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 鈥 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鈥檚 playbook.
The response was fast and full-throated. More of this kind of stuff. Please.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to be 鈥楩irst Take,鈥欌 Daniel said by phone this week. 鈥淲e 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.鈥
It鈥檚 no surprise here that Daniel鈥檚 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鈥檚 new football-focused show, 鈥淭he Facility.鈥
Daniel didn鈥檛 last 14 years in the league and rake in more than $40 million in career earnings because of good luck 鈥 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鈥檚 best teams, who counted on him to help push the quarterback room and know every play in case he was called upon. He鈥檚 also likable, meaning some of the top coaches and quarterbacks, like Reid and Drew Brees, continued to want him involved.
Daniel鈥檚 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鈥檚 not overly worried about offering his informed opinions, even if it ruffles some feathers.
鈥淚 never want to put NFL players in a bad light,鈥 Daniel said. 鈥淲hat we do is important in the scheme of football, but it鈥檚 not life and death. I鈥檓 pretty positive, because there鈥檚 enough negativity. But I鈥檝e learned this. If you throw three interceptions, you鈥檝e got to talk about it. You鈥檝e got to tell the why. I鈥檒l never criticize the player. But I鈥檒l criticize the play.鈥
Daniel is attacking this new gig. It鈥檚 how he goes about all things football. The approach has been successful, turning an undersized and overlooked Lone Star state prospect into Mizzou鈥檚 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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the closest thing to getting ready for a game,鈥 he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e never sure if it鈥檚 somebody鈥檚 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.鈥
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鈥檚 old program flying high again, and ranked as high (No. 9) in this week鈥檚 Associated Press Top-25 as any team has been since Daniel quarterbacked one.
鈥淚 just really love football,鈥 he answered. 鈥淣ot 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鈥檚 given me so much, so I want to give it back to the viewer. I do feel like I鈥檇 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鈥檝e missed so much time as a player. The next best thing? Broadcast.鈥
Daniel鈥檚 focus is on the NFL but his fan loyalty remains with Mizzou. He鈥檚 formed a connection with Drinkwitz and spoke to the team last season. His message to this season鈥檚 team could be even more valuable.
Daniel鈥檚 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鈥檚 final season, the 2008 Tigers didn鈥檛 get their 10th win until beating Northwestern in the Alamo Bowl. Good season, sure. But folks were hoping for an all-time great season.
鈥淵ou go from being the hunter, to the hunted,鈥 Daniel said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 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.鈥
Pretty good analysis.