Heisman NFL Vets Pivoting To Mentor Roles Later In Careers

Just like Halloween and holiday decorations, it feels like NFL training camps pop up earlier each year.

As such, 2024 Heisman winner Travis Hunter will begin his first NFL training camp on July 19 when all Jacksonville Jaguars rookies are due to report. His first practice is set for July 24 and their first preseason game is scheduled for Aug. 9.

The Washington Commanders are set to open camp July 27, which will feature a pair of Heisman winners in 2014 recipient Marcus Mariota and 2023 winner Jayden Daniels.

Mariota has been around the NFL block a bit at the ripe old age of 31. He is entering his 11th NFL season with six years as a starter under his belt and another four as a backup.

In his more recent role as a No. 2 QB, Mariota has evolved into a trusted mentor for young signalcallers. He is entering his second season as the reserve QB in Washington and will again backstop for Daniels, one of the league’s young breakout stars.

Mariota has also forged a mentor-mentee relationship with fellow Oregon Duck alum and Hawaii native — and Heisman finalist — Dillon Gabriel, who is a rookie with the Cleveland Browns.

Asked recently about the pivot in his career, where his role as a mentor is as valuable as his ability to run an offense, Mariota said: “I just try to help anywhere that I can. Those guys have an unbelievable foundation. They really are kind of taking the game a step further and wherever I can help, wherever I can make a difference for them I try to.”

Said Gabriel on what he appreciates about Mariota as well as on his impact as a mentor: “(I appreciate) his ability to continue to respond and keep fighting. His career wasn’t perfect in any way early, but you see a guy who’s been an elite teammate and great guy in the building. Also, he continues to try and play at a high level. I think the ebbs and flows and the ups and downs he’s continued to fight through – I think you can learn a lot from somebody like that as well as him being an Oregon Duck and that connection in Hawaii. He’s a trailblazer for us all. Just appreciate anything he can tell me and be able to share with me so I can be a sponge and learn from him.”

Washington Head Coach Dan Quinn also articulated the value of Mariota’s role with Daniels during his rookie season.

“In a perfect scenario, a young quarterback would have a leader to also learn from, but perfect rarely happens. But we do have that in Marcus Mariota,” Quinn said earlier this year. “Him sharing nine years of gold with Jayden, I think, has been something that’s really cool for us to see. Rookie quarterbacks usually don’t get that, and we do.”

2013 Heisman winner Jameis Winston is all of about 10 weeks younger than Mariota. Like Mariota, Winston, now a likely backup with the New York Giants, has plenty of gas left in the tank when his number is called. But he has also clearly entered the mentor part of his NFL career.

He served as an inspirational leader as a mid-season starter in Cleveland in 2024 and his upbeat spirit has made him a league-wide fan favorite. 

Now in the Big Apple, he will be leaned on to continue in that role, supporting a quarterback room that features fellow NFL veteran and likely starter Russell Wilson and rookie Jaxson Dart. 

Said Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., on what Winston brings to the locker room: “He’s the one that has the personality. He can really connect with everybody on the football team.”

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In other Heisman news, two Heisman winners are up for awards in the 2025 ESPYs, set to air on July 16.

The aforementioned Hunter is among four candidates for Best College Athlete, joining Duke men’s basketball player Cooper Flagg, Oklahoma State wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson and Cornell lacrosse star CJ Kirst.

Heisman winner Lamar Jackson is up for Best NFL Player, joining Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley and Denver’s Patrick Surtain II in the category.

To vote, click here.