Dan Orlovsky could see himself being Troy Aikman’s successor

Dan Orlovsky knows Monday Night Football is occupied by one of the best NFL analysts ever, but that won’t stop him from setting the goal of being Troy Aikman’s successor.

Orlovsky joined this week’s episode of the Awful Announcing Podcast. During the interview, the NFL analyst discussed a variety of topics, which included exploring other opportunities before ultimately returning to ESPN. And while he’s fresh off signing a new four-year contract with ESPN, Orlovsky didn’t return without maintaining lofty goals for the future of his media career.

Currently, Orlovsky’s primary responsibility for ESPN is being a mainstay on their weekday studio shows during the NFL season. But he still loves calling football games, which is something CBS offered him to do more of. In addition to his studio work with ESPN, Orlovsky is on the Monday Night Football B-team where he calls several games each season.

“I want more,” Orlovsky admitted after being asked whether his current schedule Monday Night Football schedule is enough to satisfy his desire to call games. He wants more and ESPN is aware.

“Yes, they know where I stand both now and, in the future,” Orlovsky said of ESPN before comparing his desire to call big games with Greg Olsen’s honesty on the topic. “Point blank, very clearly, it’s not different than Greg’s answer either. I want to call the most important game or one of the most important games weekly in football.”

Orlovsky is already on ESPN’s Monday Night Football B-team. And with a media rights deal that’s signed through 2033, ESPN isn’t on the verge of adding more games anytime soon. The only way Orlovsky is getting more games at ESPN is if he eventually works his way up to the chair currently occupied by Aikman. Does that mean Orlovsky can envision being Troy Aikman’s successor?

“Of course it’s a crazy goal, but I could see myself, yeah,” Orlovsky admitted. “Absolutely. And that is said with the utmost respect and reverence and admiration. But absolutely. That’s a crazy goal for sure, but that is one of them, yeah. Absolutely.”

Orlovsky is already a media veteran, having been with ESPN since 2018, but he’s only 41 years old. Aikman is 58, albeit a young looking 58 who has already expressed a desire to continue calling Monday Night Football games beyond his current deal. But with a long media career ahead of him, Orlovsky should set big goals. And for an NFL analyst, there may be no bigger goal than trying to do what Fox felt compelled to task Tom Brady with, filling a void left by Troy Aikman.

Listen to the full episode of the Awful Announcing Podcast featuring Dan Orlovsky and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. For more content, subscribe to AA’s YouTube page.