James Daniels

Last updated

James Daniels
James Daniels.JPG
Daniels during the 2019 NFL season
No. 78 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: Guard
Personal information
Born: (1997-09-13) September 13, 1997 (age 26)
Warren, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:327 lb (148 kg)
Career information
High school: Warren G. Harding
(Warren, Ohio)
College: Iowa (2015–2017)
NFL draft: 2018  / Round: 2 / Pick: 39
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Games played:86
Games started:80
Player stats at PFR

James Daniels (born September 13, 1997) is an American professional football guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa.

Contents

Early life

Daniels attended Harding High School in Warren, Ohio and was a three year starter for the varsity football team. [1] Along with football, he also participated in track. [2] He committed to play football for the Iowa Hawkeyes in July 2014, choosing the Hawkeyes over schools such as Alabama, Auburn, and Ohio State among others. [3]

College career

Daniels played center at Iowa from 2015 to 2017. After his junior season in 2017, he chose to forgo his senior season and enter the 2018 NFL draft. [4] He played in 37 games for the Hawkeyes over three years.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3+3⁄8 in
(1.91 m)		306 lb
(139 kg)		33+3⁄4 in
(0.86 m)		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		4.40 s7.29 s30.5 in
(0.77 m)		9 ft 0 in
(2.74 m)		21 reps
All values from NFL Combine [5] [6]

Chicago Bears

Daniels was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round, 39th overall, of the 2018 NFL Draft. [7]

Eric Kush started the 2018 season at left guard, though Daniels was slowly integrated into the role by splitting time with Kush as the year progressed. On October 28, he became the starter at the position against the New York Jets after Kush suffered a neck injury. [8] He started 10 games as a rookie, nine at left guard and one at right guard.

Daniels (68) in a game against the Washington Redskins Bears OL 2019 (cropped).jpg
Daniels (68) in a game against the Washington Redskins

Before the 2019 season, Daniels was moved to center, with then-incumbent center Cody Whitehair shifting to left guard. [9] In November, with the Bears' offense struggling and right guard Kyle Long being placed on injured reserve, Daniels returned to left guard. [10]

In the fifth game of the 2020 season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Daniels suffered a season-ending pectoral muscle tear. [11] He was placed on injured reserve on October 14. [12]

Pittsburgh Steelers

On March 17, 2022, Daniels signed a three-year, $26.5 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. [13] Daniels was the first player to wear a Guardian Cap in any organized, professional game during a preseason game against the Houston Texans on August 9, 2024. [14] [15] [16]

Personal life

Daniels is the younger brother of running back LeShun Daniels, who was his teammate at Iowa, and was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2017.

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References

  1. ↑ "James Daniels". University of Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  2. ↑ "WGH, JFK athletes excel at University of Akron meet". Tribune Chronicle. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Daniels follows brother to Hawkeyes, picks Iowa over Ohio State". qctimes.com. July 31, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Iowa's James Daniels declares for NFL draft". The Gazette. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  5. ↑ "James Daniels Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  6. ↑ "2018 NFL Draft Scout James Daniels College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  7. ↑ Mayer, Larry (April 27, 2018). "Bears pick James Daniels in second round". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  8. ↑ Eurich, Matt (October 27, 2018). "James Daniels to make first NFL start in Week 8". 247Sports.com . Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  9. ↑ Barbieri, Alyssa (May 22, 2019). "Matt Nagy confirms James Daniels will play center in 2019". USA Today . Bears Wire. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  10. ↑ Ellis, Cam (November 10, 2019). "How Kyle Long's injury started the process of switching James Daniels and Cody Whitehair". NBC Sports . Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  11. ↑ Kane, Colleen (October 9, 2020). "Chicago Bears left guard James Daniels is out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  12. ↑ Mayer, Larry (October 14, 2020). "Roster Moves: Bears put Daniels on IR, elevate Mustipher". Chicago Bears. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  13. ↑ Varley, Teresa (March 17, 2022). "Daniels signed to three-year contract". Steelers.com. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Guardian Caps Worn in NFL Preseason Games". Guardian Sports.
  15. ↑ Batko, Brian (August 17, 2024). "Why Steelers guard James Daniels sacrifices swag for safety". Pittsburg Post-Gazette.
  16. ↑ Dajani, Jordan (August 9, 2024). "Steelers' James Daniels likely becomes first player to wear a Guardian cap in game". CBS Sports.
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