Challenges: MPF percentile
39%
Seasons: 1 | Days played: 23 | Wins: 0 | Jury: 1
- Survivor 41 (2021) - 6th place, 13th out - 6th juror.
- Voted out in Episode 12, "Truth Kamikaze" (Day 23).
| Challenge stats | Tribal council stats | Jury stats | Overall stats | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | ChW | ChA | ChW% | VFB | VAP | TCA | TC% | wTCR | JVF | TotJ | JV% | SurvSc | SurvAv |
| Survivor 41 | 2.31 | 9.35 | 0.25 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0.32 | 1.33 | - | - | - | 0.57 | 3.64 |
| Career | 2.31 | 9.35 | 0.25 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0.32 | 1.33 | - | - | - | 0.57 | 3.64 |
Danny McCray - Performance ranks
Tribal: VFB% percentile
25%
Tribal: rVAP percentile
71%
Performance ranks are a quick visual measure of the contestant's season vs. historical data from all prior contestants, in three basic (scorable) categories:
1. Performance in individual challenges (MPF), as a measure of "physical game";
2. Ability to vote people out consistently (VFB%, or VFB/TCA), or "strategic game"; and
3. Ability to avoid being voted against (rVAP, or TCA-VAP) - which scales better than a percentage would - for "social/strategic game."
See also: Full glossary for all these abbreviations.
Danny McCray - Challenge record
Survivor
41 challenges 
Tribal/team challenge record (5-for-10; 2 2nds):
- Survivor 41 Ep. 1 RC: (Marooning) - Luvu has a lead, but also an anchor; loses.
- Survivor 41 Ep. 1 IC: "Bonus Track" - Carries sandbags, hauls the sled, and Luvu wins.
- Survivor 41 Ep. 2 RC/IC: "Water Sports" - Crosses the obstacles; and Luvu wins (1st/3).
- Survivor 41 Ep. 3 RC/IC: "Victory in the Bag" - Crosses the slackline; Luvu wins (1st/3).
- Survivor 41 Ep. 4 RC: (Ball chute, landing) - Luvu can't complete first stage, loses (3rd/3).
- Survivor 41 Ep. 4 IC: "Kenny Log-Ins" - Luvu can't throw it, ends up not losing (2nd*/3).
- Survivor 41 Ep. 5 IC: (Obstacles, slingshot) - Luvu has a lead, doesn't lose (2nd*/3).
- Survivor 41 Ep. 6 IC: "Keep Digging" - Works word puzzle with Ricard for winning team.
- Survivor 41 Ep. 8 IC: "Puzzle Pieces" - Dives, grabs a piece for the winning team.
- Survivor 41 Ep. 12 RC: "Beach Front Bay Bash" - Shoots, then rebounds for losing team.
Individual challenge record (1-for-7):
(Mean % finish: 52.7%)
- Survivor 41 Ep. 7 IC: "The Game Is Afoot" - One of four not placing a flag (tie-3rd/6).
- Survivor 41 Ep. 8 IC: "Keep On Your Toes" - Fourth person out, very quickly (5th/7).
- Survivor 41 Ep. 9 IC: "Uncomfortably Numb" - Third person on blue to drop (3rd/5).
- Survivor 41 Ep. 10 RC: "Star Fish" - Working the puzzle as Ricard wins (tie-3rd/8).
- Survivor 41 Ep. 10 IC: (Ball on pole) - Second person out, circa 5 min. in (7th/8).
- Survivor 41 Ep. 11 IC: "Balance on the Line" - Holds on to final round, Danny wins! (1st/5).
- Survivor 41 Ep. 12 IC: "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" - Working on the puzzle as Ricard wins (tie-3rd/6).
Hero challenge/ duel record (0-for-0):
- Survivor 41: None.
Career totals - challenges
| Wins: | 5 |
| 2nd place: | 2 |
| Played: | 10 |
| Win%: | 0.60 |
| Sat out: | - |
| Wins: | 1 |
| Played: | 7 |
| Win%: | 0.14 |
| Mean% Finish: | 52.7% |
| Wins: | 0 |
| Played: | 0 |
| Win%: | - |
| Mean% Finish: | - |
Danny McCray - Tribal Council record
Survivor
41 Tribal 
Idols held/played (0/0):
- Survivor 41: None.
VFB - Votes for the person booted (2/6):
| Tribal | Voted | Boot (totals) | VFB? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep7 | Evvie | Sydney Segal (voted out, 5-4-3) | - |
| Ep8 | Xander | Tiffany Seely (voted out, 6-2-2-1) | - |
| Ep9 | Evvie | Evvie Jagoda (voted out, 3-2) | Yes |
| Ep10 | Shan | Shan Smith (voted out, 3-3-2; 6-0 on revote) | Yes |
| Ep11 | Ricard | Liana Wallace (voted out, 5-3) | - |
| Ep12 | Deshawn | Danny McCray (voted out, 3-3; 4-0 on revote) | - |
| 6 | TOTALS | 2 | |
VAP - Votes against (3):
- Survivor 41, Ep. 12: Three votes, from Deshawn, Erika, and Heather (voted out, 3-3; 4-0 on revote).
Jury votes made (0/1):
- Survivor 41, Ep. 13: Voted for Deshawn Radden, who finished second, 7-1-0.
Career totals - Tribal Council
| Found: | 0 |
| Played: | - |
| Votes voided: | - |
| VFB: | 2 |
| Tribals: | 6 |
| VAP: | 3 |
| Made: | 1 |
| For winners: | 0 |
| Received: | - |
Danny McCray - Pictures
Survivor
41 image gallery -
EW pre-game interview shot -
Boating in, Day 1 -
Talking about bingeing Survivor during COVID -
Full cast, greeting Probst -
Luvu, getting passed by Ua in the Ep1 RC -
That would explain it -
Heading off to do the Sweat task -
Talking about the task -
Carrying water with Deshawn -
Another quest, Day 2 -
Summit of the hike, with JD and Xander -
Protect or Risk your vote decision time -
Filling the tribe in on what happened -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep1 IC -
Moving sandbags -
Watching the puzzle stage -
Luvu wins immunity! -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep2 RC/IC -
Starting line -
Watching the puzzle stage -
Luvu wins! -
Learning Naseer has been putting his name out, Ep3 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep3 RC/IC -
Luvu wins again! -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep4 RC -
Supporting Heather for her effort -
Luvu loses its fishing gear -
Not sure about Deshawn's plan to throw the IC -
Helping Naseer shove logs -
Luvu doesn't lose! -
This again? Ep5 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep5 IC -
Watching Naseer chop the rope -
The obviously-going-to-win blue team, Ep6 IC -
Digging deep -
Blue team wins! -
Half-merge feasting -
Stoked to (temporarily) be on the merge tribe -
The mostly merged tribe -
Erika has an announcement, Ep7 -
Dropping the merge buffs again -
Starting line, Ep7 IC -
What did he say we would win? -
Xander talks about Liana's advantage -
Xander knows about it! -
Merge tribe, Ep7 Tribal Council -
Talking to Probst -
Starting line, Ep8 RC -
Blue team wins! -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep8 IC -
Starting line -
Pre-Tribal plotting -
Trying to get Naseer out -
Viakana, Ep8 Tribal Council -
Listening to Tiffany -
Good idea, Ep9 -
Starting line, Ep9 RC/IC -
This one's simple, it's Evvie -
No Xander, it's Evvie -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep10 RC -
Working the puzzle -
Proposing targeting Ricard -
Starting line, Ep10 IC -
Erika asks about voting Shan in a split vote -
Shan seems more loyal to Ricard than our alliance -
Heading to Tribal -
Viakana, Ep10 Tribal Council -
Listening to Erika -
Liana is displeased, Ep11 -
Pre-challenge lineup, Ep11 IC -
Starting line -
Down to three... -
Danny wins immunity! -
Safe at Tribal Council tonight -
It would be a good idea to target Ricard while we can... -
Viakana, Ep11 Tribal Council -
Listening to Deshawn -
We're next, Deshawn. Ep12 -
Getting ready to rebound, Ep12 RC -
Looking for an idol -
Fresh off the starting line, Ep12 IC -
Working the puzzle -
One of us... -
Heading to Tribal -
Viakana, Ep12 Tribal Council -
Talking to Probst -
The sixth member of our jury ... -
Snuffed, Day 23 (Episode 12) -
Go, Cowboys! -
With the jury, Final Tribal Council -
Addressing the finalists -
Jury plus finalists, the immediate "Survivor Aftershow" -
Listening to Xander
Danny McCray - Interviews
Survivor
41 interviews Pre-game interviews
- Rob Cesternino & Mike Bloom at RHAP (9/1/21): "Survivor 41 | First Six Castaway Preview."
- Mike Bloom at RHAP (9/8/21): "Ex-NFL Player Danny McCray Wants to Change the Perception of Threat"
Post-game interviews
- Dalton Ross at EW.com (12/9/21): "Danny McCray shares lots of unseen secrets from Survivor 41"
- Mike Bloom at Parade.com (12/9/21): "Danny McCray on Losing His Competitive Edge and How the Show Saved Him 'A Lot of Heartache'"
- Rob Cesternino at RHAP (12/9/21): "Survivor 41 Episode 12 Exit Interview with the Latest Player Voted Out"
Danny McCray - Bio
Survivor
41 bio Official CBS Survivor 41 bio excerpts (September 4, 2021):
"Pet Peeve: Lying, not being on time and lack of accountability. Lack of awareness and consideration for people's time and space or having to repeat myself after three times.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Completing my graduate degree program! It was my goal to earn an MBA before I made it to the NFL, but that changed due to the money I was making and the workload that football requires. After retirement I had to overcome my own mind and doubts that I couldn't do it. It was the hardest thing I've ever done in life – late nights of studying and having tutors almost giving up repeatedly. But I never did, I have my MBA!
What is something we would never know from looking at you? You would never know that I often achieve success because of fear, my fear of letting the people that I love down. Letting down people that took a chance on me is the vision that I use to thrive in competitive situations. Very similar to Adam Sandler in the movie "The Water Boy."
Who is your hero and why? My mom. When my father passed, she was left to take care of three kids alone. She worked two jobs plus side work to provide for us. There is nothing she wouldn't do for us. I take strength to be strong when a tragedy hits from her, she never complained or let us see her cry. She did that for us. I owe her everything that I can give.
Which past Survivor will you play the game most like? Ben "Boom" Driebergen, 1 Big Move King. I figure that I would be seen as a strong physical player so I would eventually become a big target. The way Ben was able to outwork everyone on the tribe and do what he needed to do in order to survive was truly admirable. It's that 'back against the wall' mentality I admire.
Why do you believe you can win Survivor? I'm applying to win. I always have something to prove to myself. I truly believe that I can succeed at whatever I put my mind to. I haven't failed yet and don't plan on starting now."
Pre-game interview video/tweet:
Meet Danny, a former NFL player who believes his life experience and willingness to do whatever it takes is what will help him get to the end.�� #Survivor pic.twitter.com/e38VsDBAOz
— SURVIVOR (@survivorcbs) September 3, 2021