What Is Daunte Culpepper's Net Worth?
Daunte Culpepper is a retired American professional football quarterback with a net worth of $500 thousand. Despite earning $35 million in NFL salary during his career, Daunte faced significant financial issues a year after retiring, including losing a home to foreclosure.
Drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1995 MLB Draft, he chose football instead, attending the University of Central Florida. At UCF, he shattered numerous quarterback records before being drafted 11th overall in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
Selected for the Pro Bowl three times, Daunte had a standout season in 2004, setting a single-season record for total yardage (5,123). However, his career with the Vikings ended after a severe knee injury. He went on to play for the Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, and Detroit Lions. He ranks 14th all-time in NFL career passer rating and holds the seventh-best single-season passer rating from 2004. Daunte last played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions in the United Football League. In 2012, Football Nation ranked him #45 on its list of the 'Top 100 Modern Quarterbacks.'
Career Earnings
Daunte earned $35 million during his 11 NFL seasons. His highest-paid season was 2005, earning $9 million with the Vikings. In 2002, he signed a 10-year contract worth up to $102 million but only earned about $20 million from it due to his 2005 injury and subsequent trade to the Dolphins in 2006.
Financial Problems
In 2006, Daunte purchased a 9,800 sq. ft. mansion in Florida for $3.67 million, financed with a $2.93 million mortgage. Sun Trust Bank foreclosed on it in 2013, leading to a $3 million debt forgiveness after he surrendered the home. Daunte currently resides in a home he purchased in Ocala, Florida, for $450 thousand in 2013.
Early Life
Daunte Rachard Culpepper was born on January 28, 1977, in Ocala, Florida. His biological mother, Barbara Henderson, was serving a prison sentence when he was adopted by Emma Lewis Culpepper, who raised over 15 children. Daunte excelled in football, baseball, and basketball at Vanguard High School and was named Florida's Mr. Football in 1994. He was later named to the Florida High School Athletic Association's All-Century Team in 2007.
College Career
Despite initially struggling with SAT scores, the University of Central Florida helped Daunte achieve the scores needed to qualify. He broke nearly 30 UCF quarterback records and a 15-year-old NCAA completion percentage record. Daunte also became the third player in NCAA history to surpass both 1,000-yard rushing and 10,000-yard passing marks. He finished his college career ranked sixth on the NCAA all-time total offense list and was responsible for over 100 touchdowns.
Professional Career
Selected 11th overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1999 NFL Draft, Daunte had a strong start, leading the team to an 11–5 record in 2000 and earning his first Pro Bowl selection. His performance dipped during the 2001–2002 seasons due to injuries, but he rebounded in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, a severe knee injury sidelined him, and by 2006, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins. He had stints with the Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions before briefly retiring and later joining the United Football League's Sacramento Mountain Lions. He was inducted twice as UFL Offensive Player of the Week in 2010.
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Personal Life
Daunte married his high school sweetheart Kimberly Rah on July 6, 2002. The couple has four children together.
Awards and Honors
Daunte has received several awards throughout his career, including the Ed Block Courage Award and Best Breakthrough Athlete ESPY Award in 2001, the Extra Effort Award in 2003, and the Korey Stringer Good Guy Award in 2003 and 2004. He was also named AFC Offensive Player of the Week in 2007 and UFL Offensive Co-Player of the Week and Offensive Player of the Week in 2010.
