Hogs Haven
ESPN
As Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels made his way through the concourse of Capital One Arena following a Washington Capitals game in late April, he was forced to begrudgingly reach a conclusion about his status in the nation’s capital that many had known for months: He was a big deal.
All totaled, Daniels and his group needed 10 security guards and four ushers to help control the crowd at multiple points in the arena. And when he finally went to his car — around an hour after the game had ended — another hundred or so fans were waiting.
“From a security standpoint, this was our most challenging VIP for a game,” said Jeremy Bull, who is the director of event security for the arena. “We have everyone from presidents to congressmen on a regular basis. He was by far our biggest celebrity that other guests were interested in.”
For Daniels, who says he is happier hanging out with friends at home than going out, the extra attention he received at the game took him by surprise.
[A]s the world around him changed, Daniels, according to those who know him best, has not. And while that world around him remains impressed with all he accomplished in a dazzling Year 1, Daniels, who is kept grounded by his family and friends in his hometown of San Bernardino, California, is eager to turn the page and continue improving his game in Year 2.
Daniels was invited to appear for sit-down interviews on approximately 20 national shows, Mule said. Daniels also received as many as 20 endorsement opportunities. He was asked to go to Paris for a week in April to promote the NFL. He was invited to fashion shows in Milan and Paris, as well as the Cannes Film Festival.
Daniels declined most of the requests, passing on all but a handful of national interviews — turning down “Sundae Conversation,” “iShowSpeed,” all the fashion shows, Cannes and even “SportsCenter” in early July. (He did appear on the set when ESPN was at the Commanders’ practice July 27.) Otherwise, he has said no to all but several national media opportunities. And he rejected most of the marketing opportunities, especially if they interfered with his ability to train. He did go to Paris to promote the NFL, even spending half of his last day there getting his hair cut so he could land in California the next day and go train before heading to San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s wedding the following day.
“A lot of people say a lot of different things that kind of catch me off guard,” Daniels said, “like I changed their life, I saved their life and things like that. One person jokingly said I was the reason why the crime rate went down [in Washington] during football season last year.”
Daniels said he now understands the heightened interest others have...
