Many recognize Dan Orlovsky for his NFL analysis and occasional controversial opinions on food and football, while others remember him as the backup quarterback who accidentally ran out of the end zone for a safety. However, on Wednesday, the ESPN NFL analyst embraced his role as “Dad.”
This was evident during that day’s episode of NFL Live, where Orlovsky’s son, Madden, honored World Autism Awareness Day by replacing the show’s traditional graphics with his artwork. The 13-year-old’s presence was felt not only through his drawings but also during one of the most heartwarming moments ever witnessed on ESPN. As Madden displayed his artwork, Dan Orlovsky encouraged him to share a drawing of a character from his favorite movie. Madden chose a sketch of Woody from Toy Story, prompting his dad to softly hum Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.”
This touching moment escalated when Madden joined in, singing the tune while holding his markers like a microphone, prompting tears from his father and a visibly emotional Laura Rutledge.
A heartwarming moment on yesterday’s ‘NFL Live’ as 13-year-old Madden Orlovsky breaks into “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” while his proud father watches on. https://t.co/xxdurcDeZh pic.twitter.com/KJhOltMEkm
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 3, 2025
As Madden continued his rendition of the 1995 classic, Rutledge regrettably announced the need to cut to a commercial break, saying, “We’re going to have to go to break and I feel so bad about that,” as Madden carried the show to its break. Despite the interruption, the heartwarming moment resonated, leading to another emotional playback on Thursday’s episode of Get Up, where host Mike Greenberg shared the sentiment. Notably, Dan Orlovsky expressed his pride, stating he was a “proud dad” and admitted to shedding many tears on Wednesday. He certainly wasn’t alone in feeling the emotional weight of that moment.
