Who is Athan Kaliakmanis? The 223rd pick suddenly carrying huge pressure for Commanders after Marcus Mariota injury

Athan Kaliakmanis was not expected to be Washington’s answer at quarterback this early in the season. The Commanders drafted him 223rd overall with their final pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and his original job was to learn behind Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota. That plan changed quickly. Daniels is out with a dislocated left elbow, and Mariota left Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts with a right knee injury. Kaliakmanis, once the third option, is now running Washington’s offense.Who is Athan Kaliakmanis and what is his college background?Kaliakmanis brings more experience than his draft position might suggest. The 6-foot-2, 216-pound quarterback started 42 of 48 college games between Minnesota and Rutgers. He first arrived at Minnesota, redshirted, then got his first start in 2022 when Tanner Morgan was injured. That was his first taste of being handed an offense with little warning.After a season as Minnesota’s starter, Kaliakmanis transferred to Rutgers with his brother Dino, a wide receiver. He finished his two seasons there with 5,820 passing yards and 38 touchdowns. His 2025 season was his best statistically, with 3,124 yards and 20 touchdown passes.There is also a personal story behind his unusual first name. Kaliakmanis is Greek American, and his father, Alex, chose Athan after seeing an icon of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria at a Greek Orthodox church in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. The quarterback also has a tattoo sleeve featuring the Greek word for family and uses the nickname “The Greek Rifle.”How did Athan Kaliakmanis win the Commanders’ No. 3 quarterback job?Washington did not simply hand Kaliakmanis the third quarterback spot because of his draft status. He earned it during the preseason, beating out Sam Hartman, who is now on the practice squad. His performance against Detroit made a strong impression. Kaliakmanis completed 11 of 14 passes for 162 yards, including a 55-yard completion to Nick Nash.That showing helped explain why Washington used its final draft pick on him. General manager Adam Peters pointed to his “arm talent, his moxie, his competitiveness.”Kaliakmanis entered Washington knowing he was not supposed to be the focal point. “This is not my team. This is Jayden Daniels’ team,” he said after the draft, making clear that his initial goal was to learn and support the starter.Now the situation is different. His immediate future depends on the health of both Daniels and Mariota. But the rookie has already shown that sudden responsibility is not entirely new to him.For a player selected with the 223rd pick, this is a much bigger opportunity than Washington originally planned to give him. It is also a test of whether his college experience can translate when the preparation time gets short and the margin for error gets smaller.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.