Gary Danielson

Gary Danielson

Danielson in 2013
No. 16, 18
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1951-09-10) September 10, 1951 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:	Divine Child (Dearborn, Michigan)
College:	Purdue
Undrafted:	1973
Career history
NY Stars/Charlotte Hornets (1974) Chicago Winds (1975) Detroit Lions (1976–1984) Cleveland Browns (1985–1988)
Career NFL statistics
Passing attempts: 1,932 Passing completions: 1,105 Completion percentage: 57.2% TD–INT: 81–78 Passing yards: 13,764 Passer rating: 76.6 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Gary Dennis Danielson (born September 10, 1951) is an American college football commentator and former professional football player. Danielson was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Detroit Lions from 1976 to 1984 and for the Cleveland Browns in 1985, 1987, and 1988. Since 2006, he has worked for CBS Sports as a commentator for its college football coverage and previously held the same position for ABC Sports from 1997 through 2005 and ESPN from 1990 through 1996.

Playing career

Danielson played high school football at Divine Child High School under Tony Versaci in Dearborn, Michigan, and graduated from the school in 1969. As the left side wide receiver in his junior year and quarterback in his senior year, he helped Divine Child win two straight Catholic High School League championships. He played college football at Purdue University and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in industrial management. He would later earn a Master's degree in physical education in 1976. Danielson had succeeded Mike Phipps as the Boilermakers' starting quarterback in 1970 and had 14 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions with a 45.6 percent completion rate in three seasons as a starter.

Danielson spent two years in the short-lived World Football League as a non-starter, with the New York Stars/Charlotte Hornets in 1974 and the Chicago Winds in 1975. The Winds franchise folded a month before the league's collapse in October, and Danielson signed with the Lions for the 1976 season.

He amassed 13,764 passing yards and 81 touchdowns in 101 games in the NFL. He ranks fourth in Lions history in passing yards and touchdowns. His five touchdowns in a 1978 game against the Minnesota Vikings is still tied for a Lions record.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games			Passing									Rushing					Sacks
		GP	GS	Record	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Y/A	Lng	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Sck	Yds
1976	DET	1	0	0-0	0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
1977	DET	13	2	1-1	42	100	42.0	445	4.5	61	1	5	38.1	7	62	8.9	16	0	9	64
1978	DET	16	11	6-5	199	351	56.7	2,294	6.5	47	18	17	73.5	22	93	4.2	25	0	25	237
1980	DET	16	16	9-7	244	417	58.5	3,223	7.7	87	13	11	82.4	48	232	4.8	33	2	44	338
1981	DET	6	4	2-2	56	96	58.3	784	8.2	45	3	5	73.4	9	23	2.6	11	2	12	84
1982	DET	8	5	2-3	100	197	50.8	1,343	6.8	70	10	14	60.1	23	92	4.0	16	0	19	145
1983	DET	10	0	0-0	59	113	52.2	720	6.4	54	7	4	78.0	6	8	1.3	8	0	8	68
1984	DET	15	14	3-10-1	252	410	61.5	3,076	7.5	77	17	15	83.1	41	218	5.3	40	3	41	335
1985	CLE	8	6	4-2	97	163	59.5	1,274	7.8	72	8	6	85.3	25	126	5.0	28	0	17	128
1987	CLE	6	1	1-0	25	33	75.8	281	8.5	23	4	0	140.3	1	0	0.0	0	0	2	4
1988	CLE	2	1	0-1	31	52	59.6	324	6.2	26	0	1	69.7	4	3	0.8	5	0	6	43
Career		101	60	28-31-1	1,105	1,932	57.2	13,764	7.1	87	81	78	76.6	186	857	4.6	40	7	183	1,446

Postseason

Year	Team	Games			Passing									Rushing					Sacks
		GP	GS	Record	Cmp	Att	Pct	Yds	Y/A	Lng	TD	Int	Rtg	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Sck	Yds
1983	DET	1	1	0–1	24	38	63.2	236	6.2	20	0	5	41.0	4	17	4.3	6	0	2	12
Career		1	1	0–1	24	38	63.2	236	6.2	20	0	5	41.0	4	17	4.3	6	0	2	12

Broadcasting career

Danielson began his broadcasting career starting before his playing days were over as a part-time anchor/reporter at WDIV-TV, in Detroit, during the off-season while a member of the Lions. In Cleveland, he co-hosted a sports talk show while a member of the Browns.

After retiring from the Browns, Danielson joined ESPN as a college football analyst. He continued to work in that capacity for ESPN/ABC Sports until 2006 when he joined CBS Sports as a college football analyst, partnering originally with Verne Lundquist (and currently Brad Nessler) on the network's primary broadcast team during Southeastern Conference telecasts. He also serves as the college football radio analyst for Paul Finebaum where he appears weekly during the college football season. Starting in the 2011 college football season, Danielson became a weekly guest on Mike's On: Francesa on the FAN with Mike Francesa. He has also become a regular guest on The Dan Patrick Show.

Personal life

Danielson is married to wife Kristy with whom he has four children, Matt David Danielson, Kelly Danielson, Tracy Danielson, and Molly Danielson. The two met in college at Purdue, where Kristy's father, George King , was the head basketball coach and athletic director.

The Danielson family resided in Rochester Hills, Michigan and the children attended Rochester Adams High School. His son, Matt, played college football at Northwestern.

Danielson ran an importing and exporting business with former Lions teammate James Jones in the early 1990s. He has also invested in business ventures with former Browns teammate Bernie Kosar.

External links

• Gary Danielson at IMDb