He led the Big Ten Conference in 1971 with a 57.8% completion percentage, 10 touchdown passes, and a 147.6 quarterback rating.

Since 2006, Danielson has worked for CBS Sports as the lead analyst for its college football coverage.

Danielson was not selected in the NFL draft and instead signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

"[7] After he was released by Calgary, Danielson returned to Purdue where he became a graduate assistant in economics and a coach for the freshman football team.

"[7] In 1974, Danielson signed with the New York Stars of the newly-formed World Football League (WFL).

Midway through the season, the team moved to North Carolina and was renamed the Charlotte Hornets.

After the move to Charlotte, Danielson saw more playing tim after quarterback Tom Sherman dislocted his elbow.

[9] In July 1975, the Hornets traded Danielson to the Chicago Winds in exchange for a 1976 WFL draft pick.

[11][12] He was cut shortly before the opening game of the regular season,[13] and went to work in a friend's sheet metal plant.

[4][13] He remained on the bench during the 1976 season, with no pass attempts, as Greg Landry was the team's starting quarterback and Joe Reed was the backup.

In 1977, Danielson began the season as a backup to Greg Landry but appeared in 13 games with two starts and 445 passing yards.

[14] In August 1979, Danielson injured his knee in a preseason game, underwent surgery, and missed the entire 1979 season.

[9] In the strike-shortened 1982 season, Danielson started five of nine games for the Lions, completing 100 of 197 passes for 1,343 yards with 10 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Hipple started all 16 games, and Danielson saw limited action, completing 59 of 113 passes (52.2%) for 720 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions.

[21] Danielson ended up starting six games for the Browns in 1985, completing 97 of 163 passes (59.5%) for 1,274 yards with eight touchdowns and six interceptions.

Playing with a torn rotator cuff, Danielson quarterbacked season-turning victories over the New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals.

"Whatever it is that compels a man to risk himself for the men at his side arose with Gary Danielson yesterday morning," I wrote.

In 1987, he appeared in six games, only one as a starter, completing 25 of 33 passes (75.8%) for 281 yards, four touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 140.3 quarterback rating.

In the fall of 1990, Danielson joined ESPN as an analyst for the network's Saturday night college football games.

[27] Danielson noted at the time: I felt I had a story to tell about football that the average fan doesn't see.

[4] He worked in that capacity for ESPN for several years, then switching to ABC Sports, where he remained through the 2005 season.

He partnered originally with Verne Lundquist (and later Brad Nessler) on the network's primary college football telecasts.

[25] The two met in college at Purdue, where Kristy's father, George King, was the head basketball coach and athletic director.

[32] Danielson ran an importing and exporting business with former Lions teammate James Jones in the early 1990s.