View source for Daunte Culpepper

{{Short description|American football player (born 1977)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Daunte Culpepper
| image       = Daunte Culpepper cropped.JPG
| alt         =
| caption     = Culpepper in 2009
| number      = 12, 11, 8
| position    = [[Quarterback]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1977|1|28|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Ocala, Florida]], U.S.
| death_date  = 
| death_place = 
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 4
| weight_lb   = 260
| high_school = [[Vanguard High School|Vanguard]] <br> (Ocala, Florida)
| college     = [[UCF Knights football|UCF]] (1995–1998)
| draftyear   = 1999
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 11
| pastteams   = * [[Minnesota Vikings]] ({{NFL Year|1999|2005}})
* [[Miami Dolphins]] ({{NFL Year|2006}})
* [[Oakland Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|2007}})
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|2008|2009}})
* [[Sacramento Mountain Lions]] ({{UFL Year|2010}})
| highlights  = * 3× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[2001 Pro Bowl|2000]], [[2004 Pro Bowl|2003]], [[2005 Pro Bowl|2004]])
* [[List of National Football League annual passing yards leaders|NFL passing yards leader]] (2004)
* [[List of National Football League annual passing touchdowns leaders|NFL passing touchdowns leader]] (2000)
* 50 Greatest Vikings
* Minnesota Vikings All-Mall of America Field Team
* [[Sammy Baugh Trophy]] (1998)
* [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[completion percentage]] leader (1998)
* [[UCF Knights football#Honored numbers|UCF Knights No. 8]] honored
| statlabel1  = Passing attempts
| statvalue1  = 3,199
| statlabel2  = Passing completions
| statvalue2  = 2,016
| statlabel3  = Completion percentage
| statvalue3  = 63%
| statlabel4  = [[Passing yards]]
| statvalue4  = 24,153
| statlabel5  = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue5  = 149–106
| statlabel6  = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue6  = 87.8
| statlabel7  = [[Rushing yards]]
| statvalue7  = 2,652
| statlabel8  = [[Touchdown|Rushing touchdowns]]
| statvalue8  = 34
| pfr         = C/CulpDa00 
}}

'''Daunte Rachard Culpepper''' (born January 28, 1977) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] [[quarterback]] who played in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the [[Minnesota Vikings]]. He played [[college football]] for the [[UCF Knights football|UCF Knights]], winning the [[Sammy Baugh Trophy]] in 1998, and was selected by the Vikings in the first round of the [[1999 NFL draft]].

During his seven seasons with the Vikings, Culpepper led the team to two playoff runs, one division title, and an [[NFC Championship Game]] appearance, along with earning three [[Pro Bowl]] selections. He also set the single-season record for the most total yardage produced by an NFL quarterback in 2004. However, Culpepper suffered a devastating knee injury the following season that ended his Vikings tenure. After his injury, he played sparingly for the [[Miami Dolphins]], [[Oakland Raiders]], and [[Detroit Lions]]. Culpepper last played professionally for the [[Sacramento Mountain Lions]] of the [[United Football League (2009–2012)|United Football League]] (UFL).

==Early life==
Culpepper was born to single mother Barbara Henderson, who is the sister of former NFL linebacker [[Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson]]. While his mother was pregnant with him, she was imprisoned for armed robbery. Culpepper was adopted when he was a day old and raised as one of over 15 children of the late Emma Lewis Culpepper, who worked in the correctional facility where his mother was held.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Culpepper/Culpepper_bio.html |title=Daunte Culpepper bio at JockBio website |access-date=May 4, 2012 |archive-date=July 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721183025/http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Culpepper/Culpepper_bio.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Culpepper's adoptive mother dies at 92|publisher=National Football League|date=May 6, 2007|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/10169584 |access-date=June 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605111232/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/10169584<!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date = June 5, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 6, 2007 |title=Culpepper's adoptive mother passes away |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2862349 |access-date=July 5, 2011 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ocala.com/article/20070506/NEWS/70506001?p=1&tc=pg|title=Emma Culpepper dies at age 92|work=Ocala.com|first=Harriet|last=Daniels|date=May 6, 2007|access-date=July 5, 2011}}</ref> They lived in Ocala, Florida, where Culpepper attended [[Vanguard High School]]. He played football, coached by Phillip (Phil) Yancey, as well as basketball and baseball.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ufl-football.com/sacramento-mountain-lions/player-roster/culpepper-daunte |title=Culpepper, Daunte UFL Bio |access-date=July 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720222807/http://www.ufl-football.com/sacramento-mountain-lions/player-roster/culpepper-daunte |archive-date=July 20, 2011 }}</ref> After his senior season in 1994, Culpepper was named [[Mr. Football Award (Florida)|Mr. Football]] in the state of Florida. In 2007, Culpepper was named to the [[FHSAA's All-Century Team]] of the top 33 football players in Florida's 100-year history of high school football.

Near the end of his high school team's state basketball championship game, the referee called Culpepper for traveling when he was driving for the game-winning lay-up.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} Later in his career, Culpepper celebrated football touchdowns by mimicking the motion a basketball referee makes when calling traveling, also known as "the roll".

Culpepper was drafted in the 26th round (730th overall) by the [[New York Yankees]] in the [[1995 Major League Baseball Draft]] but did not sign and chose to attend college.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.cgi?draft_round=26&year_ID=1995&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round|title=1995 MLB Draft, 26th round|access-date=May 29, 2013}}</ref>

==College career==
Culpepper struggled to get into college, because of low [[SAT]] scores.{{Citation needed|date=January 2008}} Top football schools such as the [[University of Miami]] and [[University of Florida]] backed off from recruiting him when it was assumed he would not qualify.{{Citation needed|date=August 2007}} As a Division II school, however, the [[University of Central Florida]] did not have to abide by the rules of Division I concerning SAT scores. With this, the University of Central Florida offered to tutor and help him achieve the necessary scores, and he qualified. Although big college programs returned to recruit him, as a show of loyalty, Culpepper enrolled at UCF.

Although he had a love for baseball, Culpepper committed to play football at UCF as a quarterback. He rewrote virtually all the school's quarterback records, approximately 30 in all, many held by Darin Slack since 1987. Culpepper also set an [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] record for single-season completion percentage at 73.6%, breaking a 15-year-old mark set by [[Steve Young (American football)|Steve Young]] (71.3%). This record stood until [[Colt McCoy]] (Texas) finished the 2008 season with a completion percentage of 77.6%.  Culpepper accomplished a feat equaled by only two others in NCAA history when he topped the 10,000-yard passing mark and the 1,000-yard rushing mark in his career. He finished his career sixth on the NCAA's all-time total offense list for all divisions with 12,459 yards and was responsible for 108 career touchdowns (84 passing).

After his junior season, Culpepper was being lured out of the collegiate ranks to enter the draft and join the NFL, but instead returned to UCF to play his senior year. UCF posted a 9–2 record, losing only to [[Purdue Boilermakers football|Purdue]] and [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]].

===College statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! colspan="12" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|UCF Knights football}}"| UCF Knights
|-
! rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| GP
! colspan="7"| Passing
! colspan="3"| Rushing
|-
! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! TD
|-
! [[1995 UCF Knights football team|1995]]
| 11 || 168 || 294 || 57.1 || 2,071 || 12 || 10 || 123.0 || 85 || 17 || 5
|-
! [[1996 UCF Knights football team|1996]]
| 11 || 187 || 314 || 59.6 || 2,565 || 19 || 15 || 138.6 || 94 || 102 || 2
|-
! [[1997 UCF Knights football team|1997]]
| 11 || 238 || 381 || 62.5 || 3,086 || 25 || 10 || 146.9 || 136 || 438 || 5
|-
! [[1998 UCF Knights football team|1998]]
| 11 || 296 || 402 || 73.6 || 3,690 || 28 || 7 || 170.2 || 141 || 463 || 12
|-
! Career !! 44 !! 889 !! 1,391 !! 63.9 !! 11,412 !! 84 !! 42 !! 146.7 !! 456 !! 1,020 !! 24
|}

==Professional career==

===Pre-draft===

{{nfl predraft
|    height ft = 6
|    height in = 3¾
|       weight = 255
|         dash = 4.52
|    ten split = 1.57
| twenty split = 2.60
|      shuttle = 4.13
|   cone drill = 7.21
|     vertical = 39
|     broad ft = 10
|     broad in = 2
|        bench = 
|    wonderlic = 18
|     arm span = 30¼
|    hand span = 9½
|         note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=60956&DraftYear=1999 |title=Daunte Culpepper, Central Florida, QB, 1999 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |work=draftscout.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=5121 |title=Daunte Culpepper, Combine Results, QB - Central Florida |work=nflcombineresults.com }}</ref>
}}

===Minnesota Vikings===
[[File:Walsh Culpepper Birk.JPEG|thumb|Culpepper (#11) in 2002]]

====Early career and immediate success====

Culpepper was drafted 11th overall in the first round of the [[1999 NFL draft]] by the Minnesota Vikings; he was the fourth quarterback chosen, after [[Tim Couch]] (first overall), [[Donovan McNabb]] (second) and [[Akili Smith]] (third).<ref>{{Cite web |title=1999 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1999/draft.htm |access-date=March 28, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In his first year Culpepper played in one game, rushing three times for six yards and did not attempt a pass.

In [[2000 NFL season|2000]], Culpepper was named Minnesota's starting quarterback. He led the Vikings to victory in the first seven games and helped them finish 11–5 and advance to the [[NFC Championship Game]], where they lost to [[2000 New York Giants season|the New York Giants]] 41–0. During the season, Culpepper passed for 3,937 yards, 33 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He also rushed for 470 yards and seven touchdowns. One of Culpepper's most notable moments was against [[2000 Buffalo Bills season|the Buffalo Bills]] when he threw a pass across his body and the field to [[Randy Moss]] for a 39-yard touchdown, although the pass was at least 60 total yards.{{Citation needed|date=January 2008}} At the end of the year, he was selected to his first [[Pro Bowl]]. Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss said that Culpepper was one of the most talented quarterbacks he had ever seen following the 2000 season.

====Struggles and comeback====
Culpepper struggled over the next two seasons beginning in [[2001 NFL season|2001]], throwing 14 touchdowns to 13<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CulpDa00.htm|title=Daunte Culpepper Stats|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref> interceptions. The Vikings finished the season 5–11. Culpepper started all 11 games in which he appeared, and missed the final five games of the season with a [[knee injury]] suffered in a December 2 game against the [[2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]. He completed 60 percent or more of his passes in nine of his 11 outings, twice surpassing the 70.0 percent mark, and had a [[passer rating]] of 100.0 better in two contests where the Vikings were 1–1. Culpepper's rushing total ranked third among NFL quarterbacks, trailing only Pittsburgh's [[Kordell Stewart]] (537) and [[2001 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia]]’s Donovan McNabb (482). Perhaps his most notable performance during this campaign occurred during a 20–16 comeback win over [[2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|the Tampa Bay Buccaneers]].  On a run, Culpepper barreled into [[Derrick Brooks]] and [[Shelton Quarles]], but was the first player up after the eight-yard score.

Culpepper continued to struggle in [[2002 NFL season|2002]], throwing 18 touchdowns to 23 interceptions and leading the Vikings to a 6–10 record. He also fumbled an NFL record 23 times, losing nine of them. Culpepper's ten rushing scores led all NFL QBs in 2002 and also marked the sixth-highest total by a QB in NFL history, trailing only [[Cam Newton]] (14 for [[2011 Carolina Panthers season|Carolina]] in 2011) and (12 for [[2020 New England Patriots season|New England]] in 2020), [[Steve Grogan]] (12 for [[1976 New England Patriots season|New England]] in 1976), [[Johnny Lujack]] (11 for [[1950 Chicago Bears season|Chicago]] in 1950), [[Tobin Rote]] (11 for [[1956 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay]] in 1956), [[Kordell Stewart]] (11 for Pittsburgh [[1997 Pittsburgh Steelers season|in 1997]]), and [[Kyler Murray]] (11 for Arizona [[2020 Arizona Cardinals season|in 2020]]). Culpepper went on to win the [[EA Sports]] [[Madden Bowl]] title among NFL players during the 2003 offseason.

Culpepper made a comeback in [[2003 NFL season|2003]], leading the Vikings to a 9–7 record, although they missed the playoffs. He passed for 3,479 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions, and earned his second trip to the Pro Bowl.

====Historic season====
Culpepper enjoyed his best statistical season as a professional in 2004 and, though they were only 8–8, the Vikings reached the playoffs for the second time under Culpepper. Passing for a league-leading 4,717 yards, a Viking-record 39 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions, Culpepper was named to his third career Pro Bowl. He also broke [[Dan Marino]]'s NFL record for combined passing and rushing yards, amassing 5,123 total yards. His 2,323 rushing yards from 2000–2004 also made him only the fourth quarterback in NFL history to run for more than 2,300 yards in a five-season period. ([[Michael Vick]] had 3,570 from 2002–2006; [[Randall Cunningham]] had 3,232 from 1986–1990; and [[Steve McNair]] had 2,387 from 1997–2001). Culpepper’s career rushing average of 26.1 yards per game is fourth-best in history among quarterbacks. Only Vick (47.3 yds/g), Cunningham (30.6 yds/g), and [[Bobby Douglass]] (29.8 yds/g) averaged more rushing yards per game during their QB careers. After the 2004 season, Culpepper said the game had "slowed down" for him, saying, "I feel like a [[Jedi]] Knight."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/150/story/168640.html |title=Childress' next rebuilding project is a big one -- Culpepper |website=[[Star Tribune]] |access-date=October 9, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060111091338/http://www.startribune.com/150/story/168640.html |archive-date=January 11, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Sports Xchange |title=NFL PREVIEW: Minnesota Vikings |work=FOX Sports |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/4845488 |access-date=June 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190130/http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/4845488 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Sports Xchange |title=Vikings report: Notes, quotes |publisher=CBS SportsLine |date=September 1, 2005 |url=http://cbs.sportsline.com/print/nfl/teams/report/MIN/8793803 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707232029/http://cbs.sportsline.com/print/nfl/teams/report/MIN/8793803 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |access-date=June 7, 2007 }}</ref>

====Injury====
His first two games of the [[2005 NFL season|2005 season]] were disappointments, as the Vikings went 0–2 while Culpepper threw no touchdown passes, eight interceptions, and fumbled twice. Culpepper rebounded in the third week, throwing for 300 yards and three touchdowns while beating the New Orleans Saints. In 2005, he had six touchdowns, twelve interceptions, and five fumbles before being injured in the seventh game (only winning two games). On October 30, he suffered a knee injury during a 38–13 loss to [[2005 Carolina Panthers season|the Carolina Panthers]]. Culpepper sustained damage to three of the four major ligaments in the knee: the [[anterior cruciate ligament|ACL]], [[posterior cruciate ligament|PCL]] and [[medial collateral ligament|MCL]]. He was placed on [[injured reserve]] and began rehabilitation treatment near his home in Florida. Backup [[Brad Johnson (American football)|Brad Johnson]] took over in the Carolina game and after losing that one, they won the next six straight games and the team ended up with a 9–7 record. Daunte's final career win–loss record as a starter for the Vikings was 37–40 (48.1% winning percentage).

On December 14, 2005, Culpepper and three other players were charged with indecent conduct, disorderly conduct and lewd or lascivious conduct for their involvement in the [[2005 Minnesota Vikings boat cruise scandal]], according to court papers and news reports. The maximum penalty they could have faced was 90 days in jail. His defense contended there was racial discrimination among the prosecution. On April 4, 2006, however, the charges against Culpepper were dropped owing to a lack of [[probable cause]].

Culpepper was in negotiations with [[Zygi Wilf]], the new owner of the Vikings, concerning his contract with the team. Rumors surfaced that Culpepper was unhappy with his status in Minnesota due to Johnson's re-emergence following his injury. The Vikings wanted him to rehabilitate in Minnesota because they were not satisfied with his level of treatment in Florida. Culpepper refused this request.<ref name="Trade">[http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2006/11/16/a1b_fins_1116.html]{{dead link|date=July 2022}}</ref>

Later, Culpepper expressed his desire to be out of Minnesota. According to the [[Associated Press]], Culpepper said that if he was not traded, he wanted to be released. Culpepper said {{cquote|because of the fundamental differences I have with management regarding the approach to my personal and professional life, I think it is the best business decision for both parties to go our separate ways.<ref>{{cite web|title=Miffed Culpepper requests trade or release from Vikings |publisher=CBS SportsLine |date=2006-03-08 |url=http://sportsline.com/nfl/story/9292668 |access-date=2007-06-07 }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>}}Culpepper did not insist on being traded to [[2006 Miami Dolphins season|the Miami Dolphins]], and orchestrated his trade without the services of his former agent. New Vikings coach [[Brad Childress]] likened his dealings with Culpepper to his dealings with [[Terrell Owens]] and said he never had a conversation with Daunte that did not involve his contract and getting more money instead of football and the team.<ref name="Trade" />

===Miami Dolphins===
====Struggle to return from injury====
Culpepper was traded to [[Nick Saban]]’s Miami Dolphins in exchange for a second-round draft pick. He changed his number from 11 (which he wore in Minnesota, after wearing #12 his rookie season in honor of Randall Cunningham) back to his original number 8, the same number he had at Vanguard High School and the University of Central Florida.

The Dolphins debated whether to pursue Culpepper or [[Drew Brees]] during the offseason. The Dolphins decided to bring in Culpepper based on a medical evaluation of the two players. Brees was coming back from a shoulder injury suffered the last game during the 2005 season.

Although still recovering from a serious knee injury the previous year, Culpepper attended and participated in all the Dolphins' offseason practices, including training camp. In early August, he made it public that he felt his knee was only about 85–90% recovered. In Culpepper's preseason game against Carolina, he walked up to [[cornerback]] [[Chris Gamble]] and thanked him for injuring him, Daunte saying if Gamble had not hit him like that he would still have been in Minnesota.<ref>{{cite web |title=Williams sparks Cats in win over Dolphins |publisher=National Football League |date=August 24, 2006 |url=https://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap/NFL_20060824_MIA@CAR |access-date=June 7, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321065856/http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap/NFL_20060824_MIA%40CAR |archive-date=March 21, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Culpepper got off to a rocky start in his first two regular-season games, losing both while fans booed him and called for backup [[Joey Harrington]] in the second game.<ref>{{cite news|author=Keven Lerner |title=Culpepper's struggles |newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |date=September 17, 2006 |url=http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2006/09/culpeppers_stru.html |access-date=June 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929111634/http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2006/09/culpeppers_stru.html |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref> However, he had an improved performance in the third game, winning 13–10 over [[2006 Tennessee Titans season|the Tennessee Titans]], who had the second-to-last ranked defense in the NFL. However, the next week the [[2006 Houston Texans season|Houston Texans]] with the last ranked defense in the NFL won their first game of the season against the Dolphins.

At this point, the Dolphins were 1–3 and their opponents were 1–11 when not playing Miami. After the Houston loss, Saban noticed Culpepper having trouble in practice due to a nagging bruised shoulder injury and decided to rest Culpepper for a couple of practices.<ref>http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/15713421.htm{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> During that Friday's practice, Culpepper and Saban got into a loud, heated argument. Saban had decided to bench Daunte until his shoulder recovered and he got more of the mobility back that he lost due to his knee injury.<ref>http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/15713504.htm{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On November 30, 2006, Culpepper underwent [[arthroscopic surgery]] on his previously injured knee to remove a piece of loose cartilage that was causing him difficulty.<ref>{{cite web |title=Miami's Culpepper has more surgery on knee |publisher=National Football League |date=November 30, 2006 |url=http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/MIA/9838995 |access-date=June 7, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070509114055/http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/MIA/9838995 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = May 9, 2007}}</ref> On December 12, 2006, Culpepper was placed on injured reserve, officially ending his 2006 season. Saban stated that although Culpepper was progressing in rehabilitation, he and the medical staff felt it would be difficult for Culpepper to play in the next three weeks.<ref>[http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-1212dolqb,0,2176826.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front Topic Galleries – South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061214100052/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-1212dolqb%2C0%2C2176826.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front |date=December 14, 2006 }}</ref>

On December 25, 2006, [[Steve Young]] appeared as a guest announcer during the Dolphins’ penultimate game and criticized Culpepper's work ethic. Culpepper saw this on TV from his box suite at Dolphin Stadium and immediately walked to the [[ESPN]] booth and waited for Steve Young to finish, then confronted Young and said he has not missed any meetings and that was not who he was. Young apologized and said though he heard Culpepper had been missing meetings, he should have checked with Culpepper first before repeating it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/16318116.htm |title=MiamiHerald.com &#124; 12/26/2006 &#124; Daunte defends himself to ESPN |access-date=January 21, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104095610/http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/16318116.htm |archive-date=January 4, 2007 }}</ref> After the season, Saban left for a head coaching job at [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|the University of Alabama]]. On January 21, 2007, the ''[[Sun-Sentinel|South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]'' reported that despite public assertions by Saban, his decision to bench Culpepper actually had little to do with his knee and more to do with his head.<ref>{{cite news|author=Dave Hyde |title=HYDE: Culpepper is Cameron's top issue |newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |date=January 21, 2007 |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-hyde21jan21,0,876011.column?coll=sfla-sports-front |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913202351/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-hyde21jan21,0,876011.column?coll=sfla-sports-front |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 13, 2012 |access-date=June 7, 2007 }}</ref>

====Departure====
Without Culpepper, the Dolphins relied on quarterbacks [[Cleo Lemon]] and [[Gibran Hamdan]], both of whom were considered unproven, and had until then combined for only one regular season start. In the Dolphins’ initial [[NFL mini-camp|mini-camp]] under first-year coach [[Cam Cameron]], both players struggled to move the offense. This poor performance led to an April 15 report stating a much-discussed trade for [[2006 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City]]’s [[Trent Green]] was imminent, for Culpepper could not participate in minicamp as he continued to recover from knee surgery.<ref>[http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-spdolnotes15apr15,0,6950737.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front Topic Galleries – South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070417082044/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-spdolnotes15apr15%2C0%2C6950737.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front |date=April 17, 2007 }}</ref> The weekend before the report, Culpepper revealed that the second surgery, designed to address scar tissue in the knee, was more serious than anyone originally divulged and required a rehabilitation period of 4–6 months. Culpepper said his surgeon [[James Andrews (physician)|Dr. James Andrews]] told him to "begin to ease into things" after May 1.<ref>{{cite web |author=Greg A. Bedard |title=Culpepper's future with Dolphins is dimming |publisher=Ocala.com |date=April 27, 2007 |url=http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070427/SPORTS/204270366/1026/SPORTS |access-date=June 7, 2007 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928001137/http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070427/SPORTS/204270366/1026/SPORTS |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On June 5, 2007, the Dolphins completed the long-awaited trade for Trent Green; a few hours before the Green trade became official, the Dolphins told Culpepper they “are going in a different direction at the QB position,” according to Culpepper, who resisted that plan.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=Dolphins tell Culpepper they're "going in a different direction" |publisher=ESPN |date=June 7, 2007 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2894921 |access-date=June 7, 2007 }}</ref>

On June 7, Culpepper, acting as his own agent, asked to be released from his contract with the Dolphins.<ref>{{cite web |title=Culpepper asks Dolphins to release him |publisher=National Football League |date=June 7, 2007 |url=http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/MIA/10217399 |access-date=June 8, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070609103012/http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/MIA/10217399 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = June 9, 2007}}</ref>

Culpepper was on the Dolphins' practice field for the start of a weekend minicamp on June 8, one day after asking for his release and two days after Miami completed a trade with Kansas City for Trent Green, who took over at quarterback.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=Culpepper leaves practice field accompanied by security |publisher=ESPN |date=June 8, 2007 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2897741 |access-date=June 8, 2007 }}</ref>

Informed by quarterbacks coach [[Terry Shea]] that he would not be permitted to take part in any team drills during the Dolphins' June 8–10 minicamp, Culpepper stated that he would seek intervention from the [[National Football League Players Association|NFL Players Association]] to end the stalemate.<ref>{{cite web |author=Len Pasquarelli |title=Frustrated Culpepper seeks NFLPA union intervention |publisher=ESPN |date=June 9, 2007 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2898926 |access-date=June 9, 2007 }}</ref> He was finally released by the Dolphins on July 17.

===Oakland Raiders===
Culpepper was first and most often linked to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Jaguars head coach [[Jack Del Rio]] said he did not feel Culpepper would be a good fit.<ref>{{cite web |author=Cole Pepper |title=Jags Out of Culpepper Hunt? |publisher=wokv.com |url=http://wokv.com/sports/daunte.html | access-date=October 2, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071022081439/http://wokv.com/sports/daunte.html |archive-date = October 22, 2007}}</ref> Culpepper worked out for the [[2007 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] soon after his release, but was not acquired by the team. On July 31, Culpepper signed a one-year contract with the [[2007 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]], as an insurance policy after the Raiders struggled to sign number-one draft pick [[JaMarcus Russell]], with whom they were engaging in contract negotiations. In 2007, Culpepper replaced the injured [[Josh McCown]] for the Raiders' matchup against his former team, the Miami Dolphins. Culpepper finished the game with two passing and three rushing touchdowns. Culpepper started a total of six games for Oakland. Before the Week 13 game against the [[2007 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]], Culpepper was nursing a sore quadriceps. He said he suffered the injury during the Week 12 game against the [[2007 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] but it did not begin to bother him until Wednesday.<ref name="culpepper3">{{cite news|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/2007-11-29-1620281313_x.htm |title=Injured Culpepper rests sore leg; McCown also hurt |publisher=usatoday30.usatoday.com |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=November 29, 2007 |access-date=January 19, 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120013007/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/2007-11-29-1620281313_x.htm |archive-date=January 20, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Culpepper questionable, McCown probable for Raiders game | work=McClatchy - Tribune News Service | date=November 30, 2007 | author=Jones, Jason}}</ref> Some sources said Culpepper suffered the injury when he ran a race with Oakland cornerback and former college sprinter [[Stanford Routt]] after practice but head coach [[Lane Kiffin]] declined knowledge of the alleged incident.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16074514/stevens_point_journal/ | title=A Look At The Oakland Raiders | work=Stevens Point Journal | date=December 6, 2007 | access-date=December 28, 2017 | pages=2B}}</ref> Due to his injury, Culpepper did not play again that season and was placed on injured reserve on December 26.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://football.realgm.com/wiretap/6984/Culpepper-Fargas-Done-For-Season |title=Culpepper, Fargas Done For Season |publisher=football.realgm.com |date=December 27, 2007 |access-date=January 19, 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120041053/http://football.realgm.com/wiretap/6984/Culpepper-Fargas-Done-For-Season |archive-date=January 20, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://proxy.espn.com/nfl/transactions/_/date/20071228 |title=NFL Transactions |publisher=[[ESPN]] |access-date=January 19, 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120041158/http://proxy.espn.com/nfl/transactions/_/date/20071228 |archive-date=January 20, 2017 }}</ref>

===2008 retirement and comeback===
Culpepper visited the [[2008 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] on April 23 and 24, 2008.<ref name="Packers pursuing Culpepper as possible backup">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3364050|title=Packers pursuing Culpepper as possible backup|date=April 23, 2008|access-date=April 28, 2008}}</ref> He later turned down their offer of $1 million for a one-year contract, claiming the deal was not good. He said he was in contact with a few other teams. In July 2008, it was reported that the [[2008 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] were interested in signing Culpepper, but they never made him an offer. He worked out with the [[2008 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] in August 2008, but the Steelers elected to sign [[Byron Leftwich]] instead to replace the injured [[Charlie Batch]]. On August 29, 2008, Culpepper then changed his mind and stated he would consider a backup role in Green Bay if they were still interested in him, but the team did not put forth an offer.

On September 4, 2008, Culpepper announced his retirement. He expressed his frustrations with the NFL in a brief retirement letter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3569109|title=Unable to find work, Culpepper retires from NFL|date=September 4, 2008|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> The main reason of his retirement was because he felt he could still be a starting quarterback in the NFL.

The [[2008 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] had spoken to Culpepper about coming out of retirement for the 2008 season after [[Brodie Croyle]] was declared out for the season with an injury.<ref>http://nationalpost.pa-sportsticker.com/default.aspx?s=nfl-news-display&nid=A17009181224617978A{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On October 23, Culpepper stated in an email to [[Adam Schefter]] that he would come out of retirement and give the NFL another shot. On October 27, Culpepper told the Chiefs that he would not make another meeting with the team due to a “better opportunity with another team”.<ref name="Culpepper drops">{{cite web |title=Sources: Culpepper drops visit with Chiefs |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8728262/Sources:-Culpepper-drops-visit-with-Chiefs |last=Glazer |first=Jay |work=Fox Sports |date=October 28, 2008 |access-date=October 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031081808/http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8728262/Sources%3A-Culpepper-drops-visit-with-Chiefs |archive-date=October 31, 2008 }}</ref>

===Detroit Lions===
On November 2, 2008, ESPN reported that Culpepper agreed to a two-year deal with the [[2008 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] and would join the team the following week.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3676865|title=Culpepper agrees to two-year deal with Lions|date=November 1, 2008|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> After passing a physical, Culpepper officially signed with the Lions on November 3. The Lions assigned Culpepper number 11,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/lions/2008/11/finally_culpepper_is_officiall.html|title=Finally -- Culpepper is officially a Lion|first=Tom|last=Kowalski|date=November 4, 2008|website=mlive.com}}</ref> the number [[Roy Williams (wide receiver)|Roy Williams]] wore before he was traded to [[2008 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas]] on October 14. Culpepper played four games with the Lions before suffering a shoulder injury. On December 28, 2008, the Lions became the first team in NFL history to go 0–16. The only other teams since the [[AFL–NFL merger]] to have a winless season were the [[1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], who went 0–14 (the NFL schedule was extended to 16 games in [[1978 NFL season|1978]]), the [[1982 Baltimore Colts season|1982 Baltimore Colts]], who went 0–8–1 during that strike-shortened season, and subsequently the [[2017 Cleveland Browns season|2017 Cleveland Browns]], who went 1–31 over the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

====2009====
In an interview with Sirius NFL Radio, former Lions wide receiver [[Mike Furrey]] said he had heard through former Lions teammates that the Lions planned to make Culpepper the starter for the 2009 season.<ref>Ex-teammates say Culpepper will start in 2009 – {{cite web |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20090216/SPORTS01/902160329/1048/sports/Ex-teammate+says+Culpepper+will+start+at+QB+in+2009 |title=Ex-teammate says Culpepper will start at QB in 2009 &#124; Freep.com &#124; Detroit Free Press |access-date=February 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219180521/http://freep.com/article/20090216/SPORTS01/902160329/1048/SPORTS/Ex-teammate+says+Culpepper+will+start+at+QB+in+2009 |archive-date=February 19, 2009 }}</ref>

On February 16, 2009, the Lions reached an agreement with Culpepper for a restructured deal that would keep him on the team in the second year of his two-year contract. He had been due a $2.5 million roster bonus later in February prior to the restructuring.

On September 7, 2009, it was reported first overall draft pick [[Matthew Stafford]] was named the starter for the Lions regular season opener against the Saints. During the preseason, Culpepper had suffered a foot injury. Culpepper said he would respect Matthew Stafford as the starter, but was not opposed to being traded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4452545|title=Lions to start No. 1 overall pick Stafford at QB|date=September 7, 2009|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

On December 14, 2009, Culpepper played in what the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' headlined as “Lions suffer one of their biggest defeats in history.” Played in Baltimore, the Ravens won the game 48–3. In week 14, versus the Arizona Cardinals, Culpepper was benched in favor of third-string quarterback [[Drew Stanton]] after a poor performance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20091213%2FSPORTS01%2F91213013%2F1319%2FLions-suffer-one-of-their-biggest-defeats-in-history&template=fullarticle |title=Archived copy |access-date=December 14, 2009 |archive-date=October 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005092227/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20091213%2FSPORTS01%2F91213013%2F1319%2FLions-suffer-one-of-their-biggest-defeats-in-history&template=fullarticle |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Sacramento Mountain Lions===
Culpepper signed with the [[Sacramento Mountain Lions]] of the [[United Football League (2009)|United Football League]] on June 7, 2010. The signing reunited Culpepper with [[Dennis Green]], his former head coach in Minnesota, and [[Mike Kruczek]], his former head coach at the University of Central Florida.<ref>[http://www.ufl-football.com/news/quarterback-daunte-culpepper-signs-sacramento-mountain-lions Quarterback Daunte Culpepper Signs with the Sacramento Mountain Lions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610172509/http://www.ufl-football.com/news/quarterback-daunte-culpepper-signs-sacramento-mountain-lions |date=June 10, 2010 }} UFL Official Site June 7, 2010</ref> Culpepper was named UFL Offensive Player of the Week, twice in the 2010 season. His best game came in week 2, beating the Florida Tuskers 24–20, throwing for 374 yards and two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. In April 2011, Culpepper was placed on the protected players' list, for the 2011 UFL season.

===2011===
On August 14, 2011, [[2011 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] head coach [[Jim Harbaugh]] announced that Culpepper was working out for the team on the following Monday to possibly add him to the 49ers roster.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/trainingcamp/story/09000d5d82177247/article/harbaugh-49ers-will-kick-the-tires-on-veteran-culpepper|title=Harbaugh: 49ers will 'kick the tires' on veteran Culpepper|website=NFL.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18682207 |title=San Francisco 49ers notebook: Veteran QB Daunte Culpepper to be checked out - San Jose Mercury News |access-date=August 15, 2011 |archive-date=October 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008092738/http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18682207 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, the 49ers opted to sign Culpepper's former Oakland Raider teammate [[Josh McCown]] instead.

Culpepper was named the 45th best quarterback of the modern era by Football Nation.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.footballnation.com/content/nfl-power-rankings-top-100-qbs-since-the-merger-60-41/15504/ | work=Football Nation | title=Top 100 Modern Quarterbacks: 60–41 | date=July 26, 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902153459/http://www.footballnation.com/content/nfl-power-rankings-top-100-qbs-since-the-merger-60-41/15504/ | archive-date=September 2, 2012 }}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#e0cef2; width:3em;"|
| NFL record
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===NFL regular season statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="8"| Passing
! colspan="4"| Rushing
! colspan="2"| Sacks
! colspan="2"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Record !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Sck !! SckY !! Fum !! Lost
|-
! [[1999 NFL season|1999]] || [[1999 Minnesota Vikings season|MIN]]
| 1 || 0 || — || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 3 || 6 || 2.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0
|-
! [[2000 NFL season|2000]] || [[2000 Minnesota Vikings season|MIN]]
| 16 || 16 || '''11–5''' || 297 || 474 || 62.7 || 3,937 || 8.3 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 33 || 16 || 98.0 || 89 || 470 || 5.3 || 7 || 34 || 181 || 11 || 3
|-
! [[2001 NFL season|2001]] || [[2001 Minnesota Vikings season|MIN]]
| 11 || 11 || 4–7 || 235 || 366 || 64.2 || 2,612 || 7.1 || 14 || 13 || 83.3 || 71 || 416 || 5.9 || 5 || 33 || 186 || 16 || 6
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] || [[2002 Minnesota Vikings season|MIN]]
| 16 || 16 || 6–10 || 333 || '''549''' || 60.7 || 3,853 || 7.0 || 18 || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''23''' || 75.3 || '''106''' || '''609''' || 5.7 || '''10''' || '''47''' || '''244''' || style="background:#e0cef2;"| '''23''' || '''9'''
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] || [[2003 Minnesota Vikings season|MIN]]
| 14 || 14 || 7–7 || 295 || 454 || 65.0 || 3,479 || 7.7 || 25 || 11 || 96.4 || 73 || 422 || 5.8 || 4 || 37 || 196 ||style="background:#cfecec;"| 16 || 6
|-
! [[2004 NFL season|2004]] || [[2004 Minnesota Vikings season|MIN]]
| 16 || 16 || 8–8 || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''379''' || 548 || '''69.2''' || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''4,717''' || '''8.6''' || '''39''' || 11 || '''110.9''' || 88 || 406 || 4.6 || 2 || 46 || 238 || 9 || 2
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] || [[2005 Minnesota Vikings season|MIN]]
| 7 || 7 || 2–5 || 139 || 216 || 64.4 || 1,564 || 7.2 || 6 || 12 || 72.0 || 24 || 147 || '''6.1''' || 1 || 31 || 169 || 5 || 3
|-
! [[2006 NFL season|2006]] || [[2006 Miami Dolphins season|MIA]]
| 4 || 4 || 1–3 || 81 || 134 || 60.4 || 929 || 6.9 || 2 || 3 || 77.0 || 10 || 20 || 2.0 || 1 || 21 || 150 || 3 || 0
|-
! [[2007 NFL season|2007]] || [[2007 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| 7 || 6 || 2–4 || 108 || 186 || 58.1 || 1,331 || 7.2 || 5 || 5 || 78.0 || 20 || 40 || 2.0 || 3 || 21 || 130 || 9 || 3
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] || [[2008 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 5 || 5 || 0–5 || 60 || 115 || 52.2 || 786 || 6.8 || 4 || 6 || 63.9 || 12 || 25 || 2.1 || 1 || 14 || 95 || 5 || 1
|-
! [[2009 NFL season|2009]] || [[2009 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 8 || 5 || 0–5 || 89 || 157 || 56.7 || 945 || 6.0 || 3 || 6 || 64.8 || 18 || 91 || 5.1 || 0 || 14 || 107 || 4 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career<ref>{{cite web|title = Daunte Culpepper NFL Football Statistics {{!}} Pro-Football-Reference.com|url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CulpDa00.htm|website = Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date = April 27, 2015}}</ref> || 105 || 100 || 41–59 || 2,016 || 3,199 || 63.0 || 24,153 || 7.6 || 149 || 106 || 87.8 || 514 || 2,652 || 5.2 || 34 || 298 || 1,696 || 102 || 33
|}


===NFL postseason statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="8"| Passing
! colspan="4"| Rushing
! colspan="2"| Sacks
! colspan="2"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Record !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Rtg !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Sck !! SckY !! Fum !! Lost
|-
! [[1999–2000 NFL playoffs|1999]] || [[1999 Minnesota Vikings season|MIN]]
| 0 || 0 || colspan="17"| ''Did not play''
|-
! [[2000–01 NFL playoffs|2000]] || [[2000 Minnesota Vikings season|MIN]]
| 2 || 2 || 1–1 || 30 || 59 || 50.8 || 380 || 6.4 || 3 || '''3''' || 67.1 || 6 || 61 || '''10.2''' || 0 || 4 || 18 || '''2''' || '''1'''
|-
! [[2004–05 NFL playoffs|2004]] || [[2004 Minnesota Vikings season|MIN]]
| 2 || 2 || 1–1 || '''43''' || '''75''' || '''57.3''' || '''600''' || '''8.0''' || '''5''' || 2 || '''94.3''' || '''12''' || '''72''' || 6.0 || '''1''' || '''6''' || '''44''' || 1 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career<ref>{{cite web|title = Daunte Culpepper NFL Playoff Statistics {{!}} Pro-Football-Reference.com|url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CulpDa00/gamelog/|website = Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date = June 21, 2025}}</ref> || 4 || 4 || 2–2 || 73 || 134 || 54.5 || 980 || 7.3 || 8 || 5 || 82.3 || 18 || 133 || 7.4 || 1 || 10 || 62 || 3 || 1
|}


===UFL statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="8"| Passing
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Rtg
|-
! [[2010 UFL season|2010]] || [[2010 Sacramento Mountain Lions season|SAC]]
| 8 || 8 || 183 || 300 || 61.0 || 1,944 || 6.5 || 10 || 12 || 74.4
|-
! colspan="2"| Career || 8 || 8 || 183 || 300 || 61.0 || 1,944 || 6.5 || 10 || 12 || 74.4
|}

===Awards and honors===
*2001 Vikings [[Ed Block Courage Award]]
*2001 [[Best Breakthrough Athlete ESPY Award]]
*2003 Extra Effort Award
*2003 [[Korey Stringer]] Good Guy Award
*2004 Korey Stringer Good Guy Award
*2007 Week 4 [[American Football Conference|AFC]] Offensive Player of the Week
*2010 Week 2 [[United Football League (2009)|United Football League]] Offensive Co-Player of the Week
*2010 Week 7 United Football League Offensive Player of the Week

==Other appearances==
Culpepper appeared in an episode of ''[[George Lopez (TV series)|George Lopez]]'' along with [[Donovan McNabb]]. In the episode Culpepper is trying to recruit Jason McNamara to play for [[UCF Knights football|Central Florida]], competing against McNabb who wants Jason to go to [[Syracuse University|Syracuse]].<ref>{{cite web|title='George Lopez - I Can't Believe It (3)'|website = YouTube| date=August 7, 2010 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHZUms_R9UE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/PHZUms_R9UE |archive-date=December 22, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
 
Culpepper also appeared in the movie ''[[50 First Dates]]'',<ref name="ocala_cameo">{{Cite web |last=Marks |first=Andy |date=August 6, 2010 |title=No. 1: Culpepper shines from Booster Stadium to Pro Bowl |url=https://www.ocala.com/story/news/2010/08/08/no-1-culpepper-shines-from-booster-stadium-to-pro-bowl/31416098007/ |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=The Star Banner |language=en-US}}</ref> in the huddle and throwing a touchdown pass to [[Jim Kleinsasser]] when [[Sean Astin]] and [[Drew Barrymore]] were watching a football game.

Culpepper was a guest star at the 2013 Super Bash event hosted by NFL UK in London. Culpepper is represented by R. Totka of Athlete Promotions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daunteculpepper.net/contact/|title=Contact Daunte Culpepper - DaunteCulpepper.net}}</ref>

He also made cameos in several Cash Money music videos.

==See also==
*[[Most consecutive games with a touchdown pass (NFL)#All-time consecutive games with at least five touchdown passes|Most consecutive games with at least five touchdown passes]]
*[[Madden NFL|Madden NFL Cover Athletes]]
*[[Madden Curse]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.daunteculpepper.net}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=Daunte-Culpepper
|ufl= |espn=1762 |cbs=133263 |yahoo=4659 |si=4659 |pfr=C/CulpDa00}}

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{{Navboxes
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{{1999 NFL Draft}}
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{{NFL passing yardage leaders}}
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