Jan. 14, 2026, 5:15 p.m. ET
As the Detroit Lions search for a new offensive coordinator, Evan Fox of The Pat McAfee Show floated an off-the-wall candidate on Tuesday. Fox suggested that former Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky should put his name into the ring for the job in the Motor City.
“I got a name that no one’s talking about that would fit really well in Detroit, if you guys want to hear that one. I think Dan Orlovsky, with his history with the Lions, former teammate of MCDC’s. The guy knows everything about the Ben Johnson offense.
“He loves Jared Goff. Accurate quarterbacks. All those weapons,” Fox said. “St. Brown, Jamo, Gibbs, Monty. LaPorta, when he comes back. Can you imagine Dan Orlovsky on a pen and paper, or in the VR [virtual reality] writing up plays for the Detroit Lions next year and sending us to the Super Bowl?”
On Wednesday, Orlovsky responded to Fox’s suggestion, expressing his interest in the Lions’ opening, but also cautioning that he’ll only pursue it if there is mutual interest.
“I would do it very much so in Detroit. I love that place, I love that organization, I love a lot of those people that are there. I love Jared. I’m a huge Jared guy…
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“I love everything about Detroit. Detroit’s loaded. Loaded, loaded, loaded, loaded. I want the interior of the offensive line to be better. But, yeah, great place,” Orlovsky said.
Orlovsky was drafted by Detroit in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL draft and spent seven seasons with the team, but is remembered by Lions fans for his infamous Oct. 12, 2008, gaffe at the Minnesota Vikings, where he stepped out of the back of the end zone for a safety on a drop-back pass.
During his three seasons in Detroit where he saw game action, Orlovsky appeared in 14 games, started seven and would throw for 1,880 passing yards and nine touchdowns.
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