Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s impressive rookie accomplishments have now been equaled by Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels, whose season ended with an NFC Championship loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last weekend.
Daniels was the driving force behind Washington’s unexpected resurgence, elevating the team from a 4-13 record in 2023 to 12-5 while securing their first playoff wins since 2005. He finished the regular season with 3,568 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, adding 891 rushing yards and six scores on the ground.
In the playoffs, Daniels totaled 822 passing yards, five touchdowns, and one interception, along with 135 rushing yards.
Like Roethlisberger, Daniels is the frontrunner for the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft also matched Roethlisberger’s record of 14 wins as a rookie quarterback.
With comparisons between them growing, Roethlisberger acknowledged Daniels’ exceptional play, stating that the young quarterback surpassed his own rookie performance.
“He was playing much better football than I was as a rookie,” Roethlisberger admitted on his Footbahlin podcast. “I was just trying to survive, and he was leading the team. I was fortunate to have veteran teammates, a great defense, and Jerome [Bettis], so they didn’t have to rely on me as much. The Commanders leaned on him. He was playing great football … If he keeps improving, he’s going to be a game-changer for a long time.”
While Roethlisberger may be downplaying his own impact, his point holds some weight. The No. 11 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft stepped in after Tommy Maddox’s injury in Week 2, surrounded by stars like Bettis, Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress, and Antwaan Randle El.
His supporting cast and Pittsburgh’s dominant defense—which led the league in both points (15.7) and yards (258.4) allowed per game—helped ease his transition. The Steelers finished 15-1 that season, with Roethlisberger throwing for 2,621 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions before losing to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship.
Though the two quarterbacks played in different eras and Roethlisberger appeared in fewer games, Daniels’ stats outshine his across the board. If the Commanders’ young star continues his upward trajectory, he could lead the franchise to long-awaited success.
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