Daunte Culpepper

Daunte Culpepper is a former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Minnesota Vikings. His professional career extended to the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League (UFL) after a successful run in the NFL, having been drafted as the 11th overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. Culpepper played college football at the University of Central Florida and set numerous records during his time there.

During his time at the University of Central Florida, Culpepper rewrote virtually all of the school’s quarterback records, approximately 30 in all. He also set an NCAA record for single-season completion percentage at 73.6%, and his career stats include topping the 10,000-yard passing mark and the 1,000-yard rushing mark, earning him a place in NCAA's all-time total offense list for all divisions with 12,459 yards and being responsible for 108 career touchdowns (84 passing).

Following his senior year at UCF, Culpepper was drafted eleventh overall in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He secured his position as Minnesota's starting quarterback in 2000 and led the Vikings to victory in the first seven games of the season, advancing to the NFC Championship game. Culpepper passed for 3,937 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions this season, earning him his first Pro Bowl selection.

By 2004, Culpepper achieved his best statistical season as a professional and made the playoffs for the second time with the Vikings. Passing for a league-leading 4,717 yards, a Viking-record 39 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions, he was named to his second career Pro Bowl. Setting an NFL record for combined passing and rushing yards, he amassed 5,123 total yards, which still stands as a single-season record for the most total yardage produced by an NFL quarterback.

Despite suffering a serious knee injury in the 2005 season that ended his Vikings career, Culpepper continued his professional journey with the Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, and Detroit Lions. His performance has placed him 14th all-time in NFL career passer rating (87.8), and his 2004 season holds the seventh-best single-season passer rating (110.9). Ending his career with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the UFL, Culpepper was named UFL Offensive Player of the Week twice in the 2010 season. His contribution to the sport was recognized when he was named the 45th-best quarterback of the modern era by Football Nation in 2012.

Off the field, Culpepper has been involved with the African American Adoption Agency, hosting an annual Daunte Culpepper AAAA Celebrity Golf Tournament fundraiser and serving as a keynote speaker at the United Way Reason To Be Thankful celebration. He also appeared in an episode of "George Lopez" and the movie 50 First Dates.