Dan Orlovsky is used to being asked for his quarterback opinions on ESPN, but he’s not used to being asked about his quarterback opinions.
Orlovsky went on ESPN Radio’s morning show for a casual, no-tie-required conversation Friday, but after the pleasantries, Unsportsmanlike host Evan Cohen put him through the wringer.
“Why do you love quarterbacks who haven’t done it versus those who have? Why do you love Herbert… why do you not love Hurts?” – Evan Cohen to Dan Orlovsky pic.twitter.com/sSVRZOh2Wx
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 18, 2026
“Why do you love quarterbacks who haven’t done it versus those who have?” Cohen asked Orlovsky. “Why do you love [Justin] Herbert and [Jordan] Love… why do you not love [Jalen] Hurts? To the level of these other guys, you don’t.”
Orlovsky claimed, “I know where he’s going,” when Cohen alerted everyone he was about to ask a tough question. But Orlovsky’s eyebrows still rose as Cohen delivered the eventual question.
“I totally disagree with that,” Orlovsky said before admitting he was skeptical of Hurts early in his career, believing Carson Wentz was the better quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles to build around. “Critical of Jalen, probably that first year and a half, two years as a starter. Ever since then, Hurts has won me over… I don’t doubt Hurts; I’ve so far removed myself from doubting Hurts in no matter what situation. I think why you’re a fan of Herbert is because that’s what it should look like.”
What a quarterback “should look like” is referring to how they play the position more than their results. This isn’t just a Dan Orlovsky issue. Hurts has been widely doubted as an elite quarterback despite his win-loss record and playoff success. Herbert is often praised as having the potential to be one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history despite never winning a playoff game.
Orlovsky has pivoted from labeling Hurts a “liability” to claiming everyone should at least have him in their top-10 quarterbacks in the league. Despite preaching his allegiance to Hurts, Orlovsky was questioned again last month when he released his quarterback rankings by trait, breaking them into seven categories: arm strength, ball placement, mechanics, decision-making, pocket presence, second reaction, and rushing ability.
Herbert, for example, ranked in the top-five in three of those categories. Hurts, however, didn’t crack the top-five in any of the categories. Notably, Hurts has played in two Super Bowls and won MVP in one. Herbert has not won a playoff game in his career, prompting Cohen’s question about loving quarterbacks who haven’t done it versus those who have.
Orlovsky didn’t seem to have an issue answering the very direct question from Cohen. But what a way to start your Friday morning car wash on ESPN.