Chase Daniel

Early years

Daniel prepped under head coach Todd Dodge at Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas, where the team won the 5A Division II state title in 2002 and 2004 as well as a state runner up in 2003. After playing his sophomore year at wide receiver, Daniel was a two-year starter at quarterback, leading his team to a 31-1 record in those years. Daniel completed 65.2% of his passes for 8,298 yards and 91 touchdowns and added 2,954 rushing yards and 39 scores. Southlake earned a No. 1 national ranking in 2004 after winning the 5A state championship, while Daniel won the 5A state Player of the Year. He was also named the EA Sports National Player of the Year.

As a junior, Daniel threw for 3,681 yards with 42 touchdowns to go along with nine interceptions. In addition, he ran for 1,529 yards with 18 touchdowns.

Despite his impressive statistics, Daniel was not recruited heavily by his preferred school, Texas. This presented an opportunity for Missouri to recruit him, and give him a chance to be part of a resurgent program. Ironically, it was only after he had committed to Mizzou that Longhorn coach Mack Brown began to seriously look at Daniel but Daniel stuck to his verbal commitment with Missouri. He was also offered scholarships from Maryland, Oklahoma State, Stanford, and Texas A&M.

During high school, Daniel was a member of National Honor Society, and a member of his school's student council for three years.

2005 season

Daniel was the primary backup quarterback for Brad Smith in the 2005 season and played in 10 games. He completed 38-of-66 passes for 247 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

2006 season

Daniel started all 13 games in 2006 as Missouri earned a berth in the Brut Sun Bowl. He threw for 3,527 yards with a 63.5 percent completion rate and 28 touchdowns. Daniel also set a school record for passing touchdowns in a game, racking up five scores in the season opener against Murray State. This was good enough for a Second Team All-Big 12 selection while he also was named to the First Team All-Academic Big 12 Team. Daniel was also one of the 35 quarterbacks placed on the 2007 Manning Award watch list.

2007 season

Daniel improved in 2007, throwing for 4,306 yards with a 68.2 percent completion rate and 33 touchdowns, with only 11 interceptions in 14 games. He also rushed for a net 253 yards and four touchdowns for a total offense of 37 touchdowns and 4,559 yards, which was good for an average of almost 326 yards per game.

On January 1, 2008, Missouri wrapped up a school-best 12-2 season with a 38-7 win over Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl. A week later, the Tigers were ranked #4 in the Associated Press' final poll — the highest final ranking in school history — and #5 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll. Daniel also announced he was returning for his senior season after putting his name in with the NFL College Advisory Committee to receive feedback for the NFL Draft.

On November 27, 2007, the Big 12 Conference named Daniel the Offensive Player of the Year. He is the first Missouri player to receive that honor.

On December 5, 2007, Daniel was invited by the Heisman Trophy Trust to go to New York City as one of four finalists. He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting with 425 points. He garnered 25 first-place votes, 84 second-place votes, and 182 third-place votes. He became the third Tiger to finish in the top ten. His fourth-place showing marks the second-highest finish in Heisman voting by a Missouri Tigers player, with Paul Christman the only one to finish higher (third in 1939).

2008 season

In the 2008 preseason, Daniel was named one of 26 candidates for the 2008 Unitas Award, given to the nation's best senior college football quarterback. Daniel continued to break virtually all Mizzou passing records, and in a two-game span against Southeast Missouri State and Nevada, he threw for more touchdowns (seven) than he did incomplete passes (six).

Daniel appeared on the front of ESPN the Magazine with teammate Chase Patton.

Daniel donned #25 in honor of fallen teammate Aaron O'Neal. O'Neal died before beginning his freshman year during practice in July 2005, and would have been a senior in 2008. The number rotated among the senior class that season.

Daniel became the Missouri career total offense yardage leader on December 6, with 13,256. He moved ahead of Brad Smith. Missouri finished with 10 wins and a #19 ranking in AP Polls.

Awards and honors

Professional career

Some scouts considered Daniel to be potentially among the best quarterbacks in the 2009 Draft, but they had concerns about his height and whether his skills in the college spread offense would translate to the very different game played in the NFL. Daniel's height was measured as 6 ft 0 in at the NFL Scouting Combine. He weighed in at 218 pounds. Daniel ran a 4.86 and 4.79 in the 40 and had a nine-foot broad jump in his Pro Day.

Washington Redskins

Daniel was not selected in the 2009 NFL Draft, but was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Washington Redskins. The Redskins waived Daniel when making their final roster cuts on September 5, 2009.

New Orleans Saints

Daniel was signed to the New Orleans Saints practice squad on September 6, 2009. He was promoted to the active roster on September 26, and named the emergency third quarterback for the September 27 game against the Buffalo Bills. The Saints waived Daniel on October 12, 2009 after placekicker Garrett Hartley (coincidentally, a teammate of Daniel's at Southlake Carroll High School) came back from a four-game suspension, then re-signed him on October 16. On November 17, 2009, ESPN reported that Daniel had been cut once again, to allow the Saints to sign cornerback Chris McAlister. He was signed to the team's practice squad once again on November 20, 2009. Daniel was released from the practice squad on December 9, 2009, only to be re-signed to the practice squad two days later on December 11, 2009. Daniel was promoted to the active roster prior to regular season finale on January 1, 2010. Daniel was a member of the New Orleans Saints Super Bowl XLIV Championship team, although he did not take the field that season.

Going into the 2010 season, Daniel was expected to battle with veteran Patrick Ramsey for the backup quarterback position behind Drew Brees. Daniel and Ramsey put up similar numbers during the preseason, but on September 3, it was reported that Daniel had been chosen as backup quarterback while Ramsey had been waived by the team. He signed a new one-year contract with the Saints in March 2012. Daniel continued as the primary backup to Brees, as well as the team's placekick holder, for the 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons.

Kansas City Chiefs

Daniel signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 12, 2013. For 2013 he was secured as the backup to Alex Smith. In Week 14 of the 2013 NFL Season, Daniel played in the game against the Washington Redskins and was 1 for 3 in passing with an interception. The Chiefs won that game 45-10. In Week 17, with the Chiefs locked into the #5 seed in the playoffs, Daniel started his first ever regular season NFL game, a 24-27 overtime loss to the San Diego Chargers, going 21/30 for 200 yards and one touchdown pass, while rushing for an additional 59 yards. Daniel's final 2013 stats were 248 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

Daniel returned to the Chiefs for the 2014 season as Smith's backup. Before week 17 against the Chargers, it was announced that Smith suffered a lacerated spleen and would miss the game and possibly the playoffs, giving Daniel the start on Week 17 for the second straight year. This time, Daniel led the Chiefs to a 19-7 victory over the Chargers. The victory eliminated the Chargers from playoff contention.

Philadelphia Eagles

On March 9, 2016, Daniel signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. In the 2016 season, Daniel was the backup to rookie Carson Wentz, who the Eagles used the second overall pick on.

On March 13, 2017, hours after the Eagles signed free agent quarterback and former Philadelphia Eagle Nick Foles, Daniel requested his release from the team, and was granted the request.

New Orleans Saints (second stint)

On March 29, 2017, Daniel signed a one-year contract to return to the Saints.

Statistics

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Personal life

Chase is the son of Bill and Vickie Daniel. He married his longtime girlfriend, Hillary Mullin, in 2014.

On March 5, 2011, Daniel announced that he was establishing and endowing an athletic scholarship to go to a Missouri football recruit from the state of Texas.