Pat McAfee made a name for himself as a First-Team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl punter across eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. Though, as any NFL fan can tell you, punters aren’t exactly popular players who receive widespread recognition or even much celebration.
As good as he was in the NFL, he’s made arguably an even bigger impact analyzing football rather than playing it. Although he retired in 2016, McAfee is now one of ESPN’s highest-paid sports personalities.
But today, McAfee tried something different by releasing an album. Fellow ESPN colleague Dan Orlovsky tried to give McAfee some love, and social media tore him apart for it.
Dan Orlovsky’s Respect for Pat McAfee Backfires
McAfee’s album, which is titled “The Diary of a Polarizing Figure,” debuted on Friday. It didn’t take long for Orlovsky, a former NFL QB, to turn on McAfee’s tunes to give them a listen.
Overall, Orlovsky said the album is “legit good good.” Apparently, Orlovsky was so moved by some of McAfee’s lyrics that he felt the need to give the former NFL punter a shoutout on X. In doing so, Orlovsky quoted the lyrics that impressed him.
“‘They say the good die young and I’m scared im great.’ What a line @PatMcAfeeShow,” Orlovsky posted on X.
“They say the good die young and I’m scared im great”
What a line @PatMcAfeeShow
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) August 14, 2026
One X user saw Orlovsky’s initial reaction and took it as a sign that the album was actually bad, as in crap.
The user wrote, “If Orlovsky describes a music album as ‘legit good good’ you just know it’s turbo dog [expletive].”
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Another commenter had some analysis for the former NFL QB who now makes a living off providing his football takes.
The person on X wrote, “They’re saying this is the #1 worst tweet in history.”
They’re saying this is the #1 worst tweet in history https://t.co/6cbzzfx10I
— Tony Totino (@2TimeTony) August 14, 2026
A commenter even suggested that McAfee’s status at ESPN strikes fear in others, to the point that Orlovsky feels compelled to feed him undeserved compliments.
The commenter said, “This is how scared everyone at ESPN is of getting fired.”
This is how scared everyone at ESPN is of getting fired https://t.co/ERRxdtNfRM
— Stephen Kuzminski (@Kid_Kuzi) August 14, 2026
Another commenter piggybacked off that idea, suggesting it was an “ESPN-mandated tweet.”
ESPN mandated tweet https://t.co/NBu9hcA8dR
— Colts Muse (@colts_muse) August 14, 2026
One user went as far as to call Orlovsky’s response “Pathetic.”
The user said, “Holy [expletive] talk about glaze lol. Pathetic.”
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Another pleaded with the former Lions QB to “stop lying.”
Stop lying 😂
— stlgrl85 (@stlgrl85) August 14, 2026
Not long after Orlovsky paid his respects, one commenter called him a “loser” for listening to McAfee’s music.
The person wrote, “I was wondering what kind of loser would actually listen to Pat McAfee’s music. Thanks for the answer.”
I was wondering what kind of loser would actually listen to Pat McAfee’s music.
Thanks for the answer.
— Kraig Withakay (@KraigWith_A_K) August 14, 2026
Another commenter put Orlovsky on blast, not just for his “bad taste in music” but also his “taste in food.”
“🤣 Good lord. Your taste in music is as bad as your taste in food,” the user wrote on X.
Criticizing McAfee’s music is one thing. It’s not like recording music is his day job. But one commenter went after Orlovsky for his work as an analyst/writer, too. Orlovsky recently published an article in which he ranked quarterbacks based on their traits.
Tucker D. Franklin wrote, “This might be more embarrassing than his article yesterday.”
This might be more embarrassing than his article yesterday https://t.co/s8BAwKzdkD
— Tucker D. Franklin (@tuckerdfranklin) August 14, 2026
That wasn’t the only commenter who felt like Orlovsky’s NFL QB traits article failed to meet the mark.
“Yesterday was his terrible QB rankings,” A user named ‘Smoking Jay Takes’ said on X. “Today is this terrible take glazing Pat. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings us.”
Yesterday was his terrible QB rankings
Today is this terrible take glazing Pat
Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings us https://t.co/lg4A8EirfV
— Smoking Jay Takes (@SmokingJayTakes) August 14, 2026
Another responder replied with just a meme of former NBA point guard Jeff Teague basically comically not believing what he’s seeing.
https://t.co/WDBYp6uZCj pic.twitter.com/cFmskSBHgP
— BroTalk (@BKsquared7) August 14, 2026
One commenter even suggested that they wouldn’t be surprised to learn that McAfee and Orlovsky have the same agent.
“I’ll bet Dan-O and McAfee have the same agent…”
I’ll bet Dan-O and McAfee have the same agent….
— Jeremy Betz (@thebetz93) August 14, 2026
Everyone seems to agree. McAfee shouldn’t quit his day job, and Orlovsky should probably stick to football analysis.
