Background and career
Daniel John Orlovsky (born August 18, 1983) is an American football analyst for ESPN and ABC and former professional football player. He played as a quarterback for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily as a backup. Orlovsky played college football for the UConn Huskies. As a junior, his 33 passing touchdowns ranked seventh in NCAA Division I-A. He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL draft. Orlovsky also played in the NFL for the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Los Angeles Rams.
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Orlovsky played high school football and basketball. "When I was younger, I would have garbage cans set up all around the yard," Orlovsky recalled. "And I would have like 20 balls and just fire them into the cans. I really had nothing else to do back then." Orlovsky attended Shelton High School and became the starting quarterback during his sophomore year. As a senior, he threw for 2,385 yards and 24 touchdowns as the Gaels went 12–0, winning a state championship. His overall record as a high school quarterback was 28–4. He earned All-American honors from Prep Football Report, SuperPrep and Prep Star, and was also named Connecticut all-state, Class LL MVP, the New Haven Register's Connecticut Player of the Year and winner of the McHugh Award.
Orlovsky became the starter at Connecticut during his freshman year when Keron Henry suffered a sprained knee. Orlovsky threw for 1,379 yards and nine touchdowns on 128 of 269 passing (47.6 percent) while being intercepted 11 times.
Starting every game as a sophomore, Orlovsky hit on 221 of 366 attempts (60.4 percent), with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His 2,488 yards passing rank fourth on the school's season-record list.
As a junior, he completed 279 of 475 passes (58.7 percent) for 3,485 yards, 33 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. His 33 scoring tosses were tied for seventh in the NCAA Division I-A. On October 11, UConn traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina to take on Heisman trophy candidate and future first round draft pick Philip Rivers and the N.C. State Wolfpack. Even though UConn lost the game 31–24 on a pick six interception return, Orlovsky threw for 299 yards, compared to Rivers 234 yards.
Orlovsky did not match his 2003 figures as a senior. At Syracuse Orlovsky completed a school- and Big East-record 39 passes for a school-record 445 yards, in a 42–30 loss. At end of the season he led the team to victory in its inaugural bowl appearance, winning the Motor City Bowl, while earning Game MVP honors. He passed for 3,354 yards with 23 touchdowns and 15 interceptions on 288 of 456 throws (63.0 percent) in 2004. He was named the Walter Camp Connecticut Player of the Year Award for the 2004 season. Orlovsky holds the school record for most pass completions (916), pass attempts (1,567), yards passing (10,706), touchdown passes (84), interceptions (51), total plays (1,710) and total yards (10,421). Orlovsky, along with head coach Randy Edsall, served as the "face" of the UConn football program during the early 2000s.
