BREAKING: Chase Daniel Returns to Mizzou! Former Tigers Legend Joins Coaching Staff
**COLUMBIA, Mo.** – In a move that has electrified the Missouri Tigers fanbase and sent waves of nostalgia and optimism throughout the program, legendary quarterback **Chase Daniel** is officially coming home. The 2007 Heisman Trophy finalist, former Tigers record-setting signal-caller, and Super Bowl champion has joined the Missouri coaching staff, marking a monumental homecoming for one of the most beloved figures in school history.
Daniel, who rewrote the Mizzou record books during his illustrious college career from 2005-2008, returns to Columbia after a 14-year NFL career and a successful transition into sports media. The announcement represents a full-circle moment for a player widely regarded as the catalyst who elevated Missouri football to national prominence and helped pave the way for the program’s eventual move to the SEC .
“We are thrilled to welcome Chase back to the Mizzou family,” head coach Eli Drinkwitz said in a statement. “Chase Daniel is Mizzou football. His passion for this university, his understanding of the game, and his ability to connect with players make him an invaluable addition to our staff. This is a great day for our program.”
Daniel’s college résumé speaks for itself. He finished his career as Missouri’s all-time leader in passing yards (12,515), touchdown passes (101), completion percentage (68.0%), and total offense (13,485 yards) . His signature 2007 season saw him lead the Tigers to a No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll for the first time since 1960, a 12-2 record, and a Cotton Bowl victory over Arkansas. That year, he finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting, was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and earned second-team All-American honors .
The 2007 team’s run captured the nation’s imagination, landing Daniel on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the iconic caption “Mizzou, That’s Who” . He remains one of only two Missouri players to finish in the top five of Heisman voting, alongside Paul Christman (third in 1939) .
Following his college career, Daniel carved out a remarkable 14-year NFL tenure as a backup quarterback, playing for the Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Los Angeles Chargers . He earned a Super Bowl ring as a rookie with the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV . Over his NFL career, Daniel started just five games but accumulated $41.8 million in earnings, a testament to his value as a reliable, intelligent presence in quarterback rooms .
After retiring following the 2022 season, Daniel launched a successful media career. He joined ESPN in 2025 as a college football and NFL analyst, calling games and appearing on studio programming . He also co-hosted FS1’s The Facility, runs a popular YouTube channel focused on quarterback analysis, and co-hosts The Athletic’s “Scoop City” NFL podcast with Dianna Russini .
Daniel’s return to Mizzou comes on the heels of significant honors. In 2024, he was named to the SEC Football Legends Class, recognizing his contributions to the program . He was inducted into the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2024 .
Off the field, Daniel has maintained deep ties to the university. In 2011, he established the “Chase Daniel Lone Star State Endowment Scholarship,” awarded annually to a recruit from Texas with a GPA above 3.0 who demonstrates community leadership . He also earned a degree in business administration and was named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete, receiving an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship .
Daniel’s specific role on the coaching staff has not been officially detailed, but his wealth of experience—having played in multiple offensive systems under coaches like Sean Payton, Andy Reid, and Matt Nagy—makes him an invaluable resource for developing quarterbacks and offensive game planning. Notably, Daniel spent three seasons with the Chiefs from 2013-2015, working under Reid and alongside Alex Smith, and later helped usher in the Patrick Mahomes era before departing for Chicago .
For Missouri fans who remember the magic of 2007, Chase Daniel’s return is more than a coaching hire—it’s a homecoming of a legend. His journey from Southlake, Texas, to Columbia, to the NFL, and now back to the sideline represents a full circle of loyalty, excellence, and passion for the black and gold.
Welcome home, Chase. Mizzou never left you.
