Antioch, IL Native Makes NFL Debut in London Game

For the first time in 21 years, a former Rutgers quarterback threw a pass in an NFL game. And he just so happens to be an Illinois native as well.

The Washington Commanders have been through the ringer this season, and it's not even Halloween. The team has been beleaguered with injuries, most notably to starting quarterback Jayden Daniels, and is now 1-3 and last in their own division. During their game in London on Sunday, October 4th against the Indianapolis Colts, backup quarterback Marcus Mariota suffered a knee injury, which resulted in third-stringer Athan Kaliakmanis making his NFL debut.

READ MORE: Green Bay Packers Turn to Former Wisconsin Badger for Offensive Line Help

The Unexpected Rise of Athan Kaliakmanis:

Kaliakmanis was selected by Washington in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft back in April, and his competitiveness and commendable preseason play led him to becoming the third quarterback on the team's depth chart. Prior to his debut on Sunday, the Antioch, IL native was hailed by the Commanders General Manager Adam Peters at the end of training camp:

Athan, we really just loved his arm talent, his moxie, his competitiveness. That’s what we saw on tape, and those are a lot of things you saw on the preseason tape. And just the way he could extend plays and made some plays under pressure, also standing in the pocket, making big-time throws. He made a lot of really big-time throws in the preseason, and that was something that we were really pleased to see. And he’s not afraid to rip it - Washington Commanders General Manager Adam Peters, per The Athletic

The 23-year-old originally played at Minnesota before transferring to Rutgers along with his brother, Dino. In two seasons as Rutgers' starting quarterback, he threw for 5,820 yards with 38 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

How Kaliakmanis Fared in His NFL Debut:

While Washington fell to Indianapolis in a 30-13 loss in London, Kaliakmanis wasn't afraid to air the ball out. He completed 15 of 33 passes for 186 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Six of his passes traveled over 30 yards, the most in any game this season thus far, which says something about how the Commanders coaching staff feels about his arm strength.

How long Kaliakmanis will serve as the Commanders' starting quarterback is unknown at this point. Daniels has returned to practice, and the expectation is that he will be healthy enough to play against the New York Giants this coming weekend after suffering a dislocated elbow. Should Daniels suffer a setback, and with Mariota's knee injury looking significant enough that he'll miss time, it's also unknown whether or not Washington will sign a veteran quarterback.

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Read more about Antioch, IL native Athan Kaliakmanis making his NFL debut on ESPN's website.