Dan Orlovsky, once a backup quarterback through a 12-year NFL journey, appeared in just 26 games, making 12 starts. However, his pivot to a career as an analyst on ESPN has seen him rise to prominence, marking a trajectory that sometimes mirrors the fairytale comebacks he analyzes.
Orlovsky recently turned heads with his glowing appraisal of Tyler Warren, a standout tight end from Penn State who’s tipped by Mel Kiper Jr. to join the Chicago Bears.
"He's my second favorite player in the draft outside of Travis Hunter. If you're the Bears, you're ecstatic about this pick," Orlovsky said on "NFL Live."
He continued, "He reminds me so much of Trey McBride. His yards after the catch are key.
I think he dominates the middle of the field. They didn’t exploit him in many one-on-ones, but when they did, he delivered some jaw-dropping moments."
Orlovsky didn’t stop there. He took to X to share his thoughts with his followers, teasing a comparison that football aficionados will find hard to ignore: "Reminds me of McBride Carolina? Bears?"
Tyler Warren certainly made a splash last season, racking up an impressive 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns on 104 receptions, and adding 218 yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries. His efforts landed him seventh in Heisman Trophy voting and a spot as a first-team All-American, capped with the John Mackey Award as the nation’s best tight end.
Dan Orlovsky, ever the engaging personality, used humor to highlight his own journey to success. His most infamous NFL moment, where he mistakenly ran out of the end zone resulting in a safety, was repurposed as comedic gold in response to his Emmy nomination.
The Emmy’s account had highlighted Orlovsky alongside big names like Charles Barkley and Nate Burleson for the #SportsEmmys:
"The #SportsEmmys Nominees for Personality/Studio Analyst are: - Charles Barkley (@TNTSportsUS @TBSNetwork) - @nateburleson (@cbssports) - @Realrclark25 (@espn @abcnetwork) - @KirkHerbstreit (@espn) - @danorlovsky7 (@espn @abcnetwork)"
With characteristic humor, Orlovsky shared the clip of the infamous moment with the caption: "Started from the bottom now we here."
The blunder occurred in the opening quarter of Orlovsky’s first career start with the Detroit Lions, in a game they narrowly lost 12-10 to the Minnesota Vikings, contributing to their notorious 0-16 finish that year—the first in NFL history. Despite the initial setback, Orlovsky's career arc is an inspiring tale of resilience and reinvention, underscoring that every player can find their moment to shine, even if it comes off the field.
