Dan Orlovsky, ESPN NFL analyst and former NFL quarterback, did not hide his disappointment after losing the Sports Emmy for “Outstanding Personality/Studio Analyst” to NBA legend Charles Barkley.
Orlovsky confirmed in an interview with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina that he was “furious” about the loss, feeling confident he had set himself apart through his work. Despite acknowledging the strong competition, Orlovsky believed his performance over the past year made him a deserving winner.
Despite Doubts and Disappointments, Orlovsky Faced Emmy Night With Humor and Heartache
Although frustrated, Orlovsky reached out to Barkley with a humorous message after the loss, texting him, “Will you stop winning?” Barkley replied with a laughing emoji and credited his team. While the response was light-hearted, Orlovsky admitted the loss stung. His belief in the quality of his work and the hope of individual recognition left him feeling disappointed, especially given his strong performance and dedication.
Dan Orlovsky (NFL)Orlovsky attended the event in Los Angeles reluctantly, worried he might leave empty-handed. He was nominated three times: once individually for studio analyst and twice as part of ESPN’s “NFL Live” team—one for technical achievement and another for best daily studio show. After losing both the technical category and the analyst award, his mood dipped further, reinforcing his initial hesitation to attend the ceremony.
Surprise Emmy Win, Emotional Highs and ESPN Contract Cap Off Orlovsky’s Week
Despite back-to-back disappointments, the night ended on a high note when “NFL Live” surprisingly won the Emmy for “Outstanding Studio Show – Daily.” Orlovsky was shocked by the win, especially after “College GameDay” had won in the weekly show category. He admitted he didn’t expect ESPN to take home two major awards back-to-back and was genuinely stunned when the announcement was made.
Reflecting on the night, Orlovsky acknowledged that losing to someone like Barkley wasn’t the end of the world and even laughed at his own competitiveness. Calling himself a “wildly intense and wildly competitive human,” he admitted he took the loss harder than he probably should have.
Nonetheless, the week ended on a positive note for Orlovsky as ESPN re-signed him to a multi-year contract, reaffirming the network’s confidence in his talent and contribution.
