ESPN is giving us the classic ‘one door closes, another one opens’ moment! Ahead of ESPN’s coverage of the Super Bowl game, there was an overflow of emotions. The network’s star face of the Sunday NFL Countdown Randy Moss was back. What made it even more significant was he returned after a scary encounter with cancer. Moss took a leave of absence from ESPN in early December after undergoing surgery for cancer. He said at the time that a cancerous mass was found in his bile duct, between his pancreas and liver. The surgery put a stent in his liver on Thanksgiving and later had a six-hour procedure to remove the cancer. The network had a heartfelt tribute to mark the comeback.

Moss was greeted with a video that included messages from Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Justin Jefferson, Kevin Garnett, and several other big names welcoming him back. Moss was moved to tears by the video before getting on with his job of analyzing the Super Bowl. “Guys it’s been hard, but I got a lot of love and a lot of people believing in me,” he said. “I’m happy to be here.” “You’ve impressed and inspired us more than anything you’ve done on the field,” Brady said. Jerry Rice called him “the GOAT.” The air of this emotion had not yet settled, and one more surprising news dropped in, this time from Dan Olrlovsky.

If there is one reason that you are hearing a lot about Orlovsky these days, that is because of his Jalen Hurts saga. Being outspoken about Hurts throughout the campaign, Orlovsky had recently said that Hurts won’t be on the same level as players like Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, or Josh Allen. Now that Hurts has a Super Bowl win, Orlovsky had to change his tune. So he shared an apology to Hurts on the February 10 episode of “First Take.”

“I owe publicly Jalen Hurts an apology. I was probably one this year who’s been the hardest on him. I’ll go back to a couple of weeks ago when I said the passing game’s not good enough right now and I don’t think it’s going to get better. All he’s done since then is have his two best games of the year on the two biggest stages…he was sensational last night and in the NFC Championship Game,” Orlovsky said. If this has surprised you, then get ready for the latest one from Orlovsky.

On the same episode, Orlovsky quietly dropped the bomb that he’s stepping away from TV. If you tuned into First Take expecting a passionate Dan rant about quarterbacks, you probably weren’t ready for what came next.“I’m taking a break, won’t be on TV for a long time… never know what the future holds… just want to say thank you,” he said. But was it completely unexpected?

Well, to put things straight, there have been long-running rumors that Orlovsky will take up a coaching position in the NFL. Or, maybe we should not even say rumor. On several occasions, Orlovsky himself has revealed teams contacting him for coaching jobs. And he has never hidden his interest in those. Back in January, a fan on Twitter suggested Orlovsky should go for the Packers’ QB coach job. His response? “Would be an honor.” A harmless reply at the time—but now? With longtime Packers QB coach Tom Clements retiring, this feels like more than a coincidence.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur has previously discussed trying to sign Orlovksy to his coaching staff in the past, which shouldn’t be a shock. The two spent time with each other in 2009 when they were both with the Houston Texans and in 2017 with the Los Angeles Rams, LaFleur’s lone season as the team’s offensive coordinator. Green Bay isn’t the only name being thrown around, either. Some fans think Orlovsky could reunite with Kellen Moore, too.

Back in 2023, Orlovsky had revealed “It was out there. Carolina I came really close with,” on the Pat McAfee Show. ESPN’s Adam Schefter had even reported that the Panthers and the Indianapolis Colts “discussed prominent offensive coaching roles” with Orlovsky before he decided to remain in his position as an analyst. Meanwhile, Orlovsky’s deal with ESPN is set to expire after this season. So, what this farewell means is still up in the air. So the exit has fans chattering.

Dan Orlovsky’s departure sparks speculation about his next move

Speculation is running wild, and fans across the internet are convinced Orlovsky is heading to coaching. “He might be getting a coaching gig, I heard,” one fan posted, while another confidently declared, “He’s going into coaching 1000%.” Many believe this isn’t just a break from TV but a full-blown career switch. “He has talked about this for some time. He isn’t retiring from TV—he’s switching careers,” another fan pointed out. Some are even digging for clues. “I think he’s getting another job back in the league. I’ll look for the story I saw in passing,” one user shared. But is it Green Bay, or could another team be in the mix? “Saints new OC,” a hopeful fan posted, sparking fresh theories.

He’d be an interesting addition to Kellen Moore’s staff if the Saints do land the Eagles’ offensive coordinator. Orlovsky and Moore go way back, having once competed for a backup QB spot in Detroit. The two have remained close, texting throughout the season, with Moore even confiding in Dan last October about his belief in Saquon Barkley’s record-breaking potential. Orlovsky, in turn, backed Moore for the Saints’ head coaching job. Could this friendship turn into a coaching partnership?

It’s a fun thought, especially with Moore’s offensive mind and Orlovsky’s deep understanding of QB play. What role Orlovsky might take remains unclear, but he’d likely start as an offensive assistant before earning a bigger role. That said, NFL teams have approached him about coaching before, and his 13-year playing career makes him an attractive candidate. He’s always maintained that it would take the perfect situation to lure him from the studio—and maybe, just maybe, that situation is just around the corner.