ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky left the football community bemused with his unpopular opinion of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford ahead of the 2026 season
ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky speaking on TV
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky made a bold claim about Matthew Stafford(Image: AwfulAnnouncing/X)
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ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky caught the attention of fans everywhere with a bold take about Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
As the NFL world reacted to future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to play the 2026 season with the Rams, Orlovsky took the opportunity to lay down what is at stake for Los Angeles and their Super Bowl aspirations this year.
Speaking on ESPN morning show Get Up, Orlovsky proposed how Stafford could be rated among the all-time great quarterbacks if he leads the Rams to another Super Bowl title this season, something he already did five years ago.
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"Matthew Stafford gets another one, he has an MVP in his back pocket, he becomes top-five, top-seven of all-time conversation,” Orlovsky said on Monday morning.
While his co-hosts remained straight-faced, Orlovsky's claim certainly rattled plenty of fans watching from home and others who caught wind of what he said on social media.
The overwhelming sentiment was that, even if Stafford does have another MVP-caliber season and win a second career Super Bowl with Los Angeles, he will still not be a top-five or top-seven quarterback of all-time, an echelon reserved for names like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Joe Montana.
Former ESPN personality Bomani Jones was one of many who replied to the clip of Orlovsky on social media, writing, “it’s insane.” Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard said simply, “Lol…no.”
Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams on the timeline
Stafford won his first career MVP award in 2025(Image: Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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Damien Woody, a former ESPN analyst who was recently let go from the network, even chimed in, writing, “Love you bud but cmon Dan…”
Orlovsky has never been shy to prop up Stafford, who he has a special allegiance to since they were teammates with the Detroit Lions for three seasons between 2014 and 2016.
In fact, the two shared the same quarterback room together, in which Stafford was the starter and Orlovsky his back-up.
Stafford never did much winning with the Lions – he went 0-3 in playoff games across 12 seasons in Detroit – but he has earned the respect many believed he was due over his five seasons with the Rams, during which he won Super Bowl LVI and the 2025 regular season MVP award.
Despite his successes, it does not seem the NFL community agrees with Orlovsky in that he should be considered one of the all-time great quarterbacks even if he adds another Super Bowl ring.
That will certainly be the ambition for Stafford and company this season, especially after the Rams acquired reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett earlier this offseason.
Oddsmakers consider Los Angeles a clear favorite to win the Super Bowl, which will, coincidentally, be played at their home SoFi Stadium on Feb. 14, 2027.
Los Angeles begins its 2026 regular season with a difficult test against the San Francisco 49ers in what will be the NFL’s first ever game played in Australia.