Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders’ rising star, has been electrifying the NFL with his performance. And it turns out there’s a sneaky little secret behind his impressive play. No, it’s not some obscure workout routine or a questionable pre-game meal—it’s Virtual Reality (VR). You read that right. The QB is training like he’s in Ready Player One (minus the dystopian vibes), and it’s making a huge difference.

Well, it turns out Daniels is waking up at 6 a.m. to get his head in the game… literally. “It moves faster within the VR than actual human beings,” Daniels told The Athletic in a recent interview. “Once you get out there, everything slows down. I know this is coming. I’ve seen this before, (and) it moved more than 20 times faster in VR.” That’s right, folks—this guy is training his brain to process football situations at 1.75x speed. Talk about having your own cheat code.

Now, you might be asking, “Is this even allowed in the NFL?” The answer is: absolutely. In fact, VR technology is becoming a game-changer for quarterbacks, and Daniels isn’t alone in leveraging it. The German company Cognilize developed a technology that allows “immersive decision-making training for athletes,” which allows “enhancing of split-second reads” and “more reps in high-pressure environments.” It aids quarterbacks in making rapid decisions through simulated game-time scenarios which also improves their ability to read defenses instantly and keeps them prepared for any situation. Everyone desires the experience of watching future events before they happen.

Daniels started using this high-tech training during his college days at LSU, where he won the Heisman Trophy with a jaw-dropping 50-touchdown season. Now, as a rookie with the Commanders, Daniels has taken his VR skills to a whole new level, helping him lead his team to a wild-card win and eventually an NFC Championship berth. All while never breaking a sweat. He’s the first QB 2.0 in the making, and you better believe it’s paying off.

So, why does this work? Well, Daniels’ ability to process the game at such a high speed directly translates to success on the field. “Once you get out there, everything slows down,” he explains. He’s not just reading defenses faster; he’s anticipating them. Like he’s playing 5D chess while everyone else is stuck on checkers. The speed at which he’s processing information is making the NFL look easy—well, easier than it should be for a rookie, anyway.

Jayden Daniels: Records, Net Worth, and How He’s Performed

Alright, so now that we know Daniels is essentially the Terminator of quarterbacks, let’s take a quick peek at his actual stats. And spoiler alert: they’re wild. In his rookie season, Daniels threw for a 69.0% completion rate, registering a cool 3,568 YDS with 25 touchdowns and just 9 interceptions. And let’s not forget the rushing yards—he’s been running the ball like it’s his side hustle with 891 yards from 148 carries. Did we mention he’s the first rookie in NFL history to record 80% completion in four games during a season? Not bad for a guy with a VR training condition in his rookie contract, right?

As for Daniels’ net worth? Well, he signed a four-year, $37.75 million contract with the Commanders in June 2024, so his bank account looks pretty sweet. Oh, and his mom? She’s not just cheering from the stands—Regina Jackson is now an NFL-certified sports agent. Talk about a family power move.

Daniels also helped the Commanders secure their first NFC Championship appearance since 1991. His VR training setup was key to his rapid development, allowing him to “read defenses 80% faster.” Oh, and the rookie was just named 2024 Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year by the PFWA. Yeah, you can officially say he’s had a fantastic first year.

So, as Jayden Daniels faces off against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship, all eyes will be on him. Will the Commanders make it to the Super Bowl? You’ll have to tune in to find out, but one thing’s for sure—Daniels’ VR-fueled rise to stardom is only just getting started.