Jayden Daniels isn’t just running plays—he’s a man running with a purpose. Every time he steps onto the field, he’s carrying more than just a football. He’s holding the hope, wishes, and legacy of his grandparents, William and Betty Daniels. And if you ask him, they weren’t just family—they were his rock.

That love was crystal clear when Jayden posted an emotional tribute on Instagram, showing their gravestone with the caption, “miss y’all ❤️.” Short and sweet, but if you know, you know. Losing both of them in 2021 because of COVID hit him hard. “You think grandparents will live forever,” he said. “But moving through that grief, as hard as it was, taught me something important. It opened up my perspective on life. I learned that you really gotta love the ones that love you, because you never know when that time might be up.” He gave a clear message.

His grandpa, William—aka Papa—wasn’t just his OG supporter. He was his bestie, his personal Uber driver (free of charge, of course), and the guy who always had his back. William was a U.S. Air Force vet who served in Vietnam, so discipline and toughness were in his DNA. But when it came to Jayden, he was all heart. “My grandpa was there every step of the way, for 20 years of my life,” Jayden said. “He was the one who always picked me up from school and took me to practice. We’d always be laughing and cracking jokes. He was like my best friend.” Imagine getting post-practice pep talks and fire life advice, all in one car ride.

And those car rides? Different. They weren’t just about getting from point A to B—Papa was out here dropping wisdom. Teaching Jayden how to move through life, stay humble, and never fold. So when Jayden lost him, he knew he had to make every game count. After a huge win against UCLA, he dedicated it to his grandpa, saying, “Getting a win for my grandpa that passed; yesterday was his birthday. It just felt good coming back home to play in front of family and friends.”

Then there was Betty, Jayden’s grandma—the real MVP. She wasn’t loud about it, but she was the glue of the fam. The one making sure Jayden stayed kind, stayed grounded, and never forgot where he came from. There’s not a ton of public info about her, but Jayden doesn’t need headlines to know her impact. She’s the reason he carries himself the way he does—with respect, humility, and a whole lot of love.

Losing them both within a month? Absolutely brutal. But instead of letting it break him, Jayden turned his pain into fuel. Now, every snap, every touchdown, every game—it’s for them. He’s keeping their legacy alive, one play at a time.

As he continues to ball out, one thing’s for sure: his grandparents are still with him, every step of the way. Maybe not in the stands, but in his heart, in his game, and in the way he moves through life. And if they were here? They’d be the loudest ones cheering.

“Till next time, bro” Jayden Daniels loses a close friend

On March 10, 2025, Jayden Daniels hit IG with a gut-wrenching story, sharing that he had lost a close friend. No extra details, no long speech—just straight from the heart: “till next time bro .. one thing u did was live life to the fullest 🙏🏼.” That alone says a lot. This wasn’t just some friend; this was someone who really left a mark on Jayden’s life. And from the sound of it, they knew how to make the most of every moment.

If there’s one thing about the NFL, it’s that friendships run deep. Spend enough time grinding together, and your teammates turn into your day-ones. Just look at Texans rookies Kamari Lassiter and Calen Bullock—people are already calling them “joined at the hip” because their bond is that strong. Eli Manning once put it best: “It’s rare to have a best friend who is also your brother and also an NFL football player. And he knows exactly what I’m talking about.” That’s the type of connection that makes every win sweeter and every loss hit hard.

For Jayden, this one hurts. Whether his friend was part of the football world or not, their energy clearly meant everything to him. Losing someone like that doesn’t just sting—it changes you. But the best way to honor them? Keep the same energy they had. Keep living life the way they did—fearless, full-speed, and with zero regrets.

The game doesn’t stop, but neither do the memories. Jayden knows that. And if there’s one thing about the people we lose, it’s that they never really leave us. They just become part of the story we keep writing.