EWA BEACH, Hawaii — One does not simply reach a decade in the National Football League resting on one’s laurels.
“Sacrifice,” Marcus Mariota mused Monday of what it has taken to achieve staying power in a sport known for its high degree of turnover. The Washington Commanders signed the 30-year-old to a one-year deal for the upcoming 2024 season, which will be his 10th in the NFL.
The former Saint Louis School quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner at Oregon typically spends one of the five weeks of free time afforded to NFL players at this point on the offseason calendar by traveling home for some spiritual rejuvenation. Over Father’s Day weekend, Mariota, himself a young father, said he played catch with his dad for the first time in years.
For the next month, though, he will be in Oregon preparing for the rigors of the upcoming season with his alma mater’s strength and conditioning coach.
“It really comes down to choosing who you want to be around, pushing yourself to be the best version of yourself day in and day out,” Mariota said. “Never settling, never being content,” the veteran said. “And you know, you'll pick your head up after a few years and realize that you’ve played 10 years.”
Even in his one week back in the islands, Mariota has commitments. One of those was Monday, as he hosted the eighth annual Motiv8 Foundation Golf Tournament, a fundraiser for initiatives he supports year-round.
Last fall, Mariota notably stepped forward to aid Lahainaluna High School athletes in the wake of the wildfires that destroyed much of their community. In addition to a $10,000 donation, he bought red cleats for the Lunas football team in conjunction with the Downtown Athletic Club of Hawaii.
This tournament was at Hoakalei Country Club for the first time after seven years at Oahu Country Club. There was a conflict in Nuuanu this week; OCC is hosting the Manoa Cup for the state amateur match-play championship.
The Motiv8 event had an unmistakable Ducks flair, with yellow-and-green shirts ready for distribution and autographed Oregon memorabilia up for auction. A few former Ducks teammates milled about the clubhouse.
His Heisman Trophy anchored the room on a central table looking out to the Ernie Els-designed fairways.
“Hawaii made me who I am and but I was really able to kind of define myself as a person when I left,” Mariota said. “To bring those two worlds together, I think that's really important for me, because at the end of the day, I am who I am because of Hawaii and Oregon.”
(Mililani High alumnus Dillon Gabriel will wear Mariota’s No. 8 at Oregon this fall. Gabriel called Mariota to ask permission to wear it in his honor; Mariota, in his typically humble manner, said that was unnecessary.)
Mariota spent much of Monday’s fundraiser at the No. 12 hole, which features an island green, doing his best to keep his tee shot dry with each group passing through.
Washington is his fifth NFL team. The Commanders reportedly signed him to a $6 million deal with possibilities of reaching $10 million.
He last saw regular playing time with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022; Mariota served as Jalen Hurts’ backup with the Philadelphia Eagles last year and saw only spot action.
The Commanders spent the No. 2 overall pick on another Heisman Trophy winner, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels. Washington also has rookie Sam Hartman and veteran Jeff Driskel in the QB room.
Mariota – himself a former No. 2 overall pick – will be taking cues from new head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, as well as Tavita Pritchard, a former fellow Pac-12 quarterback of Samoan ancestry.
He is coming off OTAs and most recently Commanders minicamp held June 11 to 13.
“It's kind of crazy, right? It's a brand-new opportunity,” Mariota said. “It's a whole new franchise, ownership, coaching staff, I mean there's 40 free agents in there, that we all came together. So to be able to kind of do this whole thing together is a very unique opportunity.”
At spring minicamp, it was reported that the majority of first-team QB reps shifted from Mariota to Daniels.
Mariota said he respects Daniels’ work ethic. At Mariota’s introductory press conference in March, he said he was ready for whatever role the Commanders require of him.
“I’ve got no plans on stopping anytime soon,” he said. “And, you know, just enjoy this journey.”
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.