Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels broke the franchise’s rookie rushing record against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football. Daniels ran for 127 yards in the 30-24 overtime victory, bringing his season total to 864 yards with six touchdowns. The record was previously held by Robert Griffin III, who had 815 yards during the 2012 season.
As a graphic showing Daniels and Griffin’s rookie seasons appeared on the screen, Griffin was shown without the “Redskins” logo on his jersey, a nod to the team’s name change in 2020. The team was previously known as the Washington Redskins before changing its name to the Washington Football Team and eventually the Commanders.
Griffin’s rookie season was marked by his Pro Bowl appearance and being named the NFL’s Rookie of the Year. Daniels is on a similar trajectory, having led the Commanders back to the postseason and being the best quarterback to come out of the 2024 class so far.
The Redskins name has been a source of controversy for years, with former owner Daniel Snyder ditching it in 2020. The franchise has since been known as the Washington Football Team and the Commanders. Recently, the new ownership group led by Josh Harris has worked with federal lawmakers to revive the old logo in some capacity.
Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., has backed a bill that would allow the franchise to use the RFK Stadium site as its home in the future, pending “good faith negotiations” that the league and the franchise would honor the Blackfeet chief logo that the organization used for decades.