Something stunning happened on national TV this week.
Viewers of a morning sports show were spared from look-at-me hot takes and overcooked, unrealistic shouting matches and instead saw something increasingly rare in the space — actual authentic analysis.
There was Chase Daniel, Mizzou quarterback legend and recently retired NFL veteran, using his decades of experience and impressive knowledge of the game to illustrate a play from Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s playbook.
The response was fast and full-throated. More of this kind of stuff. Please.
“We don’t want to be ‘First Take,’” Daniel said by phone this week. “We want to be a beautiful alternative to it. We want to teach some football. We want you to get some knowledge, to have some in-depth conversations.”
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It’s no surprise here that Daniel’s combination of football IQ and charisma has helped him successfully launch a new chapter as a must-know face in football media, most prominently on FS1’s new football-focused show, “The Facility.”
Daniel didn’t last 14 years in the league and rake in more than $40 million in career earnings because of good luck — contrary to what some on social media like to crack wise about regarding his roughly $8 million earned per start. The former Heisman Trophy finalist turned undrafted NFL free agent carved out a marathon career by earning the trust of some of the league’s best teams, who counted on him to help push the quarterback room and know every play in case he was called upon. He’s also likable, meaning some of the top coaches and quarterbacks, like Reid and Drew Brees, continued to want him involved.
Daniel’s playing past, which includes six teams and a Super Bowl with the Saints, now puts him in a unique position to offer modern insight on the league and its faces. Unlike some ex-players in his role, he’s not overly worried about offering his informed opinions, even if it ruffles some feathers.
“I never want to put NFL players in a bad light,” Daniel said. “What we do is important in the scheme of football, but it’s not life and death. I’m pretty positive, because there’s enough negativity. But I’ve learned this. If you throw three interceptions, you’ve got to talk about it. You’ve got to tell the why. I’ll never criticize the player. But I’ll criticize the play.”
Daniel is attacking this new gig. It’s how he goes about all things football. The approach has been successful, turning an undersized and overlooked Lone Star state prospect into Mizzou’s Sports Illustrated cover boy. It created a quickly growing YouTube channel where Daniel digs deep into QB play. Now it has welcomed him into living rooms across the country every morning.
“It’s the closest thing to getting ready for a game,” he said. “You’re never sure if it’s somebody’s first time watching the show. I keep that in mind. If people are channel surfing and they stumble upon FS1, I want every block that we have to be like the Super Bowl.”
What I was most curious about is why. As in, why take on this challenge?
Daniel could be on a beach near his California home, or teeing it up on any of the fine golf courses nearby. He could be coaching. Count me among those who once hoped he would one day find his way back to his alma mater either as a quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator or, who knows, maybe even the head man. That was back before fifth-year Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz had Daniel’s old program flying high again, and ranked as high (No. 9) in this week’s Associated Press Top-25 as any team has been since Daniel quarterbacked one.
“I just really love football,” he answered. “Not just the game, but the relationships. The camaraderie. God put football in my life for me to use my platform. It was one of two ways. Go into coaching, or go into broadcast, so I can continue talking football. It’s given me so much, so I want to give it back to the viewer. I do feel like I’d make a good coach, but I would not have been in the best position with my family to give them the full effort and attention I should. I’ve missed so much time as a player. The next best thing? Broadcast.”
Daniel’s focus is on the NFL but his fan loyalty remains with Mizzou. He’s formed a connection with Drinkwitz and spoke to the team last season. His message to this season’s team could be even more valuable.
Daniel’s 2007 Tigers touched No. 1 and won 12 games thanks to a Cotton Bowl trouncing of Arkansas that followed a painful Orange Bowl snub. Carrying massive expectations into Daniel’s final season, the 2008 Tigers didn’t get their 10th win until beating Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl. Good season, sure. But folks were hoping for an all-time great season.
“You go from being the hunter, to the hunted,” Daniel said. “That’s what we did in 2008. We struggled a little bit down the stretch with that. What you learn is you never have the same team, the same success. You have to forge it, every single day in practice. You have to be out front, leading. Coach Drinkwitz does it well with this group. He never lets them relax.”
Pretty good analysis.