SI

Dan Orlovsky, Chris Russo Engage in Rare Public Clash Between ESPN Talent

The radio legend was not impressed with the former quarterback's arm.

Patrick Andres

Dan Orlovsky, Chris Russo Engage in Rare Public Clash Between ESPN Talent
Dan Orlovsky, Chris Russo Engage in Rare Public Clash Between ESPN Talent /
In this story:

Rarely at ESPN—or any television network or media outlet, for that matter—do two front-facing personalities get into wars of words. Contentment, or at least the appearance of contentment, is king.

ESPN analysts Dan Orlovsky and Chris Russo do not seem to have received that memo.

Monday saw Orlovsky—a veteran of 26 NFL games over 12 years, and Connecticut's all-time leading passer since jumping up to FBS—defend his football bonafides after Russo labeled him a “scrub.” 

The broadside was prompted by a video of Orlovsky participating in a passing drill at the Pro Bowl.

“You were impressed? I could do this!” Russo said. “This is not that difficult. I can do this. Hand me the ball. I’ll throw the football that far. This is ridiculous. He was a scrub in the NFL. This doesn’t make up for that.”

Orlovsky appeared to take exception to the radio veteran's comment.

“May be a HOFer but this is classless,” Orlovsky said, referencing Russo’s Nov. 2022 induction into the Radio Hall of Fame.

Clearly, something has to give between two personalities not known for being easily dissuaded.

Published
Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .

Home/NFL