically for a rookie quarterback in NFL history. He set NFL rookie records for passer rating (and for percentage of passes intercepted). Griffin accounted for 27 touchdowns and led the league in yards per attempt. As a runner, he topped the NFL in yards per carry. In a lopsided vote, Griffin won the Associated Press 2012-13 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Quarterbacks Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks finished second and third, respectively.