Two Inland Empire products — both quarterbacks — played big roles in the first weekend of the NFL playoffs.
Jayden Daniels, a graduate of San Bernardino’s Cajon High School, led the Washington Commanders to victory over the the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night, Jan. 12. It was the team’s first playoff win since 2006.
A day earlier, C.J. Stroud, who graduated from Rancho Cucamonga High School, guided the Houston Texans to victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Both quarterbacks will return to the spotlight next weekend as their teams advance down the road heading to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 9.
Daniels, a rookie quarterback who won last year’s Heisman Trophy while at Louisiana State University, hasn’t forgotten his Inland roots.
Last month, he gifted members of Cajon’s football squad with a pair of Beats headphones and sent his dad to campus with the presents. Daniels took part in the presentation via a video call.
The city hasn’t forgotten Daniels either. It staged a parade to honor him after his Heisman victory and renamed Cajon High’s football stadium as Jayden Daniels Stadium.
Stroud was a finalist for the Heisman in 2021 and 2022, and was named last season’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Next up, Daniels and the Commanders will take on the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions.
Stroud and the Texans will face the powerful Kansas City Chiefs, the No. 1 seed in their conference and the defending Super Bowl champions going for an unprecedented third consecutive Vince Lombardi trophy.
