Wikipedia

Danny Wuerffel: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
winning the World Bowl should certainly not be listed ahead of the Heisman Trophy in the infobox awards list
m ce
(58 intermediate revisions by 36 users not shown)
Line 1:
{{Short description|American football player (born 1974)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Danny Wuerffel
| image =File: DWuerffel Headshot.png
| alt =
| caption = Wuerffel in 2019
|alt =
| number = 7, 17
| position = [[Quarterback]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|5|27|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Fort Walton Beach, Florida]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
|weight_lbs weight_lb = 212
| high_school = [[Fort Walton Beach High School|Fort Walton Beach (FL)]]
| college = [[Florida Gators football|Florida]] (1993–1996)
| draftyear = 1997
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 99
| expansiondraftyear = 2002
|pastteams =▼
| expansiondraftround = 1
* [[New Orleans Saints]] ({{NFL Year|1997}}–{{NFL Year|1999}})▼
| expansiondraftpick = 17
▲| pastteams =
▲* [[New Orleans Saints]] ({{NFL Year|1997}}–{{NFL Year|1999}})
* [[Rhein Fire (NFL Europe)|Rhein Fire]] ({{RHE season|2000}})
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ({{NFL Year|2000}})
* [[Chicago Bears]] ({{NFL Year|2001}})
* [[Houston Texans]] ({{NFL Year|2002}})*
* [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|2002}})
| highlights =▼
|pastteamsnote=yes
* [[World Bowl]] MVPchampion ([[World Bowl 2000|2000]])▼
▲|highlights =
* [[BowlCollege Alliance|Bowl Alliancefootball national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|National champion]] ([[1997 Sugar Bowl|1996]])
* [[Heisman Trophy]] (1996)
* [[Maxwell Award]] (1996)
* 2× [[Davey O'Brien Award]] (1995, 1996)▼
* [[Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award]] (1996)
* [[Walter Camp Award]] (1996)
* [[DraddyWilliam V. Campbell Trophy]] (1996)
* [[Sporting News College Football Player of the Year|''Sporting News'' Player of the Year]] (1996)▼
▲* 2× [[Davey O'Brien Award]] (1995, 1996)
* [[Sammy Baugh Trophy]] (1995)
* [[Draddy Trophy]] (1996)
* 2× [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards#Most Valuable Player|SEC Player of the Year]] (1995, 1996)▼
▲* [[Sporting News College Football Player of the Year|''Sporting NewsSN'' Player of the Year]] (1996)
* 2× First-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1995 College Football All-America Team|1995]], [[1996 College Football All-America Team|1996]])▼
* [[Touchdown Club of Columbus#Kellen Moore Award|Quarterback of the Year]] (1996)
* 2× First-team All-[[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] ([[1995 All-SEC football team|1995]], [[1996 All-SEC football team|1996]])▼
▲* 2× First-teamConsensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1995 College Football All-America Team|1995]], [[1996 College Football All-America Team|1996]])
▲* [[World Bowl]] MVP ([[World Bowl 2000|2000]])
* Second-team All-American ([[1995 College Football All-America Team|1995]])
* [[Florida_Gators_football#Ring_of_Honor|Florida Football Ring of Honor]] (2006)▼
▲* 2× [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards#MostPlayer Valuableof Playerthe Year|SEC Player of the Year]] (1995, 1996)
|statleague = NFL
▲* 2× First-team All-[[SoutheasternList Conferenceof All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1995 All-SEC football team|1995]], [[1996 All-SEC football team|1996]])
|statlabel1 = TD–INT
* [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards#Freshman of the Year|SEC Freshman of the Year]] (1993)
|statvalue1 = 12–22▼
▲* [[Florida_Gators_footballFlorida Gators football#Ring_of_HonorRing of Honor|Florida Football Ring of Honor]] (2006)
|statlabel2 = Passing yards▼
| statlabel1 = Passing attempts
|statvalue2 = 2,123▼
▲| statvalue1 = 12–22350
|statlabel3 = Passer rating▼
▲| statlabel2 = Passing yardscompletions
|statvalue3 = 56.4▼
▲| statvalue2 = 2,123184
|nfl=Danny-Wuerffel
| statlabel3 = Completion percentage
|CollegeHOF = 2355▼
▲| statvalue3 = 5652.46%
| statlabel4 = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue4 = 12–22
| statlabel5 = [[Passing yards]]
| statvalue5 = 2,123
▲|statlabel3 statlabel6 = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue6 = 56.4
| pfr = W/WuerDa00
▲| CollegeHOF = 2355
}}
 
'''Daniel Carl Wuerffel''' (born May 27, 1974) is aan American former college and professional [[American football|football]] [[quarterback]]. Wuerffelwho attendedplayed in the [[UniversityNational ofFootball FloridaLeague]], where(NFL). heHe wasplayed a[[college prolific passerfootball]] for the [[Florida Gators football|Florida Gators]], where he was a prolific passer under head coach [[Steve Spurrier]]. Wuerffel led the NCAA in touchdown passes in 1995 and 1996 and set numerous school and conference records during his career. During his senior year in [[1996 NCAA Division I-A football season|1996]], Wuerffelhe won the [[Heisman Trophy]] while leading the Gators to their [[1996 Florida Gators football team|their first national championship]]. HeIn 2013, he was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 2013.
 
After graduating from the [[University of Florida]], Wuerffelhe was draftedselected byin the [[New1997 OrleansNFL Saintsdraft]] ofby the [[NationalNew FootballOrleans LeagueSaints]] (NFL). He spent six years in the league with four teams, including the [[Green Bay Packers]], the [[Chicago Bears]] and the [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]], though his playing time and on-field success in the NFL was limited. Wuerffel also played one season in [[NFL Europe]], where he led the [[Rhein Fire (NFL Europe)|Rhein Fire]] to a league championship and was named MVP ofin [[World Bowl 2000]].
 
After retiring from professional football, Wuerffel returned to New Orleans to work with Desire Street Ministries, a [[nonprofit organization]] that seeks to help impoverished neighborhoods through spiritual and community development. Wuerffel had first become involved with the organization while playing for the Saints in the late 1990s, and as the organization attempted to recover from the aftermath of [[Hurricane Katrina]], he became its executive director.<ref name="heismancharity">{{cite web | url=http://heisman.com/news/2014/11/19/Weurffel_Desire_Ministries.aspx?path=general | title=Charity Spotlight: Danny Wuerffel and Desire Street Ministries | publisher=The Heisman Trust | access-date=February 27, 2016}}</ref> Under Wuerffel, Desire Street Ministries moved its headquarters to Atlanta and expanded its programs to other inner cities in the American South.<ref name="desiredocumentary">{{cite news | url=http://www.nola.com/katrina/index.ssf/2015/08/danny_wuerffel_desire_academy.html | title=ESPN to premiere Desire Street Academy documentary 'Wuerffel's Way' | work=New Orleans Times-Picayune | date=August 19, 2015 | access-date=February 27, 2016 | author=Walker, Dave}}</ref>
Line 66 ⟶ 79:
==College career==
===1993–1994===
Wuerffel accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the [[University of Florida]] in Gainesville, Florida, where he played quarterback for head coach Steve Spurrier's [[Florida Gators football]] team from [[1993 Florida Gators football team|1993]] to [[1996 Florida Gators football team|1996]].<ref name=ufmediaguide>''[http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2011/media_guide.pdf 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402035222/http://web.gatorzone.com/football/media/2011/media_guide.pdf |date=April 2, 2012 }}'', University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 83, 86, 88, 93, 97, 99, 100–103, 125, 158, 159, 162, 173, 186 (2011). Retrieved September 1, 2011.</ref> One of the most decorated players in Florida's football history,<ref name=ufmediaguide/> he was a key member of the Gators teams that won four consecutive [[Southeastern Conference]] titles between 1993 and 1996. Wuerffel graduated from the university with a bachelor's degree in public relations, and was inducted into the [[List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members|University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame]] as a "Gator Great" in 2006.<ref>F Club, Hall of Fame, [http://www.gatorfclub.org/hall-of-fame/greats Gator Greats]. Retrieved December 15, 2014.</ref><ref>Robbie Andreu, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dPRPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QwkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6757,1825513&dq=gators+hall-of-fame&hl=en Wuerffel, Doering to enter UF Hall]," ''Ocala Star-Banner'' (April 21, 2006). Retrieved July 22, 2011.</ref> On September 30, 2006, Wuerffel was inducted into the [[Gator Football Ring of Honor]] alongside his former coach Spurrier and two other former Gator players, [[Jack Youngblood]] and [[Emmitt Smith]]. Wuerffel was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.<ref>Ivan Maisel, "[httphttps://espnwww.goespn.com/college-football/story/_/id/9250529/vinny-testaverde-danny-wuerffel-ron-dayne-lead-college-football-hall-fame-class Heisman trio highlight Class of 2013]," ESPN (May 7, 2013). Retrieved May 7, 2013.</ref><ref>"[https://footballfoundation.org/news/2013/5/7/_53641.aspx?path=football NFF Proudly Announces Stellar 2013 College Football Hall of Fame Class]," National Football Foundation (May 7, 2013). Retrieved May 7, 2013.</ref>
 
The [[1993 Florida Gators football team|1993 season]] was the first in which the Gators were ranked in the AP top 10 every week. In the second week, quarterbacks Wuerffel and Terry Dean throw a total of seven interceptions against [[1993 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20100921/ARTICLES/100929892?p=2&tc=pg|title=Gators' streak vs. 'Cats filled with close calls|work=Gatorsports.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928170800/http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20100921/ARTICLES/100929892?p=2&tc=pg|archive-date=September 28, 2015}}</ref> With eight seconds left, Wuerffel threw a pass down the middle to walk-on receiver [[Chris Doering]] for the game-winning touchdown; Gator play-by-play announcer [[Mick Hubert]] shouted, "Doering's got a touchdown!"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gatorcountry.com/florida-gators-football/flashback-friday-with-the-florida-gators-chris-doering-and-kentucky-1993/|title=FlashBack Friday with the Florida Gators: Chris Doering|author=Kassidy Hill|work=GatorCountry.com}}</ref> The next week, Florida recovered and defeated [[Heath Shuler]]-led and fifth-ranked [[1993 Tennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee]] 41–34 in a "shootout".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-09-14/sports/9509130481_1_heath-shuler-tennessee-florida-s-offense|title=Shuler's Advice To Vols: Avoid A Gator Shootout|work=tribunedigital-sunsentinel|access-date=2016-04-12|archive-date=2015-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928222917/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1995-09-14/sports/9509130481_1_heath-shuler-tennessee-florida-s-offense|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
===1995–1996===
[[File:Danny Wuerffel University of Florida Heisman Quarterback 01.jpg|thumb|Wuerffel playing for the [[1996 Florida Gators football team|Florida Gators]], October 1996]]
Wuerffel had split playing time with fellow quarterback [[Terry Dean]] for much of the 1993 and 1994 seasons. With Dean graduated, Wuerffel was the clear starter coming into the 1995 season, and he made the most of his opportunity. The Gators went through the regular season undefeated, and Wuerffel set several [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC) and NCAA records for passing, including the SEC season record for touchdown passes and the NCAA record for [[passing efficiency]] .<ref>[httphttps://assets.espn.go.com/SEC/football/2015/Record%20Book.pdf SEC Record book]</ref> Highlights included a September win over rival [[1995 Tennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee]] in which Florida rallied from a 30-1430–14 deficit to win 62-3762–37 behind Wuerffel's SEC record 6 touchdown passes. ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' had sent a team of reporters to cover the top-10 matchup and had planned to put Tennessee quarterback [[Peyton Manning]] on the cover. However, after the Gators' win, they decided to put Wuerffel on the cover instead, bringing him his first major national attention.<ref name="NCAAcover">{{Cite web |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2016-09-22/college-football-throwback-thursday-top-florida-tennessee-rivalry |title=College football Throwback Thursday: Top Florida-Tennessee rivalry moments |last=Harris |first=Janie |date=September 22, 2006 |website=NCAA.com}}</ref><ref>[http://www.tnjn.com/2015/09/25/greatest-moments-tennessee-florida-football/ "Greatest Moments: Tennessee-Florida Football. ''Tennessee Journalist''. 15 September 2015]</ref><ref name="Spurriercover">{{Cite web |url=http://floridagators.com/news/2016/8/25/chris-harry-spurriers-11-favorite-games-on-the-field-to-bear-his-name.aspx |title=Spurrier's 11 Favorite Games on the Field to Bear His Name |last=Harry |first=Chris |date=September 1, 2016 |website=floridagators.com}}</ref><ref name="sentinelcover">{{Cite news |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-09-15/sports/9609200328_1_eric-kresser-danny-wuerffel-gators |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709040205/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1996-09-15/sports/9609200328_1_eric-kresser-danny-wuerffel-gators |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 9, 2013 |title=Gators' QB Playing for an "Audience of One" |last=Harry |first=Chris |date=September 15, 1996 |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel}}</ref><ref name="bookcover">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RK2DBQAAQBAJ&q=wuerffel+%22sports+illustrated%22+cover+manning&pg=PA183 |title=Spurrier: How The Ball Coach Taught the South to Play Football |last=Henry |first=Ran |publisher=Lyons Press |year=2014 |isbn=978-0762791842}}</ref>
 
He led the Gators to the [[Bowl Alliance]] National Championship game following the 1995 season, but ultimately lost 62–24 to the [[1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska Cornhuskers]] in the [[1996 Fiesta Bowl|Fiesta Bowl]]. Wuerffel won the 1996 Heisman Trophy,<ref>Sports-Reference.com, College Football, [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/awards/heisman-1996.html 1996 Heisman Trophy Voting]. Retrieved April 26, 2012.</ref> as the outstanding college football player in America, while quarterbacking the Gators into their second consecutive Bowl Alliance national championship game with help from teammates [[Fred Taylor (American football)|Fred Taylor]] at running back; [[Reidel Anthony]], [[Ike Hilliard]], and [[Jacquez Green]] at wide receiver; and [[Jeff Mitchell]] on the offensive line. Wuerffel and the Gators won the 1996 national championship in decisive fashion by defeating the [[1996 Florida State Seminoles football team|Florida State Seminoles]] 52–20 in the [[1997 Sugar Bowl|Sugar Bowl]].<ref name=ufmediaguide/>
Line 83 ⟶ 96:
He finished his Gator career by completing 708 of 1,170 passes for 10,875 yards with 114 touchdown passes, the best in SEC history and second-most in major college history.<ref name="ufmediaguide" /> His career pass efficiency rating of 163.56 was the best in major college history and his percentage of passes which went for a touchdown (9.74) ranked first in collegiate history. In 1995, his efficiency rating of 178.4 set a single-season collegiate record. During his Heisman-winning season of 1996, he completed 207 of 360 passes for 3,625 yards (an SEC record at the time) for 39 touchdowns (leading the nation) and his efficiency rating of 170.6 made him the first quarterback to ever post a rating of 170 or better in back-to-back years.
 
===College statistics===▼
[[File:Danny Wuerffel University of Florida Heisman Quarterback 02.jpg|thumb|Wuerffel playing for the Florida Gators, November 1996]]
 
▲===College statistics===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="7"| Passing
|-
! CompCmp !! Att !! YardsYds !! Pct !! TD !! Int !! [[Passer rating|Rtg]]
|-
! [[1993 NCAA Division I-A football season|1993]] || [[1993 Florida Gators football team|1993Florida]]
| 159 || 273 || 2,230 || 58.2 || 22 || 10 || 146.1
|-
! [[1994 NCAA Division I-A football season|1994]] || [[1994 Florida Gators football team|1994Florida]]
| 132 || 212 || 1,754 || 62.3 || 18 || 9 || 151.3
|-
! [[1995 NCAA Division I-A football season|1995]] || [[1995 Florida Gators football team|1995Florida]]
| 210 || 325 || 3,266<sup>2</sup> || 64.6 || 35<sup>1</sup> || 10 || 178.4<sup>1</sup>
|-
! [[1996 NCAA Division I-A football season|1996]] || [[1996 Florida Gators football team|1996Florida]]
| 207 || 360 || 3,625<sup>2</sup> || 57.5 || 39<sup>1</sup> || 13 || 170.6<sup>2</sup>
|-
! Total<ref>{{cite webcolspan="2"|url=[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/danny-wuerffel-1.html|title=Danny Wuerffel profile|publisher=Sports Reference}}</ref> Total]!! 708 !! 1,170 !! 10,875 !! 60.5 !! 114 !! 42 !! 163.6<sup>3</sup>
|}
 
Notes: <sup>1</sup> indicates NCAA leader, <sup>2</sup> indicates SEC leader <sup>3</sup>Indicates NCAA career record
 
==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
The [[New Orleans Saints]] selected Wuerffel in the fourth round of the [[1997 NFL Draft]],<ref>Pro Football Hall of Fame, Draft History, [http://www.profootballhof.com/history/story.aspx?story_id=2033 1997 National Football League Draft]. Retrieved April 7, 2011.</ref> and he played for the Saints for three seasons from {{NFL Year|1997}} to {{NFL Year|1999}}.<ref name=nflprofile>National Football League, Historical Players, [http://www.nfl.com/players/dannywuerffel/profile?id=WUE563610 Danny Wuerffel]. Retrieved April 7, 2011.</ref> Wuerffel spent the offseason before the [[2000 NFL season]] with the [[Rhein Fire (NFL Europe)|Rhein Fire]] in [[NFL Europa]], where he led the team to a league championship and was named [[Most Valuable Player|MVP]] of [[World Bowl 2000]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfle/rhein-fire/stats/2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120142440/http://footballdb.com/teams/nfle/rhein-fire/stats/2000 |archive-date=2011-11-20 |title=2000 Rhein Fire Stats - The Football Database}}</ref> He spent single seasons as a backup with the [[Green Bay Packers]] and [[Chicago Bears]] in 2000 and 2001. Wuerffel was drafted by the [[Houston Texans]] in the [[2002 NFL Expansion Draft]], only to be traded to the [[Washington Redskins]] a week later, reuniting him with college coach Steve Spurrier.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://a.espncdn.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1340816.html|title=Texans deal Wuerffel to 'Skins in first-ever trade|author=Len Pasquarelli|author-link=Len Pasquarelli|work=[[ESPN]]|access-date=September 20, 2016|date=February 26, 2002}}</ref> Wuerffel started several games that season, alternating with fellow Florida Gator alumnus [[Shane Matthews]], but was released by the team before the 2003 season, much to the chagrin of Spurrier.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Low|first=Chris|date=December 11, 2012|title=Why did Steve Spurrier fail in NFL?|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/8735835/college-football-unhealthy-culture-contributed-steve-spurrier-failure-nfl|access-date=December 16, 2020}}</ref>▼
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1 3/4
| weight = 212
| dash = 4.90
| ten split = 1.68
| twenty split = 2.85
| shuttle = 4.42
| vertical = 28.0
| arm span = 31 1/2
| hand span = 9 1/2
}}
 
▲TheWuerffel was considered a "marginal" prospect for the [[1997 NFL draft]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1997/04/21/ditka-ordains-wuerffel-a-saint/ | title=Ditka Ordains Wuerffel a Saint | date=21 April 1997 }}</ref> As such, the New Orleans Saints]] selected Wuerffel in the fourth round of the [[1997 NFL Draft]], as the third quarterback selected in the draft.<ref>Pro{{Cite Footballweb Hall|title=1997 of Fame,NFL Draft History,Listing [http|url=https://www.profootballhofpro-football-reference.com/historyyears/1997/storydraft.aspx?story_idhtm |access-date=20332023-03-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com 1997|language=en}}</ref> NationalHe Footballwas Leagueselected Draft].to Retrievedpotentially Aprilserve 7as the number three quarterback, 2011.</ref>as the team already had [[Heath Shuler]] and he[[Jim Everett]] on the roster under new head coach [[Mike Ditka]]. He played for the Saints for three seasons from {{NFL Year|1997}} to {{NFL Year|1999}}.<ref name=nflprofile>National Football League, Historical Players, [http://www.nfl.com/players/dannywuerffel/profile?id=WUE563610 Danny Wuerffel]. Retrieved April 7, 2011.</ref> Wuerffel spent the offseason before the [[2000 NFL season]] with the [[Rhein Fire (NFL Europe)|Rhein Fire]] in [[NFL Europa]], where he led the team to a league championship and was named [[Most Valuable Player|MVP]] of [[World Bowl 2000]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfle/rhein-fire/stats/2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120142440/http://footballdb.com/teams/nfle/rhein-fire/stats/2000 |archive-date=2011-11-20 |title=2000 Rhein Fire Stats - The Football Database}}</ref> He spent single seasons as a backup with the [[Green Bay Packers]] and [[Chicago Bears]] in 2000 and 2001. Wuerffel was drafted by the [[Houston Texans]] in the [[2002 NFL Expansion Draft]], only to be traded to the [[Washington Redskins]] a week later, reuniting him with college coach Steve Spurrier.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://a.espncdn.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1340816.html|title=Texans deal Wuerffel to 'Skins in first-ever trade|author=Len Pasquarelli|author-link=Len Pasquarelli|work=[[ESPN]]|access-date=September 20, 2016|date=February 26, 2002}}</ref> Wuerffel started several games that season, alternating with fellow Florida Gator alumnus [[Shane Matthews]], but was released by the team before the 2003 season, much to the chagrin of Spurrier.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Low|first=Chris|date=December 11, 2012|title=Why did Steve Spurrier fail in NFL?|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/8735835/college-football-unhealthy-culture-contributed-steve-spurrier-failure-nfl|access-date=December 16, 2020}}</ref>
 
After not being signed by another team in 2003, Wuerffel decided to retire from professional football in February 2004.<ref>{{cite webnews|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54670-2004Feb19.html?sections=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/sports|title=Wuerffel Announces Retirement From NFL|agency=[[Associated Press]]|worknewspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=September 21, 2016|date=February 19, 2004}}</ref>
 
==Personal life==
Line 123 ⟶ 149:
In 2014, Emerald Bay Country Club in [[Destin, Florida]], hosted the 1st Annual Danny Wuerffel Golf Classic, known as the "Danny Cup".<ref name="digital.turn-page.com">{{cite web|title=1st Annual Danny Wuerffel Golf Classic|url=http://digital.turn-page.com/i/276916-destin-magazine-mar-apr14/112|website=Destin Magazine|access-date=January 14, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053816/http://digital.turn-page.com/i/276916-destin-magazine-mar-apr14/112|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> A small stretch of road between the Mid-Bay Bridge and [[Highway 98]] in Destin, still his parents' home,<ref name="digital.turn-page.com"/> has been dedicated as "Danny Wuerffel Way" by the Florida state legislature.<ref name="roadbill">{{Cite web|url=http://election.dos.state.fl.us/laws/97laws/ch_97-314.pdf|title=Division of Elections - Florida Department of State}}</ref>
 
Wuerffel is currently a motivational speaker, Executiveexecutive Directordirector of Desire Street Ministries and maintains a personal website at [https://Dannywuerffel.com dannywuerffel.com] .
 
Before the [[Pickleball]] craze hit the US, Wuerffel was one of the first celebrity players trying to grow the game. In 2022, Wuerffel hosted his first Picklebowl tournament, a play on the [[Super Bowl]], the event is a [[Celebrity]] [[Pro–am]], where a [[Professional sports|Professional]] plays with celebrity from their [[Alma mater]]. In the first event ever Wuerffel and his teammate [[Kyle Yates]], who was a former [[Florida Gators|UF tennis]] player, won the event.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Derrick |title=PICKLEBALL FOR ALL: Danny Wuerffel, Drew Brees, Rick Barry join pickleball craze on St. Simons |url=https://thebrunswicknews.com/sports/local_sports/pickleball-for-all-danny-wuerffel-drew-brees-rick-barry-join-pickleball-craze-on-st-simons/article_0f9d038a-6842-5e27-9094-166c63376fc2.html |work=The Brunswick News |date=October 27, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Yates and Wuerffel successfully defended their Picklebowl title in 2023 in [[Atlanta]] at the [[Intercollegiate Tennis Association]]
 
==See also==
Line 129 ⟶ 157:
* [[List of Chicago Bears players]]
* [[List of Florida Gators football All-Americans]]
* [[List of Florida Gators in the NFL Draftdraft]]
* [[List of Green Bay Packers players]]
* [[List of Heisman Trophy winners]]
Line 151 ⟶ 179:
 
==External links==
{{commons}}
* {{Official website|http://www.DannyWuerffel.com/}}
* {{College Football HoF|2355}}
* {{Heisman|danny-wuerffel}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=danny-wuerffel |espn=1264 |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=W/WuerDa00 |rotoworld=101 }}
 
{{Navboxes
Line 185 ⟶ 214:
[[Category:American Presbyterians]]
[[Category:People from Fort Walton Beach, Florida]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Okaloosa County, Florida]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Pensacola, Florida]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
Line 199 ⟶ 229:
[[Category:World Bowl MVPs]]
[[Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:PeopleWalter withCamp Guillain–BarréAward syndromewinners]]
[[Category:Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Maxwell Award winners]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Wuerffel"