Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis has already made an impact for his new team, even before taking his first practice rep at training camp.
His first win in Washington came away from the field.
At Great Wolf Lodge Maryland, Kaliakmanis took part in the inaugural NFC East Rookies Challenge and helped raise $13,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington. The three rookies involved combined to bring in $36,000. The event paired rookies from across the division with small groups of kids in a series of competitions inside the resort’s indoor water park, giving the day a playful rivalry feel with a charitable twist.
Kaliakmanis represented the Commanders, while New York Giants rookie offensive lineman Francis "Sisi" Mauigoa and Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Markel Bell also competed. Kaliakmanis won the Wave Pool and Lazy River challenges and finished as the NFC East Rookies Challenge Champion. Bell took the Hoops Challenge for Philadelphia, and Mauigoa won the Water Slide Race for New York.
For Kaliakmanis, the result was about more than a title.
“I thought it was an amazing experience to be part of the competition benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs at Great Wolf Lodge,” Kaliakmanis said. “Being able to raise money for a better cause has always been something that I’ve wanted to do, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. It meant everything to me.”
That event served as a fitting early snapshot of a rookie still carving out his place in Washington. In a Q&A, Kaliakmanis talked about what drew him to the Commanders, what he’s learning from Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota, and how he’s approaching his first NFL opportunity.
He said he wants people to know how much he loves the position and the game itself, and that he’ll keep working to “incrementally grow every single day.”
When he was drafted, Kaliakmanis said his first thought was gratitude - first for God, then for the journey that got him there, and for his family being part of that moment. He called it a collective effort.
Washington, he said, felt right for several reasons. After his visit, he wanted to play for the coaching staff, liked the area, and saw value in being around a quarterback room filled with experience. He said he “couldn’t have asked for a better situation.”
That room has already shaped his early days with the Commanders. Kaliakmanis said he’s been taking in as much as he can from Jayden, Marcus and Sam, and that their experience has helped him tremendously.
He had especially high praise for Jayden Daniels, calling him “an incredible leader and athlete.” Kaliakmanis added that the way Daniels treats people stands out and that the energy he brings to the building is contagious. He also said Daniels’ confidence and decisiveness are qualities he’s trying to absorb every time he steps on the field.
Looking back on his college path, Kaliakmanis described it as a stretch filled with change and adversity. The biggest lesson, he said, was to live exactly where his feet are and not get caught up in what happened before or what might come next. In the moment, he said, the only thing that mattered was putting his team in position to execute the play.
He also said his mindset changed through a greater intentionality in everything he did on the field and in the meeting room. Warm-ups, team periods, walkthroughs, lifting, conditioning and meetings all became part of the same standard, and he approached every rep like it was one for the Super Bowl.
Day to day, Kaliakmanis said he’s focused on getting better in small steps, avoiding the same mistakes twice and sharpening his decision-making.
As for what gives him the best chance to stick at this level, he pointed to his confidence and decisiveness. He said he trusts his eyes and doesn’t second-guess himself once he makes a decision. Right now, though, his biggest focus is learning the offense inside and out, down to every piece of information about every play.
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