Is Caleb Williams vs. Jayden Daniels a New Rivalry?
A new rivalry has begun to emerge in the NFL, and it’s one that might’ve just been created by the fans. Quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, have both been compared to each other the moment they were selected back-to-back in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Chicago Bears would select Williams with the first pick, while the Washington Commanders would select Daniels with the second pick. Williams would be the unanimous first choice around the league, making Chicago’s decision a relatively easy one after moving on from quarterback Justin Fields. After both teams had completely opposite seasons that saw the Commanders having much more success, fans around the league have ramped up this new rivalry even more.
Daniels would lead his team to a 12-5 record, resulting in a playoff appearance where they would advance to the NFC Championship. They would fall to the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, ending an impressive first season for the rookie quarterback. The former second overall pick threw for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his rookie season. This would also be enough to get him a Pro Bowl honor, marking the Commanders first rookie to be named to that award since Chase Young in 2020. When compared to how Williams fared in his rookie season with Chicago, it was a noticeably different outcome.
The Bears would have a 5-12 record, finishing last in the NFC North. While it wasn’t a perfect year for the former first overall pick, Williams wouldn’t be the main person at fault for the lackluster season. The Bears would have several coaching changes, where ultimately head coach Matt Eberflus would be fired during the season. Williams meanwhile, would throw for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. This wouldn’t be too far behind Daniels, who would have a much more productive coaching staff that helped develop the rookie. Chicago would once again struggle finding the right pieces to develop a quarterback, who would be sacked 68 times, which would be the third-most in NFL history.
Daniels and the Commanders would get the best of Chicago during the 2024 season, defeating them 18-15 after a game winning hail mary that would send the Bears season into a disaster. While Daniels was quiet for most of the night, the hail mary throw would help him finish the game throwing for 326 yards and a touchdown to defeat the Bears. Williams would struggle against the Commanders defense, throwing for 131 yards and 0 touchdowns. This game would heighten the rivalry that the fans created during the year, now leading into the 2025 season. Williams and his team will get an opportunity to play Daniels and the Commanders once again, in a Week Six matchup in Washington.
