Jason Kelce didn’t hold back when he praised longtime backup quarterback Chase Daniel - and honestly, it’s hard to argue with his take. On the latest episode of the New Heights podcast, Kelce sat down with Drew Brees and gave Daniel what might be the highest compliment a career backup can receive: “He hacked the system.”
That system, of course, is the NFL - a league that chews up and spits out players at an alarming rate. But Daniel?
He figured out how to stick around for 13 seasons, suit up for six different teams, and walk away with over $55 million in career earnings. All while starting just five games.
Let that sink in. Five starts.
Thirteen years. Over $55 million.
Brees, who shared a locker room with Daniel for five years in New Orleans, brought up his former teammate’s financial savvy during the podcast. “Chase lives down the street from me,” Brees said.
“I got a bunch of Chase balls. I think the last stat I saw - the most money earned per snap in the NFL than any man.
Chase, well done.”
Kelce, always quick with a quip, chimed in: “Hacked it. Hacked the system.”
And he’s not wrong. Daniel’s career is the dream scenario for every clipboard-holding QB who understands their role and plays it to perfection.
He was never the face of a franchise, but he was the guy teams trusted to be one play away - the steady hand in the quarterback room, the extra set of eyes in film study, the mentor for younger signal-callers. That kind of value doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet, but NFL coaches and GMs know how important it is.
Daniel’s journey took him through New Orleans, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, and Los Angeles. He last played in 2022, but his legacy as one of the most successful backups - financially and professionally - is already cemented.
And while Brees was full of compliments, he also couldn’t resist a little good-natured ribbing. “I’ve never seen a quarterback in the NFL shaped like a high school nose guard,” Brees joked.
“Bro, you made it. You did it.
Chase, it’s banter. I love you.”
That’s the kind of locker room banter that only comes from years of shared experience - and mutual respect. Daniel entered the league as an undrafted rookie in 2009 and spent his early years learning from Brees, one of the most meticulous and prepared quarterbacks in NFL history. That mentorship clearly paid off, as Daniel carved out a long and lucrative career by mastering the mental side of the game.
Now, he’s transitioned seamlessly into broadcasting. ESPN tapped him in August to serve as a college football color commentator, pairing him with veteran play-by-play man Clay Matvick. He’s also a studio analyst for ESPN and co-hosts Scoop City, a podcast with The Athletic.
In a league where longevity is rare and financial security is even rarer, Chase Daniel pulled off something remarkable. He didn’t just survive - he thrived, all while playing a role most fans overlook. He may not have the highlight-reel throws or the Pro Bowl nods, but he’s got the bank account, the respect of his peers, and now, a second act in front of the camera.
In Kelce’s words, he hacked the system. And in doing so, he left behind a blueprint for how to win the NFL without ever being the star.