“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”–Maya Angelou. Applauding a quarterback for his on-field actions is simple. But, occasionally, a player reminds us that the true MVP moments take place away from the lights of the arena. And that’s what Trevor Lawrence reminded us of when he signed a Make-A-Wish ‘contract’ with a 7-year-old Blaze in Jacksonville. He wasn’t simply handing over a jersey—he was handing over a feeling of belongingness. The production value of that moment wasn’t the reason that it grabbed so much attention. It mattered because it was real.

Jayden Daniels, Washington’s rookie quarterback, added his own chapter to that unspoken history of off-field brilliance this week.

Where most NFL rookies are still getting used to playbooks and public appearances, Jayden Daniels made the decision to have an impact on World Wish Day that isn’t shown in the box score. Six-year-old Markel is a courageous kid, a football fan from Indian Head, Maryland. Who is fighting congenital heart disease, was taken aback by the Commander’s quarterback. Daniels contacted Markel while he was riding to a Georgetown Prep football game as part of a unique partnership with Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic. With a single FaceTime, Daniels brightened the boy’s entire world.

Markel, who was already decked out in team enthusiasm, was ecstatic when his favourite Commander—No. 5 himself—appeared on the screen. Markel had his big day, even though he couldn’t suit up to play with the pros. He was able to pose with the players, obtain an autographed football, and—most importantly—be seen by someone he looks up to.

The Commanders referred to it as a touchdown for the community. Though we could argue that Jayden Daniels was advocating for humanity. And while these kinds of gestures often get lost in the social media cycle, this one felt different. Because Daniels wasn’t only fulfilling a requirement. He was showing character when it counted. But Daniels’ week didn’t end with smiles.

From draft day dreams to funeral silence: Jayden Daniels honors Kyren Lacy

Four days prior, the rookie quarterback was standing in a very different environment—a funeral in Louisiana—to mourn the passing of Kyren Lacy, a friend and former teammate from LSU. Daniels didn’t merely show up. He assisted in carrying Lacy’s coffin as a pallbearer. And he paid the kind of homage that only a brother could with the framed No. 2 Commander’s jersey that was marked “Lacy.”

The pain behind the post said everything: “Till next time brudda 🕊️🙏 #DontPlay”–Jayden Daniels on Instagram. Lacy, who had declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, died tragically after a police chase in Houston. An incident tied to a domestic dispute and a pending grand jury appearance related to a prior fatal accident. He was just 24.

He told Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers, “I’m proud of y’all boys,” while he was on FaceTime on draft night just a year ago. And now he was being carried to rest by those boys. “I’m going to miss my wingman,” said LSU coach Brian Kelly, who was also there at the ceremony, forcing back tears.

During the quarterback’s Heisman run in 2022 and 2023, Daniels and Lacy shared the field and connected for more than 500 yards and seven touchdowns. But now, statistics seem meaningless. Because this wasn’t just a teammate lost—it was a chapter closed too soon.

Within a few days, Jayden Daniels was torn between happiness and sorrow. He gave life to a child’s dream and carried the weight of a lost friend’s legacy. We already knew he could handle a football. Now, Washington knows he can take something even heavier: the obligation of being a role model.