NFL On Fox Analyst Greg Olsen Gets Criticism For Poor Situational Football Knowledge

Getty Image / Kevin Sabitus

Greg Olsen was an excellent tight end in the NFL for over a decade, and has done a nice job as an analyst for Fox so far as part of their top broadcast team alongside Kevin Burkhardt. But, his football knowledge was questioned by many on Thursday as he repeatedly showed a lack of football awareness.

With the Detroit Lions trailing by multiple scores in their Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Green Bay Packers for most of the day, Detroit coach Dan Campbell was faced with a ton of fourth-down decisions on offense. And, in the fourth quarter, Greg Olsen couldn’t figure out why Campbell kept going for it on fourth down.

There were two instances where Greg Olsen seemed confused by the fact that the Lions were going for on fourth down, even though in both instances it was definitely the correct play.

The first instance occurred with roughly fourteen minutes to go in the game, with the Lions trailing 29-14, facing a 4th and 7 at the Green Bay 31-yard line. It’s clearly a situation to go for it, as a field goal turns a game where you need two touchdowns into a game where you… need two touchdowns. But, Olsen seemed surprised on the broadcast.

Who knows, maybe he thought that it was too early, and they should just take the points. I disagree, the analytics disagree, but we all have different game management theories.

But, later in the quarter, he was once again surprised by a Lions’ fourth-down decision.

With the Lions facing another 4th and 7, this time at the Green Bay 12-yard line with just under seven minutes remaining, Dan Campbell once again kept his offense out there. That’s clearly the right decision, but Olsen somehow found it controversial. Very confusing.

Hopefully, Olsen will brush up on his football math before his next assignment.

The Packers topped the Lions, 29-22, in a pretty sizable upset.