Having Jayden Daniels on the field Sunday signifies more than just a return to the football field for the Washington Commanders quarterback. Given he's able to go against the Los Angeles Chargers, it will also be the first time in his NFL career that Daniels will take the field in his home state of California.
Despite maintaining he's from the "Inland Empire" rather than being a "Los Angeles guy," Daniels shared what a homecoming means to him, regardless of whether he's able to play.
"It would mean the world," Daniels said during his Wednesday press conference. "I plan on having a lot of people attend the game and it's my hometown, so to be able to play back in my hometown as a pro, it would mean everything."
As much as the return to the West Coast matters to him, Daniels' homecoming signifies just as much to his hometown of San Bernardino and his alma mater, Cajon High School. Following Daniels' 2023 Heisman Trophy win, Cajon renamed its football stadium in his honor to "Jayden Daniels Stadium," as well as San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran presenting Daniels with a key to the city and declaring January 20 "Jayden Daniels Day" in the city.
Just a two-hour car ride from SoFi Stadium, Daniels played football all four years for the Cajon Cowboys and maintains one of the best high school football careers in the California Interscholastic Federation. He graduated with 14,007 passing yards, 3,645 rushing yards, 211 touchdowns, leading the Cowboys to two Citrus Belt League championships in 2017 and a 44-10 record from 2015-2019. Daniels' overall passing yards and touchdowns set California Interscholastic Federation records.
Forty minutes southwest of Cajon, linebacker Bobby Wagner attended school at Colony High School in Ontario, California. Despite graduating when Daniels was just 7 years old, the two initially bonded over their shared area code.
"I think that's kind of the ice breaker," Daniels said. "You know, we're both from the same area, we both have the same area code on our phone -- the 909. So that was kind of the ice breaker and then we just had to figure out the little things from there."
"Us being from the same area, the Inland Empire, and knowing what he went through to get to where he's at and his humility, it's easy to just click here," Wagner added.
The realization of their shared "Inland Empire" -- the metropolitan region of Southern California east of Los Angeles -- upbringing kick-started a bond between the 13-year veteran and now-sophomore player. Despite the occasional banter and ridicule between the two, Daniels often relies on Wagner for advice and knowledge beyond the football field. The close bond is perpetuated by the locker room, in which Daniels' and Wagner's lockers are catty-corner to each other.
Now in Year 14 -- and having played for the Los Angeles Rams in 2022 -- the feeling of playing in California still doesn't get old for Wagner. He's looking forward to returning to the state for the first time since Week 11 of the 2023 season as a member of the Seattle Seahawks.
"Any time I can play at home in California is fun," Wagner said. "My mom is buried there so it's always cool."
No matter what happens Sunday, both Wagner and Daniels are sure to make their home state proud. They'll both be playing in front of numerous family and friends, making a road trip feel a little more like home.
