Former Detroit Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky may be nearing the end of his run at ESPN.
During Monday morning’s episode of First Take, Orlovsky surprised viewers by announcing that he plans to step away from television for what he described as “a long time.” Before signing off, he expressed gratitude to co-hosts Stephen A. Smith, Molly Qerim, and Shannon Sharpe for sharing the set with him throughout the NFL season.
“This is the end of the season for me,” Orlovsky said. “I’m going to take a break. Won’t be back on TV for quite a while. Just wanted to thank Stephen A., Molly, Shannon—love working with you guys.”
His remarks sparked speculation that this wasn’t just a seasonal break but possibly a farewell from ESPN altogether. That chatter only grew louder when a fan on social media asked if his comments meant he was leaving the network. Orlovsky’s response was deliberately vague:
“Lotta decisions to be made. We’ll see what happens. I’m grateful for everything.”
If he does depart, Orlovsky would follow a recent trend of high-profile departures at ESPN. In the past year, the network moved on from fellow quarterback-turned-analyst Robert Griffin III and longtime NFL Countdown host Sam Ponder.
Orlovsky, who played in the NFL from 2005 to 2017, spent most of his career as a backup. His most notable stretch came in Detroit, where he started seven games during the Lions’ infamous 0-16 season in 2008. Over his time in Detroit, he posted an 0-7 record with a 55.1% completion rate, 1,880 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Whether his next chapter keeps him in broadcasting or takes him in a new direction remains unclear, but his comments suggest change may be on the horizon.
