Chase Daniel already has shown that he can quarterback a team in a playoff race to a victory at Ford Field.
Unfortunately, he did that at the expense of his new team, the Detroit Lions.
Daniel, who has agreed to contract terms with the Lions to be the backup to starter Matthew Stafford, led the Chicago Bears to a 23-16 win over the Lions on Thanksgiving Day in 2018.
Starting because of an injury to Mitchell Trubisky, Daniel completed 27 of 37 passes for 230 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. His passer rating for the game was 106.8.
Daniel showed preparedness, patience and poise to manage the game – all important qualities for backup quarterbacks to have productive careers.
"I remember it being a big game," Daniel said Monday evening in a conference-call interview with the Detroit media.
"I remember getting zero reps with the starters (during a short practice week). It was a fun week. It was a quick week. That obviously helped me going out and executing. I didn't think a lot."
Daniel also remembers the wrinkles Lions head coach Matt Patricia threw at him defensively to try to confuse him.
"I just remember during the game him definitely throwing some wrinkles at me that I hadn't seen," Daniel said. "It was a close game. It was a back and forth game. I'm glad we won."
Daniel and Stafford already have a connection from growing up in the Dallas area. Both were prolific high school quarterbacks.
Both went on to be highly regarded college players – Stafford at Georgia, and Daniel at Missouri, where he finished fourth in the 2007 Heisman Trophy voting.
The similarity ended when they entered the NFL. Stafford was drafted first overall by the Lions and has spent his entire career as the Lions' starter. Daniel was undrafted. He spent the 2009 season on the Saints' practice squad.
Daniel made the Saints' 53-player roster in 2010. The 2020 season will be his 12th in the NFL. He spent four seasons with the Saints (2010-12), three with the Chiefs (2013-15), one with the Eagles (2016), a one-year return to the Saints (2017) and the last two with the Bears (2018-19).
He will learn a new offense under Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. In his previous 10 seasons Daniel played in offenses with roots based on either Saints' head coach Sean Payton's scheme or Chiefs head coach Andy Reid's.
Daniel liked what he saw in Bevell's offense before Stafford went out for the season with a back injury after the eighth game.
"I'm very excited to learn a new scheme, to learn Bev's scheme," Daniel said. "Their offense, they were slinging it, man. Matt was firing on all cylinders."
View photos of quarterback Chase Daniel. Photos courtesy Associated Press.
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel (4) hands off to running back David Montgomery during the half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel (4) runs back to hand off the football in pre game warm ups during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Chiefs 26-3. (Scott Boehm via AP)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel drops back to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel (4) looks to pass during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Los Angeles. The Rams defeated the Bears, 17-7. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel warms up before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel passes against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel in an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel throws during pregame of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel (4) sets up to pass during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Los Angeles. The Rams defeated the Bears 17-7. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel throws before an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel (4) throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel (4) throws the ball during an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in London. Oakland won 24-21. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel (4) in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Chicago Bears' quarterback Chase Daniel speaks to the media after an NFL training session at the Allianz Park stadium in London, Friday, Oct. 4, 2019. The Chicago Bears are preparing for an NFL regular season game against the Oakland Raiders in London on Sunday. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel drops back to pass during the half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel (4) prepares to throw during the second half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel (4) looks to pass on the run during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Vikings, 16-6. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel (4) looks to pass on the run during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Vikings, 16-6. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel (4) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in London. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Chicago Bears quarterback Chase Daniel (4) throws before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in London. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Daniel has started only five regular-season games. He has completed 149 of 218 passes for 1,430 yards, seven TDs and five interceptions.
He is known around the NFL for his football IQ. That and his work ethic has kept him in the league.
He has already renewed his connection with Stafford.
"We already talked quite a bit about the offense," Daniel said.
"I take the job really seriously. First and foremost, when you get your opportunity you have to play, and you have to win. You have to help the starter in any way possible that he needs help.
"I'm not coming here to take anyone's job. Matthews's the starter. I also have to get myself ready week in and week out. There's a lot of preparation mentally."
It's a new offseason for everyone because of the coronavirus. Daniel said he doesn't expect teams to have any offseason program, which means players won't begin working together on the field until training game.
"I think it's highly unlikely we have an offseason program," Daniel said. "I think there'll be a lot of digital time. It's going to be difficult. I already asked for the playbook. You'll have a lot of guys having to study, getting into their playbook.
"That's a whole different thing if you're not able to do it physically."
