Quick Facts
Biography
Owen Gerald Daniels (born November 9, 1982) is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He played college football for the University of Wisconsin, and was drafted by the Houston Texans in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection. He has also played for the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos. As a Bronco, he helped the team win Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers.
High school years
Daniels attended Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Illinois. As a starting quarterback, Daniels led Naperville Central to win an undefeated IHSA Class 6A State Championship in 1999. He earned Prep Football Report and PrepStar All-American honors as well as being named a Top 100 prospect nationally by PFR. As a junior, he completed 100 of 168 passing attempts for 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns, against just 1 interception. He completed 30 of 35 passes for 562 yards and 7 touchdowns in the opening two games of his senior year before a knee injury ended his season. He was also the starting center on his basketball team and a 22-foot (6.70m) long jumper on the track & field team.
College career
Daniels attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison and played for the Wisconsin Badgers football team under coach Barry Alvarez. At Wisconsin, he red-shirted his freshman year at the quarterback position. Early in his college career, he was a back-up quarterback and played special teams, flanker, split end, and wingback. He eventually assumed the starting job at tight end for most of his final two seasons with the Badgers. During his career at Wisconsin, Daniels played in 43 games with 62 receptions for 852 yards (13.7 average) earning him the moniker "Ole Sure Hands". He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a bachelor of science degree in atmospheric and oceanic sciences.
Professional career
Houston Texans
He was drafted with the 98th pick (overall) and as the first pick of the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He earned the nickname "The Weatherman" as he majored in meteorology and appeared on the Madison area news delivering the local forecast. As a Professional, the moniker, "O.D." seems to have stuck amongst Texans fans, Houston media, and users of NFL-related message boards.
Daniels finished his rookie (2006) season with 34 receptions for 352 yards with 5 touchdowns.
Owen Daniels completed the 2007 NFL season starting all 16 games with 63 receptions for 768 yards and 3 touchdowns.
On November 2, 2008 Daniels had his "best game of his career", according to the Houston Chronicle, against the Minnesota Vikings with 11 receptions for 133 yards. On December 7, 2008 he and quarterback Matt Schaub combined for a 27-yard completion during a game winning drive to defeat the Green Bay Packers. He completed the 2008 season with 70 receptions for 862 yards with a trip to the 2009 Pro Bowl. He and teammate Andre Johnson were the most prolific tight end-wide receiver combination in the NFL with 185 catches for 2,437 yards.
On November 1, 2009 in a game against the Buffalo Bills, Daniels tore his ACL and was placed on season ending injured reserve.
On March 11, 2014, Daniels was released.
Baltimore Ravens
Daniels agreed on a one-year contract worth $1 million with the Baltimore Ravens on April 3, 2014. Following a season ending injury to starter Dennis Pitta, Daniels took over the starting role and amassed 48 receptions for 527 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Denver Broncos
On March 10, 2015, Daniels signed a three-year, $12 million contract with the Denver Broncos. Daniels played his entire NFL career under the tutelage of Gary Kubiak (head coach in Houston and Denver, offensive coordinator in Baltimore) and tight ends coach Brian Pariani. Daniels started the season with only 85 receiving yards and wasn't a large factor until the Packers game with 3 catches for 44 yards. Daniels then had a 102 receiving yards and a touchdown in a 24-27 loss to Indianapolis Colts.
Daniels finished the 2015 season with 46 catches for 517 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Broncos had a 12-4 record and earned the #1 seed for the AFC playoffs. Denver defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first playoff game 23-16. Daniels had 2 catches for 10 yards. In the AFC Championship game against the defending champion New England Patriots, Daniels scored 2 touchdowns to help the Broncos defeat the Patriots 20-18 to advance to Super Bowl 50 where they beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10. In the victory over the Patriots, Daniels caught last the touchdown pass that Peyton Manning would ever throw in the NFL. In Super Bowl 50, Daniels had 1 catch for 18 yards in the 24-10 win. On March 8, 2016, the Broncos released Daniels after one season.
Personal life
Owen has been married to his wife Angela since 2013. The couple met at the Blondes vs. Brunettes charity football game. The couple had their first date in Ibiza and it is also where Owen proposed to her. Together they had their first child in 2015, Henry.