_(cropped).jpg) Etling with theMichigan Panthers in 2024 | |
| No. 8 – Michigan Panthers | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Roster status | Active |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1994-07-22)July 22, 1994 (age 31) Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Terre Haute South Vigo |
| College | Purdue (2013–2014) LSU (2015–2017) |
| NFL draft | 2018: 7th round, 219th overall pick |
| Career history | |
| |
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Awards and highlights | |
| Stats atPro Football Reference | |
Daniel Patrick Etling (born July 22, 1994) is an American professionalfootballquarterback for theMichigan Panthers of theUnited Football League (UFL). He playedcollege football for thePurdue Boilermakers andLSU Tigers, and was selected by theNew England Patriots in the seventh round of the2018 NFL draft. Etling has also been a member of theAtlanta Falcons,Seattle Seahawks,Minnesota Vikings,BC Lions,Denver Broncos,Green Bay Packers,Jacksonville Jaguars, andMichigan Panthers.
Etlingquarterbacked theTerre Haute South Vigo High Schoolfootball team inTerre Haute, Indiana. He was poised for a big senior season after a disappointing junior year where the Braves started 3–0 before losing their final seven games.[1] For his senior year, Etling threw for 1,505 yards and 11touchdowns.[2]
He is anEagle Scout.[3]
As a junior, Etling committed toPurdue University on April 17, 2012.[4] He also received football scholarship offers fromColorado andIowa.[5] When Purdue head coachDanny Hope was fired, Etling stayed verbally committed to Purdue. OnceDarrell Hazell was hired, Etling wanted to take the time to speak with Hazell before making a final decision on Purdue.[6] Upon the completion of the first semester of his senior year of high school, Etling fulfilled his graduation requirements and decided to enroll at Purdue for the spring semester.[7]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Etling QB | Terre Haute, Indiana | Terre Haute South Vigo High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.6 | Apr 17, 2012 |
Recruit ratings:Scout:  Rivals:  247Sports: ESPN: (83) | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Scout: 40 (QB) Rivals: 9 (QB), 4 (IN), 167 (National) ESPN: 12 (QB), 3 (IN), 20 (Midwest) | ||||||
Sources:
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In the preseason of 2013, Etling was in a three-way quarterback battle withRob Henry andAustin Appleby.[8][9] When Henry was named the starter for the season, Purdue released its depth chart with Appleby listed as the number two quarterback. This led many to believe that Etling would utilize aredshirt.
After the Boilermakers started their2013 season with an 0–3 record, and with Henry continuing to struggle in the team's fourth game, Etling was thrust into a game with Purdue trailing 27–10 toNorthern Illinois.[10] Etling finished the game with 241 yards passing while throwing two touchdowns and twointerceptions.[11] During the ensuing week, Etling was named the starter for the Boilermakers againstNebraska.[12] Purdue struggled in Etling's first start, losing 44–7.[13] Overall, Etling appeared in eight games, passing for 1690 yards, ten touchdowns, and seven interceptions, with a 116.1quarterback rating.[14] The team finished with a 1–11 record.[15]
Going into the 2014 season, Etling was named the starter.[16] However, during the season Etling was moved second on the depth chart, behind Appleby. Etling appeared in five games, passing for 800 yards, six touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 102.5 quarterback rating.[17] Purdue's record for the season was 3–9.[18]
On June 11, 2015, Etling asked for and was granted a release on his scholarship from Purdue.[19]
On June 22, 2015, it was announced that Etling would transfer toLouisiana State University (LSU). Due toNCAA transfer rules, Etling sat out the2015 season.[20] He served as the starting quarterback for theLSU Tigers during their2016 and2017 seasons, playing a total of 24 games. In 2016, the Tigers were 7–4 during the regular season and defeated theLouisville Cardinals in the2016 Citrus Bowl played on December 31. In 2017, the Tigers had a 9–3 regular season record, and lost toNotre Dame in the2018 Citrus Bowl played on January 1. Etling passed for a total of 4,586 yards, 27 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and had a quarterback rating of 144.4 in his two seasons with LSU.
| Season | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2013 | Purdue | 8 | 7 | 0–7 | 149 | 267 | 55.8 | 1,690 | 10 | 7 | 116.1 | 55 | -99 | -1.8 | 1 |
| 2014 | Purdue | 5 | 5 | 2–3 | 89 | 162 | 54.9 | 800 | 6 | 5 | 102.5 | 33 | -5 | -0.2 | 3 |
| 2015 | LSU | 0 | 0 | — | Did not play due toNCAA transfer rules | ||||||||||
| 2016 | LSU | 11 | 10 | 7–3 | 160 | 269 | 59.5 | 2,123 | 11 | 5 | 135.6 | 41 | 46 | 1.1 | 1 |
| 2017 | LSU | 13 | 13 | 9–4 | 165 | 275 | 60.0 | 2,463 | 16 | 2 | 153.0 | 72 | 128 | 1.8 | 2 |
| Career[21] | 37 | 35 | 18–17 | 563 | 973 | 57.9 | 7,076 | 43 | 19 | 129.6 | 201 | 70 | 0.3 | 7 | |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft2+1⁄2 in (1.89 m) | 222 lb (101 kg) | 31 in (0.79 m) | 9+3⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 4.76 s | 1.63 s | 2.75 s | 4.37 s | 7.09 s | 30.5 in (0.77 m) | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) | ||
| All values fromNFL Combine[22][23] | ||||||||||||
Etling was drafted by theNew England Patriots in the seventh round (219th overall) of the2018 NFL draft.[24]
In the Patriots' first preseason game of the 2018 season, Etling completed two of five passes for 21 yards and no touchdowns. In the final preseason game, Etling went 18-32 for 157 yards with one touchdown pass and two interceptions. He also ran for 113 yards on seven carries, including an 86-yard touchdown run. Etling holds the record for longest quarterback run in Patriots preseason history.
On September 1, 2018, Etling was waived by the Patriots and was signed to thepractice squad the next day.[25][26] Etling wonSuper Bowl LIII with the Patriots when they defeated theLos Angeles Rams 13–3.[27] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Patriots on February 5, 2019.[28]
At the start of the 2019 season'straining camp, Etling transitioned to thewide receiver position.[29] He was waived on August 13, 2019.[30]
On August 14, 2019, Etling was claimed off waivers by theAtlanta Falcons.[31] He no longer was making the transition to wide receiver and switched back to full time quarterback. He was waived on August 31, 2019, and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[32][33] On October 26, after an injury to starterMatt Ryan, Etling was promoted to the active roster as the team's backup quarterback ahead of their Week 8 matchup.[34] He was waived on October 28, and re-signed to the practice squad.[35] On December 30, 2019, Etling was signed to a reserve/future contract.[36]
Etling was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Falcons on July 31, 2020,[37] and was activated five days later.[38] On August 17, the Falcons waived Etling.[39]
On August 18, 2020, Etling was claimed off waivers by theSeattle Seahawks.[40] On September 5, 2020, Etling was waived from the Seahawks,[41] and signed to the team's practice squad the next day.[42] On January 11, 2021, Etling signed a reserve/futures contract with the Seahawks.[43] He was waived on August 1, 2021.[44]
On August 2, 2021, Etling was claimed off waivers by theMinnesota Vikings.[45] He was waived on August 23.[46]
On September 10, 2021, Etling was signed by theBC Lions to their practice roster. He was released three weeks later.
On October 13, 2021, Etling was signed by the Seahawks to their practice squad.[47] He was released on October 27.[48]
On November 13, 2021, Etling was signed to theDenver Broncos practice squad due to backupDrew Lock testing positive for COVID-19. He was released three days later after Lock returned.[49]
On December 7, 2021, Etling was signed to theGreen Bay Packers practice squad in the wake of Packers backup quarterbackJordan Love being placed on the COVID-19 reserve list.[50] He was released six days later.[51]
On December 20, 2021, Etling was signed to theJacksonville Jaguars practice squad.[52]
On January 25, 2022, Etling signed a reserve/future contract with the Packers.[53] He was waived on August 30, 2022, and signed to the practice squad the next day.[54][55] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 10, 2023.[56] He was waived on August 6, 2023.[57]
On December 24, 2023, Etling signed with theMichigan Panthers of theUnited States Football League (USFL).[58] He re-signed with the team on August 26, 2024.[59]
Etling's cousin,Joe Holland, also played football.[60]
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2024 | MICH | 7 | 4 | 3–1 | 69 | 114 | 60.5 | 787 | 6.9 | 3 | 2 | 82.7 | 24 | 143 | 6.0 | 2 |
| 2025 | MICH | 8 | 3 | 2–1 | 55 | 96 | 57.3 | 591 | 6.2 | 5 | 2 | 84.2 | 17 | 77 | 4.6 | 0 |
| Career | 15 | 7 | 5–2 | 124 | 210 | 59.0 | 1,378 | 6.6 | 8 | 4 | 83.4 | 41 | 220 | 5.4 | 2 | |
| Year | Team | League | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 2024 | MICH | UFL | 1 | 1 | 0–1 | 18 | 29 | 62.1 | 182 | 6.3 | 1 | 3 | 51.9 | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 0 |
| Career | 1 | 1 | 0–1 | 18 | 29 | 62.1 | 182 | 6.3 | 1 | 3 | 51.9 | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 0 | ||