Dan's athletic prowess began to unfold as he played both football and baseball at Bellarmine College Prep, where his impressive skills caught the attention of the New York Mets, who drafted him in 1968 as a potential major-league shortstop.
However, Dan decided to attend the nearby University of Santa Clara, where he majored in political science and continued to pursue his passion for sports, with his focus shifting from baseball to football.
As his football skills continued to excel, Dan was invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl, which ultimately led the Houston Oilers to select him as their number one pick in the 1971 draft.
Dan went on to quarterback for the Oilers for several years before moving on to the Oakland Raiders, the L.A. Rams, and the Philadelphia Eagles, earning a reputation as a fast-living "playboy" during his playing career.
In his personal life, Dan was married to British actress June Wilkinson from 1972 to 1982, a union that lasted for ten years.
Aside from his athletic pursuits, Dan also dabbled in acting, appearing in the 1979 film "Killer Fish" alongside Lee Majors, Karen Black, James Franciscus, Margaux Hemingway, and Gary Collins, although his role was relatively small and critics noted that his primary talent was his physical appearance.
Dan's reputation as a ladies' man was further solidified when he posed for a December 1980 photo-spread in "Playgirl" magazine, which featured him stripping and showering.
Today, Dan resides in the Houston area, where he has hosted a sports show on local television and continues to indulge his passion for racing cars.
