Dan Orlovsky hints at an uncertain future at ESPN while signing off from his final appearance on First Take during the NFL season.
“I’m taking a break, won’t be on TV for a long time… never know what the future holds but I’m taking a break… just want to say thank you.… pic.twitter.com/aeuNti2uPz
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 10, 2025
A surprise TV personality may be joining the New Orleans Saints coaching staff. Dan Orlovsky, Kellen Moore’s old teammate on the Detroit Lions, shared a vague sign-off message Monday morning on ESPN.
“You guys know this is the end of the season for me, certainly for (cohost Ryan Clark) as well, I’m taking a break,” Orlovsky said. “Won’t be on TV for a long time… Never know what the future holds, but I’m taking a break and I’m sure RC is as well.”
He’d be an interesting addition to Moore’s staff, assuming the Saints do hire the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator. Orlovsky and Moore have remained friends over the years after they competed for a backup job on the Lions more than a decade ago. They texted each other often during the season, with Moore confiding in Orlovsky last October that he felt Saquon Barkley could break the NFL single-season rushing record. He might have done it if the Eagles hadn’t rested their starters in the season finale. Orlovsky offered his own endorsement for Moore to get the Saints head coaching job, too.
What role Orlovsky may have remains to be seen. You’d think he would start at the bottom as an offensive assistant before being trusted to run a position group, but you never know. NFL teams have approached Orlovsky about starting a coaching career before. He spent 13 years in the league as a quarterback and is clearly popular in league circles. But he’s said before it would take the perfect combination of factors to get him out of a broadcast studio. That combo just might be coming together in New Orleans.