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ESPN host Dan Orlovsky gave it a go at the 2024 Pro Bowl passing competition this week, lining up against some of the top signal callers in the NFL. A former professional quarterback himself, he showed that he’s still got a little in the tank!
Orlovsky actually scored higher than every single player in the opening round of the competition. That included posting numbers better than Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts before hitting his 10-point “money ball.”
The AFC and NFC are squaring up this week in a friendly skills test ahead of Sunday’s Pro Bowl matchup. Thus far, the NFC holds a slight advantage over its cross-league foe.
On Thursday, the quarterbacks took to the field to flex their muscles in a precision passing drill where they’re asked to hit moving targets at different depths on the gridiron. A surprise candidate made an appearance, though he wasn’t actually in the competition.
And maybe that’s a good thing for the current NFL pros!
Dan Orlovsky, donning a tie and slacks, participated in his own round of the skill test after the fact. He posted more than respectable numbers.
If Joe Flacco can…🤷🏼♂️ pic.twitter.com/9n7sqJnxEy
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) February 2, 2024
The ESPN analyst started slow before getting into an absolute groove late. Showing off his deep ball accuracy, Orlovsky was seen consistently drilling three- and four-point targets in the endzone.
When his time on the clock ended, he’d posted a score of 17. He then added to that total by connecting on the 10-point bonus throw to boost his score to 27.
That score was good enough to beat everyone in the competition, and even a few passers before hitting that final money ball.
Tua Tagovailoa finished last in the six-man competition, posting a final score of 16 points.
His former Alabama teammate Jalen Hurts didn’t finish much better at 17.
Both Hurts and Tagovailoa have battled criticisms of their passing accuracy over the years, though both have been able to quiet their doubters across the last two seasons.
Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing this past season, a year after pacing the league in QB rating. He’s now led Miami to back-to-back playoff appearances as a starter.
Hurts, meanwhile, finished second in the MVP voting last season, taking the Eagles to a Super Bowl. This year, he posted career highs in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and rushing scores.
Orlovsky got the better of both, which is a testament to his ability as a passer. Unfortunately, this performance won’t erase the most memorable moment of his NFL career from viewers’ minds.
The most underrated part of the Dan Orlovsky safety is the announcer going “poor guy probably doesn’t even know” pic.twitter.com/ZkZH0gRzfh
— Josh Hill (@jdavhill) September 26, 2022
Baker Mayfield would eventually leave as the Pro Bowl precision passing winner, totaling 24 in the opening round before besting CJ Stroud in the Finals.
The full segment can be seen on the NFL’s YouTube channel HERE.