In the region surrounding the nation's capital, there's little doubt what quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders built in 2024 was the start of something special.
How special could it be? Look across town, where the NHL's league-best Washington Capitals have become the first team this season to clinch a playoff berth.
And their iconic superstar Alex Ovechkin is seven goals away from surpassing Wayne Gretzky to become the league's all-time leading goal scorer.
The Capitals are a staple of the D.C. lifestyle. This is a reflection of what has been a proud winning identity throughout Ovechkin's career.
Commanders should draw inspiration from Capitals' remarkable achievements
They won the Stanley Cup in 2018. They've made the playoffs in 16 of the past 18 seasons. They have additional supporting players who will spend their entire careers in Washington, getting their sweaters hung in Capital One Arena's rafters and perhaps even going into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
This has fostered a culture that's brought D.C. residents together to support their Capitals. The magnitude of having a player like Ovechkin on the verge of history, with a consistently competitive environment around him, makes their games mean more.
You can't go to a sports bar anywhere in the DMV and not see people decked out in red No. 8 gear, talking about the pending historical landmark we are all about to witness. It's a shared experience of joy and passion that this region can treasure.
For the Commanders, it's only a glimpse of what they might have going for them years down the line.
Historically, Washington's pro football franchise has carried the torch for its other teams. By nature of the NFL's popularity, the gridiron squad will always have the highest potential for fan engagement. For about the past 25 years that potential has not been met, and the Capitals have done their best to fill the void. Now, the foundation has been built for the Commanders' return to their place D.C.'s flagship team.
Daniels will have a hard time ever breaking the NFL's all-time touchdowns or passing yards record. However, he should become the undisputed face of D.C. sports once Ovechkin retires.
Star wide receiver Terry McLaurin is well on his way to being a Commanders' lifer who will one day retire as an icon of the city. More names and faces should join them in the coming years, provided Washington can maintain the standards set in 2024.
By the time the Daniels Era is closing, the Commanders could be an institution in D.C. like the Capitals are now.
A team that brings people together. A team with a sustained recent history of winning memories that fields living legends who fans must cherish while they're still around. A team whose place within the greater D.C. culture means more than sports.
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