Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gives Washington’s Jayden Daniels the nod for the better rookie season.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels had one of the best rookie seasons of all time, but was it the best? Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a strong case of his own, but he doesn’t think it’s close.
“He was playing much better football than I was as a rookie,” Roethlisberger said on the latest episode of “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger.” “I was just trying to survive, and he was leading the team. I was fortunate that I had a group of guys around me that were veterans, that we had a great defense, and we had Jerome (Bettis) and guys that they didn’t have to lean on me like the Commanders leaned on him. He was playing great football. I enjoyed watching him down the stretch.”
Roethlisberger and Daniels had very similar rookie years. Daniels tied Roethlisberger’s rookie record for the most wins by a rookie quarterback in NFL history with 14. Ultimately, he lost in the conference championship game just as Roethlisberger did in 2004.
However, like Roethlisberger said, it’s not difficult to argue against the fact that Daniels had much less to work with around him. Roethlisberger had the No. 1 scoring defense as a rookie. Daniels had the No. 18 ranked.
Rookie QBs to start a title game, and where their teams’ scoring defenses ranked:
Brock Purdy – 1st
Mark Sanchez – 3rd
Joe Flacco – 3rd
Ben Roethlisberger- 1st
Shaun King- 3rd
Jayden Daniels – 18th pic.twitter.com/vWT6Cy6O4P— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) January 19, 2025
Daniels also had better numbers than Roethlisberger did.
In 2004, Roethlisberger threw for 2,621 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on his way to having one of the best rookie seasons of all time.
In 2024, Daniels threw for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for 891 yards and six touchdowns.
That’s why Roethlisberger believes the sky is the limit for the Commanders’ rising star.
“What I’ve seen, if he continues to improve, he’s going to be a game changer for a long time,” Roethlisberger said. “For Jayden Daniels to get to that point is an awesome kind of feather in your cap type thing. I know it didn’t end the way he wanted it to, but to get there, to lead your team. I was just trying to survive.”
Roethlisberger went on to win Super Bowl XL in just his second season. Will Daniels follow suit in 2025?
