Daniel Aaron Southwick (born September 28, 1981) is an American professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
quarterback
The quarterback (QB) is a position in gridiron football who are members of the offensive side of the ball and mostly line up directly behind the Lineman (football), offensive line. In modern American football, the quarterback is usually consider ...
. He played
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
for
BYU,
Oregon State,
Dixie State,
Utah
Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is one of the Four Corners states, sharing a border with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It also borders Wyoming to the northea ...
, and
Occidental. He has been a member of the
Louisville Fire
The Louisville Fire was an arena football team that played its home games at the Brown-Forman Field in Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. They were a 2001 expansion team of the af2. Their owner/operator was former Pro Bowl lineman and Loui ...
of the
af2
The AF2 (often styled as af2, and short for arenafootball2) was the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like its parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football r ...
; the
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team based in Oakland, California, from its founding in 1960 to 1981, and again from 1995 to 2019 before Oakland Raiders relocation to Las Vegas, relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan ...
of the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
(NFL); the
Dallas Vigilantes,
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm were a professional arena football team based in Tampa, Florida, US. It played in the Arena Football League (AFL). Originally the team was located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and operated as the Pittsburgh Gladiators. The ...
,
San Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats were a professional arena football team based in San Jose, California. The SaberCats had been members of the Arena Football League (AFL) since 1995 (the year in which the team was founded); and until 2015, they belonged to ...
,
San Antonio Talons
The San Antonio Talons were a professional arena football team based in San Antonio, Texas. They played in the Arena Football League (AFL). Their home arena was the Alamodome, following their relocation to San Antonio for the 2012 season.
The ...
,
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush were a professional arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. The team was founded in 2001 and played in the Arena Football League's Central Division. The Rush qualified for the playoffs in 11 of 12 AFL seasons, during w ...
,
Cleveland Gladiators
The Cleveland Gladiators were an arena football team based in Cleveland, Ohio, and members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The Gladiators played their home games at Quicken Loans Arena, which they shared with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the ...
,
Portland Thunder/Steel,
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock were a professional indoor American football team based in Spokane, Washington, that played their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. The team was initially a member of arenafootball2 (af2), the Shock won divis ...
,
Los Angeles Kiss
The Los Angeles Kiss (stylized as LA KISS) were a professional arena football team based in Anaheim, California, and members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The Kiss joined the AFL as an expansion team after Los Angeles' previous franchise ( ...
,
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators were a professional arena football team based in Orlando, Florida and member of the Arena Football League (AFL). The team was most recently owned by Orlando Predators LLC, a company owned by David A. Siegel, and played it ...
,
Philadelphia Soul
Philadelphia soul, sometimes called Philly soul, the Philadelphia sound, Phillysound, or The Sound of Philadelphia (TSOP), is a genre of late 1960s–1970s soul music characterized by funk influences and lush string and horn arrangements. The ...
, and
Columbus Destroyers
The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League (AFL) team based in Columbus, Ohio, with home games in Nationwide Arena. The team was founded in as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in . They fo ...
of the
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 Arena Football League season, 1987 season, making it the third longest-runnin ...
(AFL); the
Massachusetts Pirates,
Jacksonville Sharks
The Jacksonville Sharks are a professional indoor football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, that competes in the Indoor Football League (IFL). The team plays its home games at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
They were members of the Are ...
,
Jersey Flight,
Columbus Lions, and
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators were a professional arena football team based in Orlando, Florida and member of the Arena Football League (AFL). The team was most recently owned by Orlando Predators LLC, a company owned by David A. Siegel, and played it ...
of the
National Arena League
The National Arena League (NAL) is a professional indoor football league that began play in 2017. As of the end of the 2024 season, the league consisted of five teams.
A team's typical payroll budget is $600,000 per season, but as of the 2022 ...
(NAL); and the
FCF Zappers of
Fan Controlled Football
Fan Controlled Football (FCF) is a dormant professional 7-on-7 Indoor American football, indoor football league that played two seasons in 2021 Fan Controlled Football season, 2021 and 2022 Fan Controlled Football season, 2022. The league operate ...
(FCF), and the
Billings Outlaws
The Billings Outlaws were a professional indoor football team based in Billings, Montana. They were a member of the Indoor Football League (IFL), of which they were the 2-time defending champions. They played their home games at Rimrock Auto A ...
of
Arena Football One (AF1).
Early life
Danny was born to Dan Southwick and Shawn (Southwick) King in
Provo, Utah
Provo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Utah County, Utah, United States. It is south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front, and lies between the cities of Orem, Utah, Orem to the north and Springville, Utah, Springville to the south ...
. He attended
Timpview High School
Timpview High School (THS) is a public secondary school located in Provo, Utah, United States. Timpview is a 5A school and is one of the three high schools in the Provo City School District. The current principal is Momi Tu'ua.
Academics
...
in Provo, where he lettered in football.
College career
Southwick originally signed with
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University (BYU) is a Private education, private research university in Provo, Utah, United States. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is the flagship university of the Church Educational System sponsore ...
out of high school, when he elected to take a two-year
Mormon
Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into several ...
mission. Upon returning from his mission, Southwick enrolled at
Oregon State University
Oregon State University (OSU) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate degree programs and a variety of graduate and doctor ...
. Southwick then transferred to
Dixie State College for a season. From Dixie State, Southwick transferred to the
University of Utah
The University of Utah (the U, U of U, or simply Utah) is a public university, public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret (Book of Mormon), Deseret by the General A ...
, where he walked-on and was listed as the backup quarterback going into fall camp with the Utes. Southwick then went back to Dixie State. He played his senior season of
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
at
Occidental. Southwick's college statistics, excluding post-season play, include 271 completions out of 478 passes (57%) for 3,804 yards, and 29 touchdowns with 23 interceptions. As a starter in college, during the regular season, Southwick compiled a record of 13 wins and 5 losses.
Professional career
Louisville Fire
Southwick began his professional career in 2008 signing with the
Louisville Fire
The Louisville Fire was an arena football team that played its home games at the Brown-Forman Field in Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. They were a 2001 expansion team of the af2. Their owner/operator was former Pro Bowl lineman and Loui ...
of the
af2
The AF2 (often styled as af2, and short for arenafootball2) was the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like its parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football r ...
as a
street free agent
A street is a public thoroughfare in a city, town or village, typically lined with buildings on one or both sides. Streets often include pavements (sidewalks), pedestrian crossings, and sometimes amenities like streetlights or benches. A stree ...
. After finishing the season with the Fire, the franchise folded as well as the
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 Arena Football League season, 1987 season, making it the third longest-runnin ...
.
Oakland Raiders
In 2009, Southwick signed with the
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team based in Oakland, California, from its founding in 1960 to 1981, and again from 1995 to 2019 before Oakland Raiders relocation to Las Vegas, relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan ...
of the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
, but was released prior to the preseason.
Dallas Vigilantes
On February 25, 2011, Southwick was assigned to the
Dallas Vigilantes of the
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 Arena Football League season, 1987 season, making it the third longest-runnin ...
(AFL), but he was placed on reassignment just 3 days later on February 28.
Tampa Bay Storm
On May 16, 2011, he signed with the AFL's
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm were a professional arena football team based in Tampa, Florida, US. It played in the Arena Football League (AFL). Originally the team was located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and operated as the Pittsburgh Gladiators. The ...
. On July 16, 2011, Southwick made his first career arena football start for the Storm, where he was eventually replaced by
Matt Grothe
Matt Grothe (born September 8, 1986) is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at South Florida.
Early life
Grothe attended Lake Gibson High School in Lakeland, Florida and was a letterman in football. In football, h ...
due to his ineffective play.
San Jose SaberCats
Southwick was assigned to the
San Jose Sabercats
The San Jose SaberCats were a professional arena football team based in San Jose, California. The SaberCats had been members of the Arena Football League (AFL) since 1995 (the year in which the team was founded); and until 2015, they belonged to ...
of the AFL on February 16, 2012.
San Antonio Talons
Southwick was assigned to the AFL's
San Antonio Talons
The San Antonio Talons were a professional arena football team based in San Antonio, Texas. They played in the Arena Football League (AFL). Their home arena was the Alamodome, following their relocation to San Antonio for the 2012 season.
The ...
on January 18, 2013. He was reassigned on March 21, 2013.
Chicago Rush
Southwick was assigned to the
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush were a professional arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. The team was founded in 2001 and played in the Arena Football League's Central Division. The Rush qualified for the playoffs in 11 of 12 AFL seasons, during w ...
of the AFL on April 11, 2013. He was reassigned by the Rush on May 16, 2013.
Cleveland Gladiators (first stint)
Southwick was assigned to the
Cleveland Gladiators
The Cleveland Gladiators were an arena football team based in Cleveland, Ohio, and members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The Gladiators played their home games at Quicken Loans Arena, which they shared with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the ...
of the AFL on June 5, 2013.
Portland Thunder (first stint)
In April 2014, he was named the starting quarterback for the
Portland Thunder
The Portland Steel were a professional arena football team based in Portland, Oregon and members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The team started as the Portland Thunder, joining the AFL in 2014 as an expansion team along with the Los Ange ...
of the AFL. He was assigned to the Thunder again on March 4, 2015. He was placed on recallable reassignment on March 20, 2015.
Spokane Shock
On April 7, 2015, Southwick was assigned to the
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock were a professional indoor American football team based in Spokane, Washington, that played their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. The team was initially a member of arenafootball2 (af2), the Shock won divis ...
of the AFL.
Los Angeles Kiss (first stint)
On May 13, 2015, Southwick was traded to the
Los Angeles Kiss
The Los Angeles Kiss (stylized as LA KISS) were a professional arena football team based in Anaheim, California, and members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The Kiss joined the AFL as an expansion team after Los Angeles' previous franchise ( ...
for future considerations.
Portland Thunder/Steel (second stint)
He was assigned to the Thunder on February 1, 2016. The Thunder changed its name to the Portland Steel on February 24, 2016. He was placed on reassignment by the Steel on April 25, 2016.
Los Angeles Kiss (second stint)
On May 26, 2016, Southwick was assigned to the Kiss. On June 25, 2016, he was placed on reassignment.
Orlando Predators (first franchise)
On July 6, 2016, he was assigned to the AFL's
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators were a professional arena football team based in Orlando, Florida and member of the Arena Football League (AFL). The team was most recently owned by Orlando Predators LLC, a company owned by David A. Siegel, and played it ...
.
Cleveland Gladiators (second stint)
On May 23, 2017, Southwick was assigned to the Gladiators.
Massachusetts Pirates
On April 19, 2018, he signed with the
Massachusetts Pirates of the
National Arena League
The National Arena League (NAL) is a professional indoor football league that began play in 2017. As of the end of the 2024 season, the league consisted of five teams.
A team's typical payroll budget is $600,000 per season, but as of the 2022 ...
(NAL). He was released by the Pirates on April 25, 2018.
Jacksonville Sharks (first stint)
On April 26, 2018, he was claimed by the
Jacksonville Sharks
The Jacksonville Sharks are a professional indoor football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, that competes in the Indoor Football League (IFL). The team plays its home games at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
They were members of the Are ...
of the NAL. The same day, he was also placed on refuse to report.
Philadelphia Soul (first stint)
On May 23, 2018, he was assigned to the
Philadelphia Soul
Philadelphia soul, sometimes called Philly soul, the Philadelphia sound, Phillysound, or The Sound of Philadelphia (TSOP), is a genre of late 1960s–1970s soul music characterized by funk influences and lush string and horn arrangements. The ...
of the AFL. On June 5, 2018, he was placed on reassignment.
Columbus Destroyers
On April 17, 2019, Southwick was assigned to the
Columbus Destroyers
The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League (AFL) team based in Columbus, Ohio, with home games in Nationwide Arena. The team was founded in as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in . They fo ...
of the AFL.
He was placed on recallable reassignment on April 19, and activated from recallable reassignment on April 20.
He was placed on league suspension on May 2 and was reassigned on May 23, 2019.
Philadelphia Soul (second stint)
Southwick was claimed off reassignment by the Soul on May 24, 2019.
He was placed on reassignment on June 25, 2019.
Jersey Flight
On December 11, 2019, Southwick signed with the NAL's
Jersey Flight. The 2020
National Arena League
The National Arena League (NAL) is a professional indoor football league that began play in 2017. As of the end of the 2024 season, the league consisted of five teams.
A team's typical payroll budget is $600,000 per season, but as of the 2022 ...
season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On August 24, 2020, Southwick re-signed with the Flight for the 2021 season. On June 17, 2021, the Flight cut Southwick from their roster.
Jacksonville Sharks (second stint)
He signed with the Sharks four days later on June 21, 2021.
FCF Zappers
In March 2022, Southwick was drafted by the
FCF Zappers of
Fan Controlled Football
Fan Controlled Football (FCF) is a dormant professional 7-on-7 Indoor American football, indoor football league that played two seasons in 2021 Fan Controlled Football season, 2021 and 2022 Fan Controlled Football season, 2022. The league operate ...
(FCF) in the first draft of the FCF.
Columbus Lions
On May 13, 2022, Southwick signed with the
Columbus Lions of the NAL.
Orlando Predators (second franchise)
Southwick played for the new
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators were a professional arena football team based in Orlando, Florida and member of the Arena Football League (AFL). The team was most recently owned by Orlando Predators LLC, a company owned by David A. Siegel, and played it ...
of the NAL in 2023.
Billings Outlaws
Southwick played for the
Billings Outlaws
The Billings Outlaws were a professional indoor football team based in Billings, Montana. They were a member of the Indoor Football League (IFL), of which they were the 2-time defending champions. They played their home games at Rimrock Auto A ...
of the new
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 Arena Football League season, 1987 season, making it the third longest-runnin ...
in 2024. He served as a backup quarterback as the Outlaws won
ArenaBowl XXXIII
ArenaBowl XXXIII was the championship game for the 2024 Arena Football League season. It took place at the American Dream Center, an ice rink located inside American Dream Meadowlands, a shopping mall and entertainment complex in East Rutherford, ...
. The Outlaws moved to
Arena Football One in 2025. Southwick was released on May 9, 2025.
AFL statistics
''Stats from ArenaFan'':
Personal life
Southwick is the son of actress
Shawn Southwick, and was the stepson of talk show host
Larry King
Larry King (born Lawrence Harvey Zeiger; November 19, 1933 – January 23, 2021) was an American TV and radio host presenter, author, and former spokesman. He was a WMBM radio interviewer in the Miami area in the 1950s and 1960s and beginning in ...
. Southwick has also spent time as a visiting assistant professor at BYU.
References
External links
Oregon State Beavers bioOccidental Tigers bioArenaFan.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Southwick, Danny
1981 births
Living people
American football quarterbacks
BYU Cougars football players
Dixie State Rebels football players
Oregon State Beavers football players
Utah Utes football players
Occidental Tigers football players
Louisville Fire players
Oakland Raiders players
Dallas Vigilantes players
Tampa Bay Storm players
San Jose SaberCats players
San Antonio Talons players
Chicago Rush players
Cleveland Gladiators players
Portland Thunder players
Spokane Shock players
Los Angeles Kiss players
Portland Steel players
Orlando Predators players
Massachusetts Pirates players
Jacksonville Sharks players
Philadelphia Soul players
Columbus Destroyers players
Jersey Flight players
Fan Controlled Football players
Columbus Lions players
Orlando Predators (2019–) players
Brigham Young University faculty
Players of American football from Provo, Utah
Arena Football League (2024) players
Arena Football One (2025) players