Daniel Sorensen

Daniel Sorensen is a professional football strong safety. He was an undrafted free agent in 2014 when he left Brigham Young University and although several NFL teams called him, only one head coach reached out, and that was Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs, himself a former Cougar. In May 2014 Sorensen signed a two-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs and he started in special teams and spent six weeks on the club's practice squad. In March 2017, the Chiefs signed him to a four-year, $16 million contract extension and with Eric Berry out with an Achilles' injury, Sorensen now had his shot. On January 6, 2018, Sorensen started a playoff game for the first time in his four-year career and recorded three combined tackles during a 22–21 loss to the Tennessee Titans. He was on injured reserve after a knee injury in training camp from September 2 to November 6 in 2018.

Sorensen played for the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV (2020). He had 6 tackles as the Chiefs beat the 49ers 31-20. He also played for the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV (2021). Leading up to the Super Bowl, he had a career-best 89 tackles this year, while adding five pass deflections, three interceptions, and a pair of forced fumbles. The Chiefs lost to the Buccaneers 31-9, and Sorensen finished the game with six tackles, including three solo stops.

Sorensen was born on March 5, 1990, in Riverside, California. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a full-time missionary to Costa Rica. He married Whitney Jill Halford in 2013. They are the parents of three children.

At the April 2019 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ, Elder Gary E. Stevenson included Sorensen in his talk:

We know Church members and priesthood holders who have experienced success at the highest levels of professional athletics. There are many good examples, but I can list only a few here for the sake of time. You might recognize some of these athletes: in baseball, Jeremy Guthrie and Bryce Harper; in basketball, Jabari Parker and Jimmer Fredette; in soccer, Ricardo Rojas; in rugby league, William Hopoate; and in football, Taysom Hill and Daniel Sorensen. Each has made significant contributions to his sport.

While they are extremely successful in their sports, these athletes would be the first to admit they are not perfect athletes or perfect human beings. They work hard to be the best in their sport—and to live the gospel. They get up if they stumble, and they strive to endure to the end.

He later quoted Sorensen as saying: “A good playbook is a plan that uses the talents and strengths of each team member. . . . As I study and practice the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I can know how to use my strengths to serve in the priesthood.”

Sorensen was part of a Facebook live event held on May 16, 2021,