The NFL coaching carousel is underway, which means it’s time for Dan Orlovsky’s name to enter the mix.
The former journeyman quarterback turned ESPN analyst has never been shy about his coaching aspirations. But he’s also made clear that he’s not about to jump at just any opportunity. So, don’t expect him to take a low-level quality control role on the staff of a head coach destined to get canned by midseason.
He’s holding out for the right fit.
Last year, Orlovsky admitted he’d received some interest from NFL teams. And while he’s still climbing the ranks as a sought-after TV analyst, the pull of the sidelines is real. He said that he’d “obviously” take an interview if the opportunity presented itself — and they did last offseason.
Whether that materializes into the job Orlovsky recently tweeted “would be an honor” remains to be seen. With Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements stepping away, Orlovsky’s name has surfaced as a potential candidate for the role — one that would involve working closely with Jordan Love.
Would be an honor
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) January 14, 2025
It helps that Orlovsky has familiarity with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, too.
So, the current speculation isn’t without merit. And Acme Packing Co., the Packers’ SB Nation affiliate, highlighted Orlovsky’s previous connections with LaFleur, as the two initially crossed paths in 2009 with the Houston Texans and later reunited in 2017 with the Los Angeles Rams.
Naturally, his name has been floated for the position.
Orlovsky addressed the swirling rumors around his name during a Wednesday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
“Is there any truth to it? I have had conversations with places — I feel like this happens almost every year,” he said. “I’m very flattered by it. About stuff in the coaching world, I’ve had those again this year. It’s something that — I say this all the time — this is just me being very honest about everything. I love being at ESPN. I love doing TV — I do. I really do…”
Still, Orlovsky acknowledged the pull of returning to the locker room environment he grew up in.
“When you grow up in the locker room, and you grow up in that environment where you do it together, and it’s always a part of a team, which is something I craved as much as anything,” Orlovsky continued. “You know, when you don’t have that, you miss being a part of that group. And so, there’s always a desire. There still is a desire to kind of continue to be part of that fabric of my life type-of-thing and every day. There is that desire and the craving to have that.
“And also, coach. I have so many friends that coach. I just saw Josh McCown on Monday night leaving the stadium to go to the airport. I saw him, and it was just a quick embrace and ‘How are you doing?’ He’s like, ‘Dude, I love it.’ I saw T.J. Yates, who’s a buddy of mine — he took my job in Houston — when we were in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago. He’s the quarterbacks coach down there. ‘How do you like it?’ ‘Dude, I love it.'”
Orlovsky added that many of his friends in the coaching world are highly intelligent football minds who genuinely love what they do.
“If it’s the right place, right time, right people — it seems to be a really, really fun experience,” he noted.
“I have had conversations with places about stuff in the coaching world and I’ve had those again this year..
If it’s the right place and right time I think it would be a really fun experience” ~ @danorlovsky7 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Ws4Dm7vzd6
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 15, 2025
Orlovsky believes coaching would be a deeply fulfilling experience.
He pictured himself in the shoes of Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, who watched his players embrace Sam Darnold after a big win over the Packers and reflected on the satisfaction of guiding a player to that kind of moment.
“That’s got to be such a fulfilling experience,” Orlovsky admitted. “And also, I remember having a conversation with J.J. Redick this past offseason — when he was in conversations with coaching and whatnot. And one of the things that stood out to me that he said was he has a son, and he really wants his son to experience growing up in that environment, as well…
“There’s a lot of appeal to it — there is. I do think I have a ton of respect for the coaches and the grind they go through, and they, obviously, have done it for a long time. But, I think anything in life, as long as you’re passionate about it and you try to outwork every human being that is on the planet at it — you’ll be better than them.”
“I think coaching would be such a fulfilling experience..
There’s a lot of appeal to it and I have a ton of respect for the coaching grind” ~ @danorlovsky7 #PMSLive https://t.co/6jOFGioXGv pic.twitter.com/0lUgxHiZc7
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 15, 2025
It’s only a matter of time before Orlovksy gets to show what he’s capable of as a coach.
If he so chooses.