Throughout his 13-year NFL career, this backup quarterback has never been known for his speed. But you know, he was faster than Patrick Mahomes in his NFL Scouting Combine 40-yard dash times. Even if it was one hundredth of a second. While the superstar recorded 4.80 seconds, he posted 4.79 seconds and sarcastically said, “Yeah, I’m faster than Patrick Mahomes.” Such humorous responses can only come from one man, who appears to be using his time off the field pretty well. 

We’re talking about Chase Daniel, who else? The backup quarterback hung up his cleats in the fall of 2023, and he seemed to be well-equipped for his post-retirement life. No rush, no stress of maintaining peak athletic shape—he could rest as much as his heart desires and try some hobbies. But fans hardly expected him to try running for fun, and that’s the shocker for all. 

In a recent Instagram post, the former Kansas City Chiefs star celebrated himself for something he never would have even thought about. After allowing himself to relax, Daniel felt a spark this year, a desire to challenge himself beyond his familiar. So, he began the “Couch to 5K” program. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and slowly but steadily, he took determined steps. On August 24, he finally crossed the threshold: finishing his first 5K. And like all his wins, he shared this with his fans as well. 

“Was it fast? Not at all. Did my heart race at 174 beats per minute? Absolutely,” he wrote in the caption. But once he concluded, it wasn’t just a physical achievement but a reminder of self-growth that sees no age limit. “Proud of this one & reminded that you’re never too old to set a new goal.” 

What makes this personal victory more special and powerful is the beginning of a new chapter in his professional life. It turns out the Super Bowl champion has found a ‘new broadcasting home.’ Starting August 30, he is joining ESPN for broadcasting college football games, as revealed exclusively to Front Office Sports. And guess who is going to accompany him in the booth? Clay Matvick, the play-by-play announcer. Though Daniel doesn’t bring as much experience as Matvick, this isn’t his first rodeo. 

The longtime former QB didn’t sit idle for long after announcing his retirement. Most of his time last year was occupied by FS1 in co-hosting The Facility. However, the show ended up being canceled this Summer, leaving Daniel open for opportunities. ESPN isn’t trusting Daniel just with analyzing college football; he’ll also be sharing his expertise as an NFL Studio analyst for the network. His time as a studio analyst for the NFL Network certainly comes into play here. 

How did Chase Daniel’s media career begin?

ESPN’s producers are said to have utter confidence and optimism in Daniel’s skills. Why? Because, unlike most athletes, whose media career begins post-retirement, the two-time Heisman Trophy finalist started his journey while still playing gridiron. His die-hard fans can never forget those Facebook live streams he used to conduct during the pandemic. With the name of “Chase Chats,” he brought along his teammates, including Mitchell Trubisky, Nick Foles, and, once, even his former HC of the Missouri Tigers, Eliah Drinkwitz, for chats. 

“That was really the first time I hosted a show, and it went really well,” he told Awful Announcing about his interest in broadcasting. “We put the episode out there, and within 24 hours, it had gotten a million views on Twitter. And I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ I’m not really into all the views and all these metrics, but I thought it was really cool. ‘We got something here.’ It was a lot easier than I really thought.” What’s the best part about this is Daniel never even thought about broadcasting until 2020. 

He wanted to be a coach, but after how happening the media industry has been for him, he considers himself an “expert in football.” Though he started this purely to pass the time during the pandemic, deep down inside, he was making a name for himself. This greatly helped him get the gig with not only the NFL Network but also The Athletic, where he worked with Dianna Russini and James Palmer on the “Scoop City” podcast.