Chase Daniel was named to the SEC Football Legends Class of 2024

COLUMBIA, Missouri – Record-setting quarterback ChaseDaniel has been selected as the 2024 University of Missouri Southeastern Conference Football Legend, the conference announced Tuesday. Daniel, who played for the Tigers from 2005-08 before a 14-year NFL career, will be formally honored along with the rest of the SEC Legends Class of 2024 at events surrounding the SEC Championship Game on December 7 in Atlanta.

The Football Legends Class recognizes 16 former representatives from current SEC institutions who starred for their respective programs, including some, like Daniel, who competed in other conferences before their school joined the SEC.

Daniel is one of Mizzou University’s most decorated college football players and one of the most successful student-athletes in the university’s history. Daniel has rewritten the program’s record books and helped reshape the landscape of Mizzou football throughout his career. As a quarterback, he not only brought the Tigers national exposure, but also put the program on an upward trajectory that still matches his success in the SEC.

Daniel’s breakout college season came in 2006 when he took over the starting role and led the Tigers to an 8-5 season in which he passed for 3,527 yards and 28 touchdowns while completing 63.5% of his passes. His confidence in the team and his leadership skills began to spread throughout the team, setting the stage for one of the most remarkable seasons in Missouri football history.

The 2007 season will forever define Daniel’s legacy at Mizzou. Under his leadership, Missouri put together the most successful season in program history, finishing 12-2 behind one of the most prolific offenses in the country. Daniel orchestrated the spread attack with surgical precision, helping the team reach No. 1 in the national polls for the first time since 1960. His defining moment came on November 24, when Mizzou defeated arch-rival and No. 2 Kansas in the border war. When Daniel rushed for 361 yards and three touchdowns in the 36-28 victory, he secured a spot in Mizzou’s first of two consecutive Big 12 championship games and gave the Tigers a road win in the BCS national championship game.

By the end of the season, Daniel had put up impressive statistics, completing 68.2% of his passes for 4,306 yards and 33 touchdowns. He earned a trip to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist and ultimately finished fourth in the voting. As a junior, Daniel was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year and Second-Team All-American.

Daniel returned to his senior season in 2008 with unfinished business. He continued to set records and lead Mizzou to success during the 10-4 season, including another trip to the Big 12 Championship Game. In his final collegiate season, Daniel passed for 4,335 yards, 39 touchdowns and completed 72.9% of his passes with a passer rating of 159.4 – all Missouri single-season records.

By the time his college career ended, Daniel had rewrote the Missouri record books. He finished his career with 12,515 passing yards, 101 passing touchdowns and a 68.0% completion percentage and a passer rating of 148.9 – all as program records entering the 2024 season. His passing yardage and passing touchdown -Totals were the second-best all-time in Big 12 history at the time.

While Daniel’s achievements on the field were remarkable, his achievements off the field were equally remarkable. He earned a degree in business administration from the University of Missouri and was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll four times. He was named to ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All-District First Team in 2006 and 2007. Daniel was an outstanding student who received an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete.

After leaving Missouri, Daniel went undrafted in 2009 before signing with the Washington Redskins. He later showed up with the New Orleans Saints, where he spent five of his 14 NFL seasons and earned a Super Bowl championship ring as a rookie backup. Over the next decade, he had a successful career as a reliable reserve with the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers. After retiring following the 2022 season, Chase launched a successful media career across multiple platforms as a TV analyst and podcast host.

In 2011, Daniel returned to Mizzou to announce the Chase Daniel Lone Star State Endowment Scholarship, awarded annually to a recruit from the state of Texas, with preference given to student-athletes with a grade point average above 3.0 demonstrate outstanding leadership skills in the community. Daniel was inducted into the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday.

Mizzou’s SEC Football Legends
2012: Johnny RolandRunning back/defensive back, 1962-65
2013: Phil BradleyQuarterback, 1977-80
2014: Kellen Winslowtight end, 1976-78
2015: Roger WehrliDefensive back, 1966-68
2016: Justin Blacksmithdefensive end, 1998-2000
2017: Brad BlacksmithQuarterback, 2002-05
2018: Devin westrunning back, 1995-98
2019: Jeremy MaclinWide receiver, kick returner, 2007-08
2022: Gary PeeHead coach, 2001-15
2023: chase Coffmantight end, 2005-08
2024: chase DanielQuarterback, 2005-08
*The SEC did not recognize Football Legends classes in 2020 and 2021.

2024 SEC Football Legends Class
Alabama: Barrett Jones, offensive lineman, 2009-12
Arkansas: Ken Hamlin, safety, 2000-02
Auburn: Marcus McNeill, offensive tackle, 2002-2005
Florida: Rex Grossman, quarterback, 2000-02
Georgia: Terrence Edwards, wide receiver, 1999-2002
Kentucky: Dicky Lyons Sr., tailback/receiver, 1966-68
LSU: Andrew Whitworth, offensive tackle, 2002-05
Ole Miss: Dexter McCluster, running back, 2006-09
Mississippi State: Fletcher Cox, defensive lineman, 2009-11

Missouri: Chase Daniel, quarterback, 2005-08
Oklahoma: Barry Switzer, head coach, 1973-88
South Carolina: Corey Miller, defensive end, 1987-90
Tennessee: Eric Berry, defensive lineman, 2007-09
Texas: Vince Young, quarterback, 2002-05
Texas A&M: Luke Joeckel, offensive tackle, 2010-12
Vanderbilt: Ricky Anderson, punter/kicker, 1981-84