It’s safe to say that Jayden Daniels is having an outlier rookie season in the NFL. His athletic talent and football IQ are off the charts, but so is his winning mindset strategy. What makes the Washington Commander’s young quarterback so mentally tough? It starts with being present.
“You got to learn to not let bad plays stack on top of the bad plays. If you have a bad play, you move on to the next play. And you can’t really focus on anything that’s in the past; you got to worry about the present, be where your feet are,” Jayden Daniels said in an interview with David Harrison, Washington Commanders SI writer.
“I think that’s probably one of his strongest traits is that he can process it really quickly and be onto the next play. He wants to be perfect, he wants to play great, he wants to win every rep, but once the play is over, he’s onto the next one really quickly. And that’s not easy to do as a young player or (even) an established player,” added offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
In another interview with SNF on NBC, Daniels talks about his “next play mentality.” He said that growing up he learned the importance of staying “even-keeled.” For him, it doesn’t matter if they are winning or losing, his teammates look to him to stay calm and centered. It’s a job that he takes tremendous pride in. He has practiced controlling his emotions and staying focused for so long, that the quarterback says it’s now who he is, and not something he has to think about.
The “on to the next one” mentality is one that Daniels brought with him from LSU into the NFL.
Learning to stay in the now, takes training and a lot of reps. You have to spend time on activities like meditation, which helps you to slow down your thoughts so that you can learn to react instead of respond, build concentration, and focus on the present. Outside of training, you have to get in the reps of applying mindfulness in your daily life inside and outside of sports. Let’s take a look at what mindfulness is and what it isn’t.
Many athletes use the principles of mindfulness to help them stay present in the moment.
With a mindfulness mentality:
If mindfulness is one side of the coin, mindlessness is the other. Here are some ways to help you spot the differences:
Feels calm and clear = Mindfulness
Feels chaotic and rushed = Mindlessness
Focused on the present = Mindfulness
Stuck in the past or future = Mindlessness
Gentle awareness of thoughts = Mindfulness
Spiraling or racing thoughts = Mindlessness
Responding intentionally = Mindfulness
Reacting impulsively = Mindlessness
Feels steady, like inner stillness = Mindfulness
Feels scattered, like chaos = Mindlessness
Accepting what is = Mindfulness
Resisting or overthinking what isn’t = Mindlessness
State of allowance = Mindfulness
State of overwhelm = Mindlessness
1- Focus on the Present Moment
Mindfulness trains your mind to stay grounded in the present instead of dwelling on past mistakes or future outcomes. It’s doing what you need to do in the moment and trusting that your training, practice, and experience will pay off. It’s being confident that you’ll make the right decision even in split-second moments. Being fully present leads to better focus, decision-making, and execution.
2 – Let Go of Attachment
Attachment to outcomes—winning, scoring, or even perfection—can create unnecessary pressure and anxiety. Mindfulness helps you detach from these fixations by encouraging non-judgmental awareness. It allows you to embrace challenges without being defined by them. When you let go of attachment, you free your mind to perform unburdened by pressure or fear of failure.
3 – Cultivate Non-Judgmental Awareness
Often, self-criticism after a bad performance spirals into negative thinking. Mindfulness teaches you to observe your thoughts and emotions without labeling them as good or bad. It also teaches you that both good and bad experiences have equal value. Instead of judging yourself, use this awareness to identify areas for growth while maintaining confidence and resilience. This creates a balanced mindset, which is essential for long-term success.
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