Wait, so are they or aren’t they? If you’ve spent more than five minutes on sports Twitter or scrolled through TikTok lately, you've probably seen the rumors. People are convinced that Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and USC basketball sensation JuJu Watkins are related. Specifically, the word on the street is that they're first cousins.
The internet loves a good "athletic dynasty" narrative. It makes sense, right? Both are superstars from Southern California. Both have that "it" factor. And honestly, they’ve been seen together enough that people started connecting dots that might not even exist.
But if you’re looking for the short answer to the question are juju and jayden daniels cousins, here it is: No. They aren't. Not even a little bit.
The Rumor That Wouldn't Die
Social media is a weird place. One person tweets a "fun fact" without a source, it gets a thousand retweets, and suddenly it's gospel. The specific rumor floating around claimed that Jayden’s mom, Regina Jackson, and JuJu’s mom, Sari Watkins, are sisters.
It sounds plausible. They both grew up in the same general area of California. They’re both incredibly supportive "sports moms" who are often seen in the stands. But if you actually look at the family trees, the branch just doesn't connect.
Sari Watkins has four sisters. She’s been pretty open about her family life, especially in the 2024 docuseries On The Ride: JuJu Watkins. Guess who isn't mentioned as one of those sisters? Regina Jackson.
On the flip side, Regina Jackson is a bit of a social media star herself. Back in 2014, she posted for National Siblings Day on Instagram. She tagged her sisters. Sari Watkins was nowhere to be found. Unless there’s a secret family cover-up worthy of a Netflix thriller, these two women didn't grow up in the same house.
Why Everyone Thought They Were Related
So, where did this even come from? It mostly boiled down to a viral courtside moment.
Back in March 2025, Jayden Daniels was spotted at a USC game. He was sitting with JuJu Watkins. They were laughing, chatting, and doing a specific handshake that looked a little too practiced to be just a "nice to meet you" thing.
Then came the kicker.
Regina Jackson—Jayden's mom—was sitting right between them. Literally. Like a human barrier. The internet erupted. Half the people thought she was "cockblocking" a potential romance, while the other half claimed she was just being a protective auntie to her "nephew" Jayden and "niece" JuJu.
The "cousin" theory actually became the "safe" explanation for people who didn't want to speculate on their dating life. It's easier to say "Oh, they're just family" than to wonder if the NFL's brightest young QB and the face of women's college hoops are the next power couple.
Geography Plays a Part
Both athletes are SoCal royalty.
- JuJu Watkins grew up in Watts.
- Jayden Daniels is from San Bernardino.
In the world of elite youth sports in California, everyone knows everyone. They grew up in the same circles. They probably crossed paths at training facilities or Nike events long before they were household names. That kind of familiarity looks like "family energy" to an outsider, but it's usually just the bond of two people who have been in the grind together since they were ten years old.
Breaking Down the Family Ties
Let's look at the actual facts of their households because they are actually quite different.
Jayden Daniels is the son of Javon Daniels and Regina Jackson. His dad played cornerback at Washington and Iowa State. Jayden has an older sister, Bianca, and two half-siblings, Jordan and Janae. It’s a tight-knit group. Regina is even an NFLPA-certified agent (though she doesn't represent Jayden directly), showing just how involved she is in the business side of his life.
JuJu Watkins comes from a family with deep roots in Los Angeles. Her grandfather was Ted Watkins, a legendary community activist who founded the Watts Labor Community Action Committee. Her parents, Robert and Sari, have been the architects of her rise to stardom.
When you lay it out like that, the "cousin" theory falls apart. There's no crossover in the grandparents, no shared aunts or uncles that have ever been verified, and certainly no "secret" sisterhood between the moms.
The "Mom" Factor
Honestly, a lot of this noise is because of Regina Jackson. She’s become a bit of a lightning rod for fans.
Whether she’s sitting between Jayden and JuJu at a game or appearing in his interviews, she’s always there. Some fans find it overbearing; others think it’s exactly what a young star needs to stay grounded in the shark-infested waters of professional sports.
When that video of her sitting between the two stars went viral, a Twitter user joked, "Poor JuJu and Jayden, cousins can't even smile at each other." That one joke was taken as a literal fact by thousands of people. It’s a classic case of a meme becoming "truth" through sheer repetition.
Are They Dating Then?
If they aren't cousins, are they a couple? That’s the $64,000 question.
They’ve done nothing to stop the rumors. In October 2025, after a Commanders win, the team's official social media account posted a video of them together with heart emojis. That’s basically gasoline on a fire.
They have a "special handshake." They support each other at games. They both represent Nike. But neither has ever confirmed a romantic relationship. In this era of athlete branding, they might just be two "friends" who know exactly how to keep the internet talking. Keeping people guessing is great for engagement, after all.
The Reality of Modern Sports Rumors
We live in an age where "sources" are often just random Reddit threads. The are juju and jayden daniels cousins saga is a perfect example of how quickly misinformation spreads when it sounds good.
It’s a cool story. Two generational talents, both from the same area, both dominating their sports, and they’re family? People want to believe that. It feels like a movie. But reality is usually a bit more mundane. They’re likely just two highly successful, high-profile young people who relate to each other’s lives in a way few others can.
What You Should Actually Follow
Instead of worrying about their DNA results, it's way more interesting to watch what they’re doing on the field and the court.
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- Jayden Daniels is busy rewriting the rookie record books for the Commanders.
- JuJu Watkins is arguably the most exciting player in the NCAA right now, carrying the torch for USC.
- Both are massive icons for the next generation of California athletes.
Final Verdict on the Cousin Connection
To put this to bed: JuJu Watkins and Jayden Daniels are not cousins. The rumor started because of a misunderstood joke and a viral video of Jayden's mom. While they share a bond as Southern California athletes and clearly enjoy each other's company, there is no biological link between the Jackson and Watkins families.
If you want to keep up with what's actually true, stop looking at "random person on X" and start looking at their actual family histories. Both athletes have been very transparent about who raised them and who their siblings are. Regina Jackson and Sari Watkins are not sisters, and their kids are not cousins.
Next Steps for the Curious Fan:
If you're interested in the real story of these athletes, check out the On The Ride docuseries for JuJu's background or Jayden's interviews with The Pivot podcast, where he talks extensively about his actual family dynamics and his relationship with his mother. Watching those will give you a much better sense of who they are than any viral TikTok rumor ever could.