Professional career

Minnesota Vikings

 Early career and immediate success

Because of his athletic ability, there was draft interest from both professional baseball and football teams. Culpepper had a difficult time choosing between baseball or football. In the baseball draft there was interest from the New York Yankees, and Culpepper was seriously contemplating a baseball career in New York, because then-Saints head coach Mike Ditka was planning to draft Culpepper as a tight end. Culpepper decided to take his chance at the NFL, and was drafted eleventh overall in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings; he was the fourth quarterback chosen, after Tim Couch (1st overall), Donovan McNabb (2nd), and Akili Smith (3rd). In his first year, Culpepper saw limited playing time and did not throw a pass.

In 2000, he was named Minnesota's starting quarterback. He led the Vikings to victory in the first seven games of the season, and helped them finish 11-5 and advance to the NFC Championship game, where they were defeated by the New York Giants 41-0. During the season, Culpepper passed for 3,937 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. He also rushed for 470 yards and seven touchdowns. One of Culpepper's most notable moments was against the Buffalo Bills, when he threw a pass across his body and the field to Randy Moss for a 39-yard touchdown pass, although the pass was at least 60 net yards.^{[citation needed]} At the end of the year, he was selected to his first Pro Bowl.

 Early struggles and comeback

Culpepper struggled over the next two seasons beginning in 2001 throwing 14 touchdowns to 13 interceptions. The Vikings finished the season 5-11. Culpepper started all 11 games in which he appeared, missing the final five games of the season with a knee injury he suffered in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 2. He completed 60 percent of his passes or better in nine of his 11 outings, including twice when he surpassed the 70.0 mark and had a passer rating of 100.0 better in two contests where the Vikings were 1-1 in those games. Culpepper’s rushing total ranked third among NFL QBs, trailing only Pittsburgh’s Kordell Stewart (537) and Philadelphia’s Donovan McNabb (482).

Culpepper continued to struggle in 2002, throwing 18 touchdowns to 23 interceptions and leading the Vikings to a 6-10 record. Some attribute this to his appearance on the cover of the Madden NFL 2002 video game, where he subsequently proceeded to have the worst year of his career until 2005, keeping with the superstition of the "Madden Curse". Culpepper went on to win the EA Sports Madden Bowl title among NFL players during the 2003 offseason.

His ten rushing scores led all NFL QBs in 2002, and also marked the fifth-highest total by a QB in NFL history trailing only Steve Grogan (12 for New England in 1976), Johnny Lujack (11 for Chicago in 1950), Tobin Rote (11 for Green Bay in 1956) and Kordell Stewart (11 for Pittsburgh in 1997).

Culpepper made a comeback in 2003, leading the Vikings to a 9-7 record, although they missed the playoffs. He passed for 3,479 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions, and earned his second trip to the Pro Bowl. Another notable moment occurred in this campaign, when in the 20-16 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Culpepper ran the ball in for an 8-yard score. On the run, Culpepper barrelled into Derrick Brooks and Shelton Quarles, but was the first player up after the score.

 Historic season

Culpepper enjoyed his best statistical season as a professional and, though they were only 8-8, the Vikings reached the playoffs for the second time with Culpepper. Passing for a league-leading 4,717 yards, a Viking-record 39 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions, Culpepper was named to his third career Pro Bowl. Culpepper also broke Dan Marino's NFL record for combined passing and rushing yards, amassing 5,123 total yards. His 2,323 rushing yards from 2000-2004 also made him only the fourth quarterback in NFL history to run for more than 2,300 yards in a five-season period. (Michael Vick had 3,570 from 2002-2006; Randall Cunningham had 3,232 from 1986-1990; and Steve McNair had 2,387 from 1997-2001). Culpepper's career rushing average of 27.6 yards per game is fourth-best among quarterbacks in NFL history. Only Vick (52.1 yds/g), Cunningham (30.6 yds/g), and Bobby Douglass (29.8 yds/g) have averaged more rushing yards per game during their QB careers. After the 2004 season, Culpepper said the game had "slowed down" for him, saying "I feel like a Jedi Knight."

Continuing struggles and injury

His first two games of the 2005 season were disappointments, as the Vikings went 0-2 while Culpepper threw no touchdown passes, eight interceptions, and fumbled twice which many attribute to his relatively small hands as he is one of the few players in the NFL to average over 1 fumble a game. Culpepper rebounded in the third week, throwing for 300 yards and three touchdowns while beating the New Orleans Saints. In 2005 he had six touchdowns, twelve interceptions, and five fumbles before getting injured in the seventh game (only winning two games). On October 30, he suffered a knee injury during a 38-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Culpepper sustained damage to three of the four major ligaments in the knee: the ACL, PCL and MCL. He was placed on injured reserve and began rehabilitation treatment near his home in Florida. Backup Brad Johnson took over in the Carolina game and after losing that one, they won the next six straight games and the team ended up with a 9-7 record. Daunte's final career won-loss record as a starter for the Vikings was 37-40 (48.1% winning percentage).

On December 14, 2005 Culpepper and three other players were charged with indecent conduct, disorderly conduct and lewd or lascivious conduct for their involvement in the 2005 Minnesota Vikings boat cruise scandal, according to court papers and news reports. The maximum penalty they could have faced was 90 days in jail. His defense contended there was racial discrimination among the prosecution. On April 4, 2006, however the charges against Culpepper were dropped owing to a lack of probable cause.

Culpepper was in negotiations with Zygi Wilf, the new owner of the Vikings, in regard to his contract with the team. Rumors surfaced that Culpepper was unhappy with his status in Minnesota due to the re-emergence of Brad Johnson following his injury. The Vikings wanted him to rehabilitate in Minnesota because they were not satisfied with his level of treatment in Florida, Culpepper refused this request. 

Later on, Culpepper expressed his desire to be out of Minnesota. According to the Associated Press, Culpepper said that if he was not traded, he wanted to be released. Culpepper said "because of the fundamental differences I have with management regarding the approach to my personal and professional life, I think it is the best business decision for both parties to go our separate ways." Culpepper was not insistent on being traded to the Miami Dolphins, and orchestrated his trade without the services of his former agent. New Vikings coach Brad Childress likened his dealings with Culpepper to his dealings with Terrell Owens and said he never had a conversation with Daunte that didn't involve his contract and getting more money instead of football and the team. 

Miami Dolphins

Struggle to return from injury

Culpepper was traded to Nick Saban's Miami Dolphins in exchange for a second round draft pick. He changed his number from 11 (which he wore in Minnesota, after wearing #12 his rookie season in honor of Randall Cunningham) back to his original number 8, the same number he had at Vanguard High School and the University of Central Florida. Culpepper has also noted that in his hometown to this day, and even while with the Vikings, he has been referred to as "Eight" as a nickname.

Although still recovering from a serious knee injury the previous year, Culpepper was able to attend and participate in all of the Dolphins offseason practices, including training camp. In early August, he made it public that he felt his knee was about 85-90% fully recovered. In his preseason game against Carolina he walked up to cornerback Chris Gamble and thanked him for injuring him, Daunte said if Gamble hadn't hit him like that he'd still be in Minnesota.

He was off to a rocky start in his first two regular-season games, losing both of them with fans booing Culpepper and calling for backup Joey Harrington in the second game. But he had an improved performance in the third game, winning 13-10 over the Tennessee Titans who had the second to last ranked defense in the NFL. However, the next week the Houston Texans with the last ranked defense in the NFL won their first game of the season against the Dolphins, although Culpepper didn't play a bad game.

At this point the Dolphins were 1-3 and their opponents were 1-11 when not playing Miami. After the Houston loss, coach Nick Saban noticed Culpepper having trouble in practice due to a nagging bruised shoulder injury and decided to rest Culpepper up a couple of practices. On that Friday's practice Culpepper and Saban got into a loud, heated argument during practice. Saban had decided to bench Daunte until his shoulder recovered and he got more of the mobility back that he lost due to his knee injury.

On November 30, 2006, Culpepper underwent arthroscopic surgery on his previously injured knee to remove a piece of loose cartilage that was causing Culpepper difficulty. On December 12, 2006 Culpepper was placed on Injured Reserve, officially ending his 2006 season. Head coach Nick Saban stated that although Culpepper was making progress in his rehabilitation, he and the medical staff felt it would be difficult for Culpepper to play in the next three weeks.

On December 25, 2006, Steve Young appeared as a guest announcer during the Dolphins' second to last game and criticised Culpepper's work ethic. Culpepper saw this on TV from his box suite at Dolphin stadium and immediately walked down to the ESPN booth and waited for Steve Young to finish, then Daunte confronted Young about it and said he hasn't missed any meetings and that's not who he is. Young apologized and said though he heard Culpepper had been missing meetings he should've checked with Daunte first before repeating it. After the season coach Saban left for a head coaching job at the University of Alabama after repeatedly denying rumors that he would leave. On January 21, 2007 the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that despite public assertions by Saban, privately his decision to bench Culpepper actually had little to do with his knee and more to do with his head.

End of Culpepper era

In the absence of Culpepper, the Dolphins relied on quarterbacks Cleo Lemon and Gibran Hamdan, untested players with one regular season start between them, in the Dolphins' initial minicamp under first-year coach Cam Cameron. Both the players struggled to move the offense and the poor performance led to an April 15 report that stated a much-discussed trade for Kansas City's Trent Green was imminent, for Culpepper was unable to participate in the minicamp as he continued to recover from knee surgery. The weekend previous to the report, Culpepper revealed that the second surgery, which was designed to address scar tissue in the knee, was more serious than anyone originally divulged, and called for a rehabilitation period of 4-6 months. Culpepper said he has been told by Dr. James Andrews, his surgeon, to "begin to ease into things" after May 1. Culpepper has since practiced on a limited basis with the Dolphins for the first time since his second knee surgery.

On June 5, 2007 the Dolphins completed the long-awaited trade for Trent Green; a few hours before the Green trade became official, the Dolphins told Culpepper they "are going in a different direction at the QB position," according to Culpepper, who is resisting that plan. The timing of the trade is ironic because Culpepper received clearance from Dr. James Andrews and members of the Dolphins' medical staff to resume football activity earlier in the week.

As of June 6, the Dolphins were in discussions with three teams about a potential Culpepper trade. One source with knowledge of the trade talks estimated that there is a 50-50 chance that Miami will be able to deal Culpepper, who is willing to reduce the $5.5 million base salary he is scheduled to make this season, enhancing the chances of a trade.

On June 7, Culpepper, acting as his own agent, asked to be released from his contract with the Dolphins. The Jacksonville Jaguars led a list of a few teams that could have be interested in signing him once he was on the free agent market.

Culpepper was on the Dolphins' practice field for the start of a weekend minicamp on June 8, one day after asking for his release and two days after Miami completed a trade with Kansas City for Trent Green, who's taking over at quarterback. When Culpepper left the field and headed into the Dolphins training facility, he walked off the field with a member of the Dolphins security staff. The team did not give an immediate explanation.

Informed by quarterbacks coach Terry Shea that he would not be permitted to take part in any team drills during the Dolphins' June 8-10 minicamp, Culpepper stated that he would seek intervention from the NFL Players Association to end a stalemate that has left his career in limbo. In response, Dolphins officials stated they had no intention of releasing Culpepper, and would continue their efforts to trade him. In fact, head coach Cam Cameron told the Miami media on June 9 that the team was "absolutely" prepared to take the situation into training camp as the club attempts to locate a trade partner. After being told he would not be allowed to practice, Culpepper told reporters that he would not restructure his contract to accommodate a trade, and said that he had already spoken to some teams that might be interested in him, such as the Jacksonville Jaguars, if he is released. He was finally released by the Dolphins on July 17.

Oakland Raiders

Culpepper was first and most often linked to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but head coach Jack Del Rio said he did not feel it would be a good fit. Culpepper worked out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers soon after his release. On July 31, Culpepper inked a one-year contract with the Oakland Raiders, as an insurance policy as the Raiders struggled to sign #1 draft pick JaMarcus Russell, with whom they were undergoing contract negotiations. In 2007, Culpepper replaced injured Josh McCown for Raiders matchup against his former team Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins had released him earlier that year thinking Culpepper had a bad knee. Some looked at this game as a revenge game for Culpepper and said that he had something to prove. Culpepper got an amazing start to 2007 with 2 passing and 3 rushing touchdowns. Culpepper started a total of six games for Oakland, until a hamstring injury (suffered when he challenged Oakland CB Stanford Routt, a college sprinter, to a footrace during practice) sidelined him for the last part of the season.

2008 free agency

As of June 2008, he remains unsigned by any NFL team, although it was reported by ESPN that he visited the Green Bay Packers on April 23rd and 24th of 2008. Culpepper would later turn down the offer from Green Bay, $1 million for a one year contract, claiming the deal wasn't good for either side. He said he was in contact with a few teams.