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‘Cheat code’ – Before Jayden Daniels gave Washington hope, forgotten QB had NFL’s best rookie season
Robert Griffin III was a brilliantly bright light that quickly burnt out. Before Jayden Daniels took over the NFL and moved within one win of the Super Bowl, another Washington rookie quarterback made history and had the entire league buzzing. GettyRobert Griffin III was ahead of his time in Washington[/caption] “RGIII was an absolute cheat code,” one fan tweeted. In 2025, Griffin is better known for his busy social media accounts and a controversial run as an NFL analyst on ESPN. Thirteen years ago, RGIII was the new face of the NFL, helping build a dual-threat foundation for Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Daniels and more. Like Daniels, Griffin won the Heisman Trophy. As a junior at Baylor, the Japanese born QB recorded 47 combined touchdowns on the way to a 10-3 record and 67-56 bowl game victory over Steve Sarkisian’s Washington Huskies. And just like Daniels, Griffin was taken No. 2 overall in the NFL Draft. While Caleb Williams went first to Chicago last season, Andrew Luck was the No. 1 selection by Indianapolis in 2012. Rookie brilliance followed for RGIII, who was soon leaping into the stands and being surrounded by screaming Washington fans. “Won me 3 fantasy leagues that year!” one fan tweeted. “Lamar Jackson is what RG3 was supposed to be,” a second fan posted. x@FootbaIIismRGIII had the speed and power of a running back while playing QB[/caption] x@FootbaIIismHe had Washington fans going crazy in the stands[/caption] x@RGIIINow Griffin follows the Commanders and keeps a close eye on Daniels[/caption] x@RGIIIHe proudly showed off a Daniels jersey after Washington made the NFC Championship[/caption] “He would of redefined the meaning of a mobile QB if he stayed healthy,” a third fan wrote. “Just think of what could have been,” a fourth fan said. Griffin’s rookie numbers still stun more than a decade later. He completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns and a 102.4 rating. The super-efficient Griffin only threw five interceptions and averaged a league-best 8.1 yards per pass. He also outran everyone, rushing 120 times for 815 yards, seven TDs and a league-high 6.8 yards per carry. The Commanders, then known as the Redskins, won the NFC East with a 10-6 record and finished the season on a seven-game winning steak. But 13 years later, a controversial knee injury is still the lingering memory from RGIII’s historic rookie season. After Baltimore’s Haloti Ngata hit the Washington QB’s right knee, Griffin sat out a game, then returned for a Wild Card playoff contest against Seattle. Poor numbers (10-of-19 passing for 84 yards) set up a 24-14 home defeat to the Seahawks. Even worse, RGIII re-injured his knee in the loss — it buckled and the pain was so bad that Griffin couldn’t recover a fumble. Surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL followed. As Washington head coach Mike Shanahan became the focus of blame, Griffin explained his career-changing decision as a 22-year-old rookie. “I think I did put myself at more risk,” Griffin said. “But every time you get on the field, you’re putting yourself on the line.” “They should have never played him in the playoffs on that knee, then rushed him back,” a fan tweeted. Soon after Daniels scorched the Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round and pushed Washington to its first NFC Championship game since 1991, Griffin posted a photo of himself running in the dark. He proudly spoke for more than 2 minutes, showing off a burgundy-and-gold jersey that featured Daniels’ name and No. 5 on the back. “The Washington Commanders just beat the best team in the NFC,” Griffin tweeted. “Jayden Daniels makes you believe they have what it takes to win a Super Bowl THIS YEAR. Hottest team in the NFL right now.” His words said even more. “You know why I’m out here running?” Griffin said. “It’s because I’m inspired by Jayden Daniels. Rookie greats ROBERT GRIFFIN III in 2012 Total yards: 4,015 Total TDs: 27 Team record: 10-6, NFC East first place Awards: Offensive Rookie of Year, Pro Bowl College: Heisman Trophy (Baylor), No. 2 pick JAYDEN DANIELS in 2024 Total yards: 4,459 Total TDs: 31 Team record: 12-5, NFC East second place Awards: Pro Bowl College: Heisman Trophy (LSU), No. 2 pick “You ever have somebody tell you you were wrong about something, that you knew you were right about? “People like you and me, we see the truth.” The 24-year-old Daniels has brought hope back to Washington in 2025. He’s the expected Offensive Rookie of the Year after completing 69 percent of his passes for 3,568 yards, 25 TDs and a 100.1 rating, while adding 891 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. And just like RGIII in 2012, Daniels is inspiring Washington with the power of believing in a rookie QB who can seemingly do every
Robert Griffin III was a brilliantly bright light that quickly burnt out.
Before Jayden Daniels took over the NFL and moved within one win of the Super Bowl, another Washington rookie quarterback made history and had the entire league buzzing.
“RGIII was an absolute cheat code,” one fan tweeted.
In 2025, Griffin is better known for his busy social media accounts and a controversial run as an NFL analyst on ESPN.
Thirteen years ago, RGIII was the new face of the NFL, helping build a dual-threat foundation for Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Daniels and more.
Like Daniels, Griffin won the Heisman Trophy.
As a junior at Baylor, the Japanese born QB recorded 47 combined touchdowns on the way to a 10-3 record and 67-56 bowl game victory over Steve Sarkisian’s Washington Huskies.
And just like Daniels, Griffin was taken No. 2 overall in the NFL Draft.
While Caleb Williams went first to Chicago last season, Andrew Luck was the No. 1 selection by Indianapolis in 2012.
Rookie brilliance followed for RGIII, who was soon leaping into the stands and being surrounded by screaming Washington fans.
“Won me 3 fantasy leagues that year!” one fan tweeted.
“Lamar Jackson is what RG3 was supposed to be,” a second fan posted.
“He would of redefined the meaning of a mobile QB if he stayed healthy,” a third fan wrote.
“Just think of what could have been,” a fourth fan said.
Griffin’s rookie numbers still stun more than a decade later.
He completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns and a 102.4 rating.
The super-efficient Griffin only threw five interceptions and averaged a league-best 8.1 yards per pass.
He also outran everyone, rushing 120 times for 815 yards, seven TDs and a league-high 6.8 yards per carry.
The Commanders, then known as the Redskins, won the NFC East with a 10-6 record and finished the season on a seven-game winning steak.
But 13 years later, a controversial knee injury is still the lingering memory from RGIII’s historic rookie season.
After Baltimore’s Haloti Ngata hit the Washington QB’s right knee, Griffin sat out a game, then returned for a Wild Card playoff contest against Seattle.
Poor numbers (10-of-19 passing for 84 yards) set up a 24-14 home defeat to the Seahawks.
Even worse, RGIII re-injured his knee in the loss — it buckled and the pain was so bad that Griffin couldn’t recover a fumble.
Surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL followed.
As Washington head coach Mike Shanahan became the focus of blame, Griffin explained his career-changing decision as a 22-year-old rookie.
“I think I did put myself at more risk,” Griffin said. “But every time you get on the field, you’re putting yourself on the line.”
“They should have never played him in the playoffs on that knee, then rushed him back,” a fan tweeted.
Soon after Daniels scorched the Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round and pushed Washington to its first NFC Championship game since 1991, Griffin posted a photo of himself running in the dark.
He proudly spoke for more than 2 minutes, showing off a burgundy-and-gold jersey that featured Daniels’ name and No. 5 on the back.
“The Washington Commanders just beat the best team in the NFC,” Griffin tweeted.
“Jayden Daniels makes you believe they have what it takes to win a Super Bowl THIS YEAR. Hottest team in the NFL right now.”
His words said even more.
“You know why I’m out here running?” Griffin said. “It’s because I’m inspired by Jayden Daniels.
Rookie greats
ROBERT GRIFFIN III in 2012
Total yards: 4,015
Total TDs: 27
Team record: 10-6, NFC East first place
Awards: Offensive Rookie of Year, Pro Bowl
College: Heisman Trophy (Baylor), No. 2 pick
JAYDEN DANIELS in 2024
Total yards: 4,459
Total TDs: 31
Team record: 12-5, NFC East second place
Awards: Pro Bowl
College: Heisman Trophy (LSU), No. 2 pick
“You ever have somebody tell you you were wrong about something, that you knew you were right about?
“People like you and me, we see the truth.”
The 24-year-old Daniels has brought hope back to Washington in 2025.
He’s the expected Offensive Rookie of the Year after completing 69 percent of his passes for 3,568 yards, 25 TDs and a 100.1 rating, while adding 891 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
And just like RGIII in 2012, Daniels is inspiring Washington with the power of believing in a rookie QB who can seemingly do everything on the field.
“Jayden Daniels might be having the best rookie quarterback season of all time. Like, of all time,” talkSPORT NFL Run Down host Will Gavin exclusively said.
“That is a huge statement to make. And I think if he wins on Sunday, I think he takes that moniker.”
The Commanders face the Eagles on Sunday in Philadelphia.
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