“If you want to be a better player, you have to prepare, prepare, and prepare some more.” Picture this: Young Jayden Daniels, growing up where the Lakers weren’t just a team—they were the team, and Kobe Bryant wasn’t just a player—he was the King. Forward to ’24, and Daniels is dropping the jaws of fans across the NFL, leading the Washington Commanders to a 12–5 record and into the playoffs for the 1st time in years. Coincidence? Nah, Man, it’s the Mamba Effect.

Jayden’s stats speak louder than everything: 3,568 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, a 69% completion rate, and oh, 891 rushing yards, just for fun. But his mindset? That’s pure Kobe.

Jayden Daniels’ Mamba connection

“Growing up, [it was] falling in love with his game and who he is. As I got older, I fell in love with his [Kobe Bryant] mindset,” Daniels said, showing that the Mamba Mentality is alive and thriving on the football field.

Let’s rewind: When Daniels was a kid, the Lakers were everything, and Kobe was their fearless leader. “My favorite athlete of all time,” Daniels said, recalling nights spent watching No. 24 dominate. Whether it was sinking fadeaways or leading comebacks, Kobe wasn’t just playing basketball—he was crafting life lessons.

And Daniels took notes—a lot of them. You could say he’s got the “Kobe Starter Pack” of traits: relentless work ethic, next-play mentality, and an almost obsessive commitment to greatness. Kobe mantra of “prepare, prepare, and prepare some more,” is something Daniels emulated well into his football journey.

Speaking of greatness, Kobe’s résumé is a Hall of Fame spectacle: 25 points per game, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and a free-throw percentage of 83.7%. And let’s not forget the Black Mamba had ice running in his veins, owning the most fourth-quarter points in a season (715). Daniels? He’s walking on the same path, breaking rookie QB records and running for more yards than some running backs for Commanders. Coincidence? I think not.

But it’s not just the stats, it’s Kobe’s “Mamba Mentality” that pushed Daniels forward. “A lot of people say they want to be great, but they’re not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve greatness,” King once said. And Daniels? He sacrificed time and comfort to perfect his game. The result? NFL defenses left looking like they’d been hit by a Mamba strike.

The Mamba mentality in NFL

Kobe Bryant’s influence didn’t stop at basketball courts or the Hollywood Hills—his Mamba Mentality is woven into every athlete striving for greatness, and that ripple effect has stretched all the way to the gridiron—Take Tom Brady, for example. The man with the most Super Bowl rings ever. “Don’t count him out,” they said, but when you’ve got 89,214 passing yards, 649 touchdowns, and a 97.3 passer rating, who needs to say anything? Tom Brady embodies Kobe’s relentless grind—a 23-year career built on those late nights, those sacrifices, and those “I’m not satisfied yet” moments. Seven rings? Yeah, that’s what happens when you put in the work, just like the Mamba told us to do.

Now, Cam Newton might not have the seven rings, but that man? He gets it. Just like Kobe, Cam faced adversity and dominated despite it. His 2015 MVP season was a testament to his beautiful spirit. He left a legacy with 32,382 passing yards, 5,628 rushing yards, and 194 touchdowns. Newton was always a dual-threat. And Cam’s mentality was clear: sacrifice everything for greatness. You know that feeling when the world’s counting you out, and you just push through? That’s Kobe’s mindset at work, and Newton embodied it every time he stepped on the field.

Then there’s Patrick Mahomes, the man who’s rewriting what we thought was possible for a QB. I mean, who else is throwing sidearm passes with that much flair and making it look effortless? Mahomes has got the amazing Mamba’s swagger, calm under pressure, and a game that doesn’t just wow—it wins and dominates. 32,352 passing yards, 245 touchdowns, and two MVPs. Oh, and how about adding two Super Bowl victories and two Super Bowl MVPs to that mix? Kobe gave us the blueprint, and these NFL stars are out here living it. And that’s why they’re legends.

“I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I’m like, ‘My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don’t have it. I just want to chill.’ We all have self-doubt. You don’t deny it, but you also don’t capitulate to it. You embrace it.” And that’s what Jayden Daniels is doing: Embracing it all.