Baker Mayfield will watch a new starting quarterback enter the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' picture. Mayfield is nursing a thumb injury following the Minnesota Vikings loss. But his backup Jalon Daniels could end a notable drought that's nearly 40 years old.
The former Kansas star will draw Jayhawk fans in on Sunday. A first since this moment according to ESPN associate sports scout Jacob Nierob.
“The last QB from the University of Kansas to start a game and throw a pass in the NFL was Frank Seurer in 1987,” Nierob posted on the social media website X, formerly Twitter.
Kansas has never produced a future NFL starting quarterback since the former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback. Seurer originally started his career with the Los Angeles Express of the USFL. But eventually made his way into the NFL in 1986. He even started in two KC games following the 1987 NFLPA strike.
Now Daniels gets to lead the Bucs in front of Mayfield and head coach Todd Bowles. He'll certainly draw a large viewership following in Lawrence, Kansas following an illustrious career with KU.
The dual-threat Daniels played six seasons for the Jayhawks and never ended up leaving for the transfer portal. He produced 9,282 total passing yards with 67 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. He then added 1,445 rushing yards and scored 23 more touchdowns through the ground game. That included delivering three 400-yard rushing seasons while facing Big 12 Conference competition.
He and Mayfield do share a Big 12 connection, as the latter starred for Oklahoma before the Sooners joined the SEC. So now the Bucs will hand the reins over to another past standout from that conference. But rewrite Kansas Jayhawk history in the process.