GREENVILLE – Former Pirate defensive back Emmanuel McDaniel has returned to East Carolina University as assistant strength and conditioning coach, according to an announcement from Assistant Athletics Director for Strength and Conditioning Jeff Connors.
McDaniel was a four-year letterman (1992-95) at East Carolina 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 1993-95. As a senior, he earned First-Team All-South Independent honors.
McDaniel’s professional career began with the Carolina Panthers, who selected him with the 16th pick of the fourth round in the 1996 NFL draft. As a defensive back and special teams’ standout, he spent eight years in the league with the Panthers (1996, 2002), Indianapolis Colts (1997), Miami Dolphins (1998), New York Giants (1999-2001) and Arizona Cardinals (2003). He ended his career with 161 tackles, 32 passes defended and eight interceptions. McDaniel nabbed six picks in 2000, when he helped the Giants to a 12-4 regular-season record.
The Griffin, Ga., native is one of 14 Pirates to be on the active roster for a Super Bowl, earning a starting nod as the nickel back in Super Bowl XXXV against the Baltimore Ravens. A week prior to the title tilt, McDaniel was named the Giants Defensive Player-of-the-Game in a 41-0 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship.
After ending his player career, McDaniel took time away from the game to be with his newborn son until the 2006 season, when he volunteered in the University of Akron football office. From 2007-09, he served as the Zips’ cornerback coach, guiding two players to All-Mid-American Conference honors.
McDaniel received a B.A. from East Carolina in criminal justice in 1995.