Before Thursday night, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels was far from a "household name" in the NFL. Make no mistake: Big-time fans and likely Buccaneers followers knew Daniels' impact on the college football landscape, but few knew what to expect when the Buccaneers traveled to face the Dallas Cowboys in Jerry's World on Thursday Night Football.
What they got was one of the season's most surprising upsets, with the undrafted rookie out of Kansas at the helm.
After falling behind 7-0 early in the first quarter, Daniels led the Buccaneers to 24 points over the next two quarters and ultimately to a 24-16 victory. In just his second NFL start, Daniels led the Bucs to Dallas to face a team mentioned as a contender, earning his first victory as a starter.
And after the game, the 23-year-old quarterback's response was as humble as you'll find.
"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," Daniels said.
WATCH: "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."#Bucs QB and undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels says his first win in the NFL means everything. pic.twitter.com/NGzaloMCVo
— Mark Skol, Jr. (@markskoljrTV) October 9, 2026
The quarterback spoke about the "highs and lows" that come with playing the position and football in general, and showed a mindset that was as impressive as the win he led Tampa Bay to on Friday.
Daniels wrapped up the night completing 19-of-25 passes for 189 yards and one touchdown, while tacking on 23 rushing yards. It's unclear how long he'll be under center for the Buccaneers, but fans hope his performance in this game can spark a run after a winless first four games.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Bucs QB Jalon Daniels had 1 humble message after upset win over Cowboys
