A rising NFL star showed up to an important game on Sunday wearing merchandise for one of NASCAR's highest-profile drivers.
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Rookie Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels showed up at the stadium for Sunday's game against the Eagles wearing a bright red DoorDash jacket. This was not a simple piece of merch, however, as it featured sponsor logos for Dr. Pepper, Mobil 1, Root Insurance, and McDonald's. The jacket also featured Bubba Wallace's signature on each arm.
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels arrived to the stadium sporting a Bubba Wallace jacket.
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DoorDash sponsored Wallace for multiple seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series. The food delivery service first joined him in 2020 as he drove for Richard Petty Motorsports.
DoorDash then followed Wallace to 23XI Racing. The company sponsored him in several races between 2021-23. Wallace, who has two career Cup Series wins, posted a best finish of eighth with a DoorDash scheme on his No. 23 Toyota.
Daniels wearing a Wallace jacket is not the first example of a NASCAR-Commanders crossover this year. Another took place during training camp as Daniels prepared to kick off his rookie season in the NFL.
The driver in this earlier crossover was Ty Gibbs, who is one of Wallace's Toyota teammates. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver accompanied his grandfather, Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs, on a trip to training camp in August.
Gibbs took in a practice session and spent some time with the team. He also conducted a "jersey swap" with linebacker Bobby Wagner. This was not a standard swap considering that the young NASCAR driver didn't have an actual jersey to sign and hand over. He had to settle for part of the door from his No. 54 Toyota Camry.
As one NFL fan pointed out, Daniels showing up for Sunday's game against the Eagles "completed the circle." Coach Gibbs led the Commanders — then known as the Redskins — to three Super Bowl titles. He started Joe Gibbs Racing as he moved into NASCAR, and he hired driver Denny Hamlin.
Nearly two decades after joining JGR, Hamlin founded 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan. He hired Wallace to be his first driver. Four seasons later, Daniels represented Hamlin's driver and team while suiting up for the Commanders.
