The Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured their first win of the season Thursday night, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 24-16 on the road. It also marked Tampa Bay quarterback Jalon Daniels' first win as a starter, after the rookie signal caller began his career as an undrafted free agent. And if he keeps playing the way he has in his first two starts, it likely won't be his last.
Against the Cowboys, Daniels went 19-for-25 passing for 189 yards and one touchdown, and added 23 rushing yards. This makes him the only quarterback in NFL history to complete over 70% of his passes, throw a touchdown pass, and rush for 20 or more yards in his first two starts since quarterback starts began being tracked in 1950.
Since QB starts were first tracked in 1950, only
one QB has done the following in each of his first 2 NFL starts: completed 70% of his passes thrown a TD pass rushed for 20+ yards That one QB is Jalon Daniels. He was undrafted. pic.twitter.com/3oi08cnEhr
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) October 9, 2026
In his first start against the Packers this past Sunday, Daniels went 19-for-27 for 148 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw two costly interceptions in the loss. But even on a short week, Daniels looked much more prepared and protected the ball better against the Cowboys on Thursday. With the win over Dallas, Daniels became the first Kansas Jayhawks quarterback to start and win an NFL game since Bobby Douglass in 1977.
"It means everything," Daniels said about earning his first win as a starter. "Six months ago if you would have told me my first win would have been on Thursday night Prime football game, I don't know what I would have told you."
Baker Mayfield, who began the year as the team's starter, was knocked out of action with a thumb injury in Week 3, with an expected recovery time of three to six weeks. That means Daniels might not be back as a starter for the Buccaneers yet, and if he can keep racking up wins until Mayfield is healthy, he might cement his place as the new starting quarterback when it's all said and done.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Jalon Daniels makes NFL history in first win as Buccaneers starter
