Coming off the greatest rookie quarterback season in NFL history, Jayden Daniels has to be one of the happiest campers in the league. A one-man wrecking crew, his clutch performances helped spark one of the most incredible single-season turnarounds in recent memory.
The Washington Commanders’ offseason has gone according to plan, too. They re-signed key players and made quality moves — adding Deebo Samuel among them — that should upgrade the roster. Meanwhile, their chemistry looks better than ever, thanks to a viral social media video featuring their superstar quarterback.
Jayden Daniels Hits Pitch in Paris, Builds Dream Soccer Squad With Commanders Teammates
As part of the NFL’s push to make the game more global, it has invested heavily in international matchups. Locations like Brazil and London are already in play, while cities like Paris and Dublin are being considered.
The Paris dream seems even closer now, with Daniels linking up with one of the biggest soccer clubs in the world — Paris Saint-Germain. At Parc des Princes, the club’s iconic home stadium, Daniels joined in on some promotional activities.
Among them was a Q&A session. First up: “If you were to play football (soccer), which position would you play?” Daniels didn’t hesitate. “I think I’d be a forward. I always like to score goals, be the main attraction. So forward for sure.”
But the second question stole the spotlight. “If you could build a five-a-side team with four of your teammates, to play soccer, who are you going to put on that team?” As the Commanders’ leader, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year faced a tricky choice.
He handled it coolly: “Me, of course. Marcus Mariota, Frankie Luvu, Mikey Sainristil.” After a short pause, he added Obada Efe. The result was a balanced pick across several units of the team.
The Commanders are in a great spot heading into the 2025 season. After winning just four games in 2023, they bounced back with their first playoff win in a decade and made an NFC Championship Game appearance.
They didn’t rest this offseason. Along with trading for Samuel and Laremy Tunsil, they added defensive help in Javon Kinlaw, Deatrich Wise Jr., Jonathan Jones, and Will Harris.
The front office looks locked in on maximizing its opportunity with a true franchise star. Whether or not they can play soccer, this team has to deliver on the NFL field next season.