The NFL’s inner circle just lost one of its most colorful characters. Mike Ornstein, a man who wore many hats in the league, from executive to marketing whiz, took his final bow on July 25, 2024, at his Los Angeles home. As news of his passing spread, tributes poured in faster than a two-minute drill.

Dak Prescott, the Dallas Cowboys‘ star quarterback, led the charge with heartfelt Instagram stories. “Rest easy my man!!” he wrote, sharing a photo of them together. In another touching snapshot of an embrace, Prescott added, “Real deal fighter & day 1 supporter! I’ll miss you this training camp and everyday. Love you orny.” It’s clear Ornstein’s impact extended well beyond the Saints’ locker room.

Sean Payton, who shared many a sideline strategy with Ornstein during his Saints tenure, kept it simple yet poignant on X: “Rest in Peace Orny.” The brevity spoke volumes about their bond.

The New Orleans Saints, Ornstein’s adopted football family, didn’t hold back in their official statement: “Mike was beloved by countless members of our organization for nearly two decades, from Mrs. Benson, Dennis Lauscha and Mickey Loomis, to the team’s coaching staffs, to hundreds of current and former players and hundreds of staff members.” Talk about leaving a mark!

NFL legend Troy Aikman summed up Ornstein’s larger-than-life persona in one tweet: “There was no one like you. There never will be.”

The tributes kept rolling in like an unstoppable offensive drive. Adam Schefter called him “incomparable” and “one of the most colorful and unique characters in NFL history.” Ian Rapoport chimed in with “A true legend in every sense of the word.” Even the usually reserved Pro Football Talk got in on the action, noting Ornstein’s “uncanny knack for gaining access and generating lucrative deals for his associates.”

A complex figure with far-reaching influence

Ornstein’s NFL journey was more twisty than a running back dodging tackles. He started as the league’s VP of marketing before pivoting to player representation. His crowning achievement? Snagging Reggie Bush as a client in 2006.

Now, Bush’s draft story is a rollercoaster ride worth retelling. Everyone and his grandmother expected him to go first overall to the Houston Texans. But in a plot twist that would make M. Night Shyamalan jealous, the Texans picked defensive end Mario Williams instead. The Saints, sitting pretty at number two, couldn’t believe their luck. They scooped up Bush faster than you can say “Who Dat?”

However, Ornstein, always quick to act when opportunities arose, turned this unexpected turn of events into gold. He arranged for deals left and right for Bush that made him one of the most bankable rookies in NFL history. It was a lesson on how to make something out of nothing–or how to make a number two pick become a number one overnight.

However, Ornstein’s reach did not stop there. He became involved with the Saints organization so much that he was as common as the sight of fleur de lis at practice games. He was like this guy tied to another who had ties with many other people from the National Football League.

But then again, no big personality is without its fair share of controversy. Ornstein found himself on the wrong side of the law more than once, including serving time in jail for scalping tickets to Super Bowl and selling fake jerseys. Moreover, he also got caught up in the “Bounty gate” scandal, which shook the entire Saints team.

However, some way or other Ornstein would always find his way back onto his feet. Jane Slater of NFL Network put it best: “Orny, not sure if I’ve ever met a more interesting person. Story time was my favorite time every time I saw you and I always joked I wanted to write your story for Netflix. You had 9 lives.”

As the NFL community bids farewell to this one-of-a-kind character, one thing’s for sure: the league just got a little less interesting. Rest easy, Orny. The game won’t be the same without you.