Over the past year and a half, Jayden Daniels has emerged as a household name after winning the Heisman Trophy and becoming the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders.
Now, all eyes are on Daniels to see if he can live up to the hype and become Washington’s long-term solution at quarterback. That said, Daniels is no stranger to this kind of pressure, as he became the first true freshman to start as a quarterback at Arizona State.
Daniels wouldn’t be here today without his support system, including his loving parents. Here’s everything you need to know about his family.
A Look at Jayden Daniels’ Parents
Daniels was born in California on Dec. 18, 2000, to Javon “Jay” Daniels and Regina Jackson.
Jayden was also very close with his grandparents, particularly his grandfather, William. Tragically, William passed away from COVID-19 on Jan. 19, 2021. Sadly, just three weeks after William’s passing, Jayden’s grandmother, Betty, also passed away. During his junior season, Jayden attended their memorials and shared his emotions during that tough time.
Against UCLA, Jayden wore special cleats to honor his grandparents. After throwing for two touchdowns and nearly 300 yards in the 42-23 victory, Jayden was immediately embraced by his family.
Get To Know Daniels’ Mother
During his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech, Jayden referred to his mother, Regina, as his “rock.”
Jackson has supported her son, both privately and publicly. Upon her son’s transfer to LSU, she once slammed Arizona State’s football program in a Twitter Spaces. Additionally, she was alleged to have had a role in Arizona State’s recruiting violations.
According to a dossier leaked in June 2021, Jackson allegedly bought five plane tickets for recruits and their guardians in March 2021. It’s believed that after purchasing the tickets, she sent them to Sun Devils DB coach Chris Hawkins, who then sent them to other recruits. While the dossier has emails and receipts, she and Hawkins denied any wrongdoing, and Jayden was never punished.
Jackson was so nervous during her son’s first high school game that she said she missed his first touchdown because her eyes were closed. Over the years, she has supported her son’s dreams and been by his side throughout his journey to the NFL.
A proud moment for Jayden Daniels' parents ❤️ pic.twitter.com/HWNsEKaemp
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) April 26, 2024
After he was drafted by the Commanders, she spoke about what he’ll bring to the organization.
“They’re getting a great leader, but more [importantly], a better human,” Regina said on the broadcast. “He’s going to do everything he can for Washington.”
Get To Know Daniels’ Father
Javon was a college football player, playing cornerback for Washington and Iowa State in the late 1990s.
“Dad, you put a football in my hands when I was young,” Jayden said while addressing his family during his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech. “You taught me how to play, lead, and be calm no matter the situation.”
Jayden Daniels’ Heisman speech pic.twitter.com/UlAc34CKkl
— Spirit (@CampusSpirit4) December 10, 2023
Jayden joked that his father wanted him to play cornerback, but it all worked out for the best. He acknowledged that he wouldn’t have won the Heisman without his father’s unwavering support.
Jayden doubled down on his father’s influence on his path to the NFL, explaining at the 2024 NFL Combine: “My dad played Division I football. He coached me, so football has always been in my hands. He inspired me, and then, going from there, I just fell in love with the game.”
Does Daniels Have Any Siblings?
Jayden has three siblings: a brother named Jordan and two sisters named Bianca and Janae.
Bianca and Janae are from their mother’s side of the family, and Regina has been a vocal supporter of all of her children on social media (not just Jayden). Regina penned a very emotional tribute to her first child, Bianca, on Instagram for her 21st birthday, describing her daughter as “my biggest reason for living” and “my biggest accomplishment.”
After declaring for the NFL Draft, Jayden penned an open letter thanking everyone who has supported him during his college career, particularly his family.
“One thing I can tell you is, it takes a village to get in this position. It also takes a lot of love,” he wrote. “I just want to thank all of the people who helped me get to this point. I want to thank my family above all. Shoutout to my mom and my dad, my sister, my grandparents, and all of my extended family as well.”