Emmanuel McDaniel

Emmanuel McDaniel is a former professional American football cornerback who played eight 1 seasons in the National Football League for the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins and the Arizona Cardinals. He played college football at East Carolina University and was drafted by the Panthers in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL Draft. McDaniel was a four-year letterman (1992-1995) for the East Carolina Pirates before moving onto the National Football League. He ended his Pirate tenure with 112 tackles and 13 interceptions, pacing the Pirates in that category from 1993-1995 (2 in 1993, 5 in 1994, and 6 in 1995). He is tied in East Carolina Pirates record book for career high interception for a touchdown with two. As a college senior, he earned First-Team All-South Independent honors.

McDaniel’s professional career began with the Carolina Panthers, who selected him with the 111th pick of the fourth round in the 1996 NFL draft. As a defensive back and special teams standout, he spent seven years in the National Football League with the Carolina Panthers (1996, 2002), Indianapolis Colts (1997), Miami Dolphins (1998), New York Giants (1999-2001), and the Arizona Cardinals (2003). He ended his professional career with 161 tackles, 32 passes defended and nine interceptions. McDaniel had six interceptions in 2000, when he helped the New York Giants to a 12-4 regular-season record. The Jonesboro, Georgia native is one of 14 East Carolina Pirates to be on the active roster for a Super Bowl team, earning a starting nod as the nickel back in Super Bowl XXXV against the Baltimore Ravens. A week prior to Super Bowl XXXV, McDaniel was named the New York Giants Defensive Player-of-the-Game in a 41-0 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game.

After ending his player career, McDaniel took time away from the game to be with his newborn son, he then went into NASCAR as a pit-crew member and later he volunteered in the Akron Zips football office. From 2007-2009, he served as the Akron Zips football Cornerback Coach, guiding two players to All Mid-American Conference honors. McDaniel also worked for the East Carolina Pirates as an assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach from 2011 -2014. McDaniel received a Bachelor of Art in Criminal Justice from East Carolina University in 1995

Philippians 4:13 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

My Personal Testimony

After, the Dolphins released me; I wanted to give football up. At the time, I had been released 3 times and I was fed up. I had a 10-12 hour drive back home to Charlotte most of the drive was completely silent no radio, nothing, I remember talking God asking him to put me with a team that would give me a chance to show my talents and a team that would truly give me a chance to play. After praying about it I left it in Gods hands up until that point I always tried to do it on my own not including God in any decision I made with my life some would say. I was just living and forgot who got me there from the beginning and that wasn’t working. I always had faith in God, but I really never total left it up to him or put everything in his hands. I remember saying to myself he hasn’t brought me this far for me to give up now it was a test. After returning home late that night, I washed all my cloths and went to bed. The very next morning I got a call from the New York Giants. Once I arrived in New York I had one preseason game to play and 3 hours to learn the playbook. Another test, so once again I was behind the eight ball. I went out and played 60 plays against the Ravens. Needless to say I was placed on practice squad, which was disappointing, because I’m my heart I knew I was better than some of the guys on the active roster. I continued to pray saying to God, "if it is your will, this will work out." All I knew to do was make plays in practice. I treated practice like it was my game, I was going against what the Giants considered there best. Around game ten in the 1999 season the player at my position got hurt and I got my first start in my career against the Buffalo Bills. Two years later I was the starting nickel back in Super Bowl XXV.

I retired in 2003 but I’ll always remember that talk I had with God that totally changed my life and my football career. And I thank him for that.