Orlovsky defends not having 49ers legend Joe Montana among his top-5 all-time QBs

I want to preface this by stating that I enjoy Dan Orlovsky's breakdowns and often find him insightful. However, the ESPN analyst presented a hot take this week that is sure to attract its share of scrutiny. It even did so among Orlovsky's ESPN colleagues.

It's difficult to forget that time David Carr tried, much to the astonishment of his NFL Network colleagues, to explain why Joe Montana wasn't a top-10 quarterback of the Super Bowl era. The analyst was, unsurprisingly, bombarded with criticism for making such a highly-debatable statement.

Orlovsky finds himself in a similar situation, throwing out his own version of the take when it comes to his top five quarterbacks of all time (h/t Jarrod Castillo of NBC Sports Bay Area). On ESPN's First Take, when asked which quarterback—Tom Brady or Joe Montana—he would take in a Super Bowl, fellow analyst Keyshawn Johnson went with Montana, admitting it was a difficult choice.

Orlovsky picked Brady, which is fair. Of course, that led to the following question from Johnson.

"If Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in the history of the game, who was the greatest quarterback before him?" Johnson asked Orlovsky.

"John Elway or Peyton Manning? [Dan] Marino?" Orlovsky responded, unsure of his answer.

Understandably, that response left Johnson in complete shock. The former receiver even questioned (jokingly, I assume) if the former quarterback was using the opportunity to help himself trend on social media. Johnson couldn't understand how Orlovsky could name three quarterbacks without mentioning Montana.

"What's wrong with you? Before there was a Brady, there was a Montana," Johnson added, chastising Orlovsky's response.


Montana's name was absent when Orlovsky presented his ranking of the top five passers of all time. Below is that list.

1. Tom Brady
2. Patrick Mahomes
3. John Elway
4. Peyton Manning
5. Dan Marino

"It's stupidity, is what it is," Johnson said, responding to the ranking. "What the hell is wrong with you, Dan?"

Orlovsky insists he was not trying to disrespect Montana, one of the greatest football players of all time.

"Just keeping it real, I'm 39," Orlovsky stated, defending himself. "When Joe Montana was rolling, I was like six years old. Do you know how silly it would be for me to put on Bart Starr. ... I'm aware of him. The accruement of numbers, if that's a word, does matter. I mean, if we're going to talk, Drew Brees should be in the conversation, too."

Johnson was left stunned while Damien Woody couldn't help but laugh at the added comment. Orlovsky was throwing Brees' name on the list, possibly ahead of Montana's.


It's hard to imagine many agreeing with Orlovsky's take, but it is what it is. It is bound to generate some interesting reactions on social media.

Montana finished his Hall of Fame career with four Super Bowl rings and three Super Bowl MVPs and was named the league MVP twice. In addition, the quarterback was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time first-team All-Pro who twice led the league in passing touchdowns. He is part of the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, and NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

You can watch the entire ESPN segment below.