ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky Was Left Bawling His Eyes Out On Live TV [VIDEO]
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Thursday’s episode of ESPN’s NFL Live turned into a very emotional and memorable moment. Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky was on the show as usual, but this time he brought someone special with him.
He introduced his 14-year-old son, Madden, to mark World Autism Awareness Day. Madden, who has autism, stood next to his dad and confidently talked about his love for football.
The show also surprised him. Since he is a big Eagles fan, he received a bag of team gear from wide receiver DeVonta Smith. The gift made him really happy. His artwork was also shown on the screen while he spoke.
Madden kept things simple and honest. “I love the Eagles,” he said. Orlovsky smiled and replied, “I know you do, bro. You love their song,” referring to “Fly, Eagles Fly.”
A Moment That Hit Home Live On Air
The segment took a deeper turn when Madden asked, “Can we sing it together?” Orlovsky encouraged him to go ahead. Madden started singing the Eagles’ fight song. The studio grew quiet as he sang.
Orlovsky could not hold back his emotions. He started to tear up. Host Laura Rutledge also got emotional. Analyst Field Yates clapped along as Madden finished.
Madden Orlovsky had a heartfelt message for his family and friends in honor of World Autism Awareness Day 🥹
This was a special moment for all of us at ESPN. Thanks, Madden and @danorlovsky7 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/BnWu7cSXmV
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 2, 2026
Madden noticed his father’s reaction. “Are you crying?” he asked. Orlovsky answered honestly, “Yeah, because I love you, good job.” That moment brought even more emotion to the set.
Madden then thanked ESPN for inviting him. He turned to the camera and thanked his mother and siblings. Orlovsky broke down further and pulled his son in for a hug. The two shared a long embrace as the segment came to a close.
Before the show, Orlovsky had already tried to prepare himself. “I’ll try not to get emotional about it,” he said. But he admitted what the moment meant to him. “What I love about it, it’s his, it’s his thing,” he explained. “He’s just a special, special human.”
The segment showed a different side of the former quarterback. It showed a father first. And it gave Madden a moment that clearly meant everything.
