Dan Orlovsky Reveals Why Rams' Matthew Stafford Has Connection Issue
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky served as the Detroit Lions backup quarterback behind Matthew Stafford in 2015.
Orlovsky was the older guy in the locker room, while Stafford was 27 years old. Orlovsky recently recounted on SportsCenter that he had trouble bonding with the younger players.
"I remember being older in the locker room making some comments to younger players through my vantage point and that younger player being like 'I'm 15 years younger than you," Orlovsky said.
Fast forward to 2023, 35-year-old Stafford is on the Los Angeles Rams and has been there since 2021. According to Stafford's wife, he is now the old guy who's having some trouble connecting with his younger teammates. Nevertheless, the Rams have the youngest roster in the NFL.
Orlovsky has "spent a lot of time with (Stafford)" since 2015 and revealed how his personality may be a factor in the connection issue.
"Not only is Matthew age-wise (old), but he's got a very old soul," Orlovsky said. "He's a guys guy in many ways, he loves being with his teammates, the locker room and that connection of brotherhood. The challenge is how he finds ways to get those guys to see him as their peers."
Orlovsky explained that Stafford's league status and personality is similar to Peyton Manning's "old soul" character. However, the younger players need to treat him like their teammate and not a celebrity.
"You can still revere the starting quarterback but also understand that he's your starting quarterback, he's one of you," Orlovsky said. That's the big challenge, because if you look at their roster, sometimes you go 'man, I don't know if I ever heard of some of these young players.'"
Orlovsky said that Stafford could use that status to connect with them.
"The thing Matthew has going for him is to be able to walk into those locker rooms and that huddle like 'I'm a Super Bowl champion (with the Rams)," Orlovsky said. "We may not understand how we can connect right now off the field, but on the field, follow me because I've done it at the highest level two years ago.'"
