Jayden Daniels' leadership is a throwback. I hope fans recognize and remember this.

[SkinsNumberOne]

Not so much here, but I have heard elsewhere some comments like:
"I wish Jayden would talk a little more to his teammates when he is off the field"
"I love Jayden but I wish he would be more fiery; it is not the same as Wagner's leadership style, which looks more correct to me"

Leadership comes in different forms, and yes, people respond to different types of leaders differently. Does everyone respond to aggressive "Michael Jordan" style leadership? Of course not. Does everyone need an in-your-face leader? Is that always best? No. Do people respond to quiet leaders, who lead by example? Certainly, some do, many do - but is it "perfect?"

I don't think there is a perfect style, but I recognize Jayden's current style. Maybe it will change, maybe not. However, I do recognize it easily.

It is the style of Art Monk, honestly; a guy who from all accounts, truly did not like talking much but was very visible working, working, working. The craft is what was important. Here is a great line about him: "It can be argued that the best teammates are those who deflect praise, say little, and lead by example." Sound familiar? (https://www.profootballhistory.com/art-monk/)

It is a style not of all players of the past, but it IS a demeanor that has largely disappeared especially from high-profile guys. Guys feel the need to be blowhards. Guys feel the need to run around and make noise. Guys feel the need to pump each other up. Hey sometimes it may be good to have that; for sure.

Here is a VERY COMMON refrain, I think we have all read and heard similar things:
“He cares. He wants to win, so we’re going to rally around that,” running back Jeremy McNichols said. “It’s so cool to see a young guy come in and know what it takes to win and to be great. … He doesn’t say too much, but the work he puts in speaks louder than what he verbally says.”

It is going to be really interesting, over the years to monitor. Will Jayden's leadership style change? Does it need to change?

I personally don't think it has to. His thing is staying completely EVEN no matter the situation. Running around and amping people up is going to be a totally different thing. I liked what I saw from him. If we need someone to do those other things, well, it's going to need to come from someone else. I don't really want him to have to change and I don't think it has to.

 

[bowhunter]

When you're under fire and at a do-or-die situation, seeing JDs smile and excitement for the next play speaks way louder than any rah-rah speech ever could.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Actually I have to correct my first line - many here seemed turned off by JD doing a dance when the team was down 14. That is precisely on-brand and consistent for JD.

He is having fun out there. He is unabashedly playing a game, and that is how he keeps it loose no matter what the situation. Every situation is exactly the same.

Week 1? Week 17? NGCCG? Super Bowl (hopefully)?

They are all the same.

Q1? Q4? Last minute drive? All the same.

That is how, though. A lot of people got put off when he did that dance, but guess what? For him, every play is its own situation, and he celebrates and has fun in that moment about that play. If everything works out, the W is there at the end. I personally understand it, and I like it, but I get that it's very different. He is remarkably, insanely consistent with this stance, though. I LOVE THAT.

^^ All of that is a part of how he is so even-keel in all circumstances.

 

[Commander PK]

All but a forgone conclusion, but Jayden just won Rookie of the Year on NFL Honors

 

[Boone]

I agree with the OP. The purest form of leadership is BY EXAMPLE. I was raised on this principle, and in the Marine Corps I tried to embrace it. I started as an enlisted man, and got out as an Infanty Company Commander. I always did more than expected, worked harder than anyone asked me to, and even as an officer, I wasn't afraid to get my hands dirty. I was in better shape as an officer in my 30's than the 17-21 year olds who made up the bulk on my unit.

When you do those things, those around you notice. And when you occasionally speak - they definitely listen.

That's the kind of guy Jayden Daniels is. And we already know it. After ONE season.

Leadership is never going to be an issue in DC as long as Jayden Daniels is under center.

 

[burgold]

The leadership style also just fits. Imagine a rookie coming in and bossing Ertz and McLaurin around. Telling them how it’s done and how to practice. They’d laugh at him.

He’s a leader in the huddle and at the snap. He’s a leader by being the first one in and the guy that knows the playbook best. And like others have said, he’s a leader by example.

He’s doing just fine.

 

[Chris]

I agree with the OP. The purest form of leadership is BY EXAMPLE. I was raised on this principle, and in the Marine Corps I tried to embrace it. I started as an enlisted man, and got out as an Infanty Company Commander. I always did more than expected, worked harder than anyone asked me to, and even as an officer, I wasn't afraid to get my hands dirty. I was in better shape as an officer in my 30's than the 17-21 year olds who made up the bulk on my unit.

When you do those things, those around you notice. And when you occasionally speak - they definitely listen.

That's the kind of guy Jayden Daniels is. And we already know it. After ONE season.

Leadership is never going to be an issue in DC as long as Jayden Daniels is under center.

Commander Boone ftw. 😎

 

[burgold]

Makes me think someone should grab the name Daniels Boone: Commander of the wild frontier.

 

[HTTR]

Man people are really stretching it for a nit to pick with this kid. As others have mentioned, fake leadership or pretend rah rah is meaningless. He just needs to keep doing what he’s doing. Working hard and staying humble is a great example for the other players. He could easily be a diva at this point if he were so inclined, but instead he continues to be the first one in the building every morning. That’s leadership enough for me.

 

[Discobob]

Daniels leadership style is a perfect fit for a rookie. Humble, not a "look at me" style, not brash..... he has some leaway to grow a little bit more vocal in future years, but this year his balance was perfect.... didn't come in and rub anyone the wrong way, just showed them why he's worth following.

The reaction of Nabers and Thomas to Jayden's success says alot about him as a teammate.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

They showed Maholmes amping up his teammates, yelling, talking about how they can win if they do xyz…

That isn’t Daniels style. I am totally good with that but I can see some thinking the QB needs to be more of a vocal leader. I am pretty sure there will be some on this board in that category; just my impression of how the percentages will work out with that opinion.

Another data point: I made this point before but it bears repeating, he danced after that score in the championship game and took some flak. That is part and parcel of the same characteristic; he is treating the game at that time as even. A score down 20 is the same as a score down 7 as a score up 7. So yes you get a small celebration of the score and then back to business.

I had 0 problem with it because that is my understanding of his mindset.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

I agree with the OP. The purest form of leadership is BY EXAMPLE. I was raised on this principle, and in the Marine Corps I tried to embrace it. I started as an enlisted man, and got out as an Infanty Company Commander. I always did more than expected, worked harder than anyone asked me to, and even as an officer, I wasn't afraid to get my hands dirty. I was in better shape as an officer in my 30's than the 17-21 year olds who made up the bulk on my unit.

When you do those things, those around you notice. And when you occasionally speak - they definitely listen.

That's the kind of guy Jayden Daniels is. And we already know it. After ONE season.

Leadership is never going to be an issue in DC as long as Jayden Daniels is under center.

Lead by example ALL OF THE TIME.
Speak WHEN YOU MUST.

If you speak all of the time, eventually it just noise. When you only speak when you must but your example is noticeably top notch, there will be pin drop silence for your words.

It happened with Art, it could be the same with Jayden and I would have no problem with it. They may need some other leaders who are a bit more vocal too, to complement it. Not sure.

 

[Knightingale]

I suspect Daniels may become a more vocal leader as and when he feels he's earned it.
The one thing that is clear with JD is that he's level-headed and poised and he doesn't let all the hype go to his head. He's been vocal in interviews about 'earning' his stripes. He wasn't give the QB1 job. He wasn't given the Captain's badge. He earned them through his play and his work effort.
He's sensible enough to know that you don't walk into the room and start bossing the McLAurin's and the Wagner's, and the Ertz's of the world before he's earned that right. As he grow in the role he may end up being more vocal or assertive.
But the thing is that he's doing fine. You can see it in how the team has bought into him. The players KNOW. They'll feel it in the lockerroom and it's pretty clear they KNOW right now who their leader is.

 

[TakeCommandRollTide]

Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts seem really similar in some ways to me. Both on the quieter side of leadership. Both very even tempered in every situation. Daniels I think is a little more charismatic but still a lot of similarities between the 2 personalities.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Jayden Daniels and Jalen Hurts seem really similar in some ways to me. Both on the quieter side of leadership. Both very even tempered in every situation. Daniels I think is a little more charismatic but still a lot of similarities between the 2 personalities.

I know what you mean - that Jalen doesn't do the rah rah yelling as much. However, Jalen has had some big tiffs with his coach. Jalen has also said a lot of lip service like "All I want to do is win" but then he has lines like "Coach took the straitjacket off of me" and similar lines, implying he can just turn on his amazing talent whenever. Sometimes those times, when guys get really amped, are when the real thoughts come out. The unfiltered thoughts.

You know what Jayden has said postgame, right after a win? He says stuff like:
Thanks to God for what happened.
Thanks to my teammates.

You know what he says when people compared him to other great rookies and players of NFL history?
I haven't done anything yet.

Yes, it's the same lip service you hear from other players, but the difference is there is 0 slip and the level of emotional maturity seems decidedly higher. I think Dak and Jalen are both more similar than either of them and Jayden. I don't think this is a homer-take, I am really taking off any biased glasses - he seems to be cut from a different cloth. Contrast this to the talk when there were complaints about him not being the presumptive #2 (supposedly)... right now, it just looks really, really good in terms of his personality. Of course, we haven't had extended losing to deal with, but for now it looks exceptionally good on his EQ front - uniquely good.

 

[TakeCommandRollTide]

I know what you mean - that Jalen doesn't do the rah rah yelling as much. However, Jalen has had some big tiffs with his coach. Jalen has also said a lot of lip service like "All I want to do is win" but then he has lines like "Coach took the straitjacket off of me" and similar lines, implying he can just turn on his amazing talent whenever. Sometimes those times, when guys get really amped, are when the real thoughts come out. The unfiltered thoughts.

You know what Jayden has said postgame, right after a win? He says stuff like:
Thanks to God for what happened.
Thanks to my teammates.

You know what he says when people compared him to other great rookies and players of NFL history?
I haven't done anything yet.

Yes, it's the same lip service you hear from other players, but the difference is there is 0 slip and the level of emotional maturity seems decidedly higher. I think Dak and Jalen are both more similar than either of them and Jayden. I don't think this is a homer-take, I am really taking off any biased glasses - he seems to be cut from a different cloth. Contrast this to the talk when there were complaints about him not being the presumptive #2 (supposedly)... right now, it just looks really, really good in terms of his personality. Of course, we haven't had extended losing to deal with, but for now it looks exceptionally good on his EQ front - uniquely good.

Idk, Jalen has received a lot of hate over the years despite the fact he keeps winning. I don't think he's ever said anything that makes him seem that boastful to me. Jalen Hurts is a class act and a really really good guy from everything I have seen and heard about him. I think Jayden is too

 

[Chris]

Idk, Jalen has received a lot of hate over the years despite the fact he keeps winning. I don't think he's ever said anything that makes him seem that boastful to me. Jalen Hurts is a class act and a really really good guy from everything I have seen and heard about him. I think Jayden is too

I will assume that you have a deeper knowledge of Jalen than most here due to his college career.

 

[Knightingale]

I’ll say one other thing…

Remember the Top Golf trip or whatever it was that they took the draft prospects too?
Genius.

I can absolutely imagine the JD we see today being the winner of that particular ‘interview’. He’s so calm, poised, likeable, competitive, humble… In a locker room full of Vets he quickly established a leader status. I can only imagine how he was in a room of his rookie peers.

 

[method man]

Idk, Jalen has received a lot of hate over the years despite the fact he keeps winning. I don't think he's ever said anything that makes him seem that boastful to me. Jalen Hurts is a class act and a really really good guy from everything I have seen and heard about him. I think Jayden is too

Big Dom and Brandon Graham had to go visit his house during the season to work with him to get him to fix his relationship with AJ Brown. That's a tell on his leadership