Undrafted rookie QB Daniels savors Thursday night win vs. Cowboys - ESPN

Stepping in for injured starter Baker Mayfield for the second straight week, and doing so on a shortened week, Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels became the first undrafted rookie starting quarterback in the common draft era (since 1967) to win a game for a team that entered winless, leading Tampa Bay to a 24-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night at AT&T Stadium.

Daniels, the first rookie quarterback to start in the 2026 season, also became the fourth undrafted rookie to win a primetime game since 2000 and the second to do so on the road.

A six-year starter at the University of Kansas, Daniels completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, and added 23 yards on the ground. He was aided by running back Bucky Irving, who rushed for a career-high 165 rushing yards and scored a rushing and receiving touchdown. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who had gotten off to a slow start to the season, also had a rushing touchdown and led the team with six catches.

«I mean, it means everything,» Daniels said of the victory, which snapped the Bucs' 0-4 start. «Six months ago, if you would've told me that my first win would've been on a Thursday night, Prime football game, I don't know what I would've told you. So obviously take it all in, like I keep saying, through all the highs and lows, the bads and the goods. Go through every single emotion because, at the end of the day, it makes you better and prepares you for any situation that comes down the line.»

It wasn't Daniels' first win in the Lone Star State. During his sophomore season at Kansas in 2021, he led the Jayhawks to a 57-56 overtime victory over Texas, sealing the win with a walk-off, 2-point conversion pass to walk-on redshirt freshman fullback Jared