Free-agent quarterback Marcus Mariota is returning to the Washington Commanders on a one-year, $8 million deal, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday.
Mariota served as rookie Jayden Daniels' backup with the Commanders in 2024. Daniels and the coaches often praised Mariota for his mentorship of the rookie, but he also helped Washington win two games after the rookie starter was injured.
Mariota, 31, played the final three quarters in a 40-7 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 7 and completed 18-of-23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns.
In the regular-season finale, Mariota replaced Daniels at halftime and led a 23-19 comeback road win against the Dallas Cowboys. He completed 15-of-18 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns -- including the game-winning 5-yard pass to receiver Terry McLaurin with 2 seconds remaining -- and also ran for a score.
Mariota, the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner, spent the first five seasons of his career with Tennessee after being drafted second overall. He spent two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020-21 followed by one-year stints with the Atlanta Falcons (2022) and Philadelphia Eagles (2023) before joining Washington last season.
He has mostly served as a backup since leaving Tennessee, with the exception of his time in Atlanta when he started 13 games.
Mariota has played in 93 games, starting 74. He has thrown for 16,184 yards and 97 touchdowns with 55 interceptions. He has also rushed for 2,156 yards and 18 scores.
