 Olsen with theCarolina Panthers in 2019 | |||||||||
| No. 82, 88 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Tight end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1985-03-11)March 11, 1985 (age 40) Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 255 lb (116 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Wayne Hills(Wayne, New Jersey) | ||||||||
| College | Miami (FL) (2003–2006) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 2007: 1st round, 31st overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Gregory Walter Olsen Jr. (born March 11, 1985) is an American professionalfootballsportscaster and formertight end who played for 14 seasons in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theMiami Hurricanes and was selected by theChicago Bears in the first round of the2007 NFL draft.[1] Olsen played most of his career for theCarolina Panthers, with whom he made threePro Bowls, and became the first tight end in NFL history to record three consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. Olsen played his final season with theSeattle Seahawks in 2020. Following his retirement Olsen joinedFox as a sportscaster and is formerly the leadcolor commentator for theNFL on Fox.
Olsen grew up inWayne, New Jersey, and attendedWayne Hills High School, where he playedfootball andbasketball under his father, Chris Olsen Sr.[2] As a high school senior he was one of three finalists for theGatorade Player of the Year award, along with formerMiami Hurricane teammateKyle Wright. He was aUSA Today first-team All-American as a senior in 2002. He finished his career with 73receptions for 1,474 yards, and a school-record 27touchdowns.[3] He played in the 2003U.S. Army All-American Bowl.[4]
Considered a five-star recruit byRivals.com, Olsen was listed as the No. 2 tight end in the nation in 2003,[5] and the No. 2 prospect inNew Jersey behindNate Robinson.
Intrack and field, Olsen competed in thethrowing events and as asprinter. He recorded a personal-best time of 11.40 seconds in the100 meters. He placed 2nd in theshot put event at the 2003NJSIAA Meet of Champions, recording a career-best throw of 18.03 meters.[6] He also had top-throws of 46.63 meters in thediscus throw and 59.83 meters in thejavelin throw.[7]
Olsen originally enrolled at theUniversity of Notre Dame, but transferred as a freshman to theUniversity of Miami in 2003. In 2003, he was on the Hurricanes' scout team before suffering a shoulder injury and beingredshirted. He became the starter of theMiami Hurricanes in his sophomore season in 2005 afterKevin Everett was drafted in the third round by theBuffalo Bills. In his career, he totaled 87 receptions for 1,215 yards and six touchdowns.[8]
In 2003, Olsen was one of the players that participated in the University of Miami's rap group, the7th Floor Crew, under thepseudonymG-Reg. Many media sources ridiculed him for his involvement in the group, which earned national notoriety for their sexually explicit and vulgar lyrics.[9]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft5+7⁄8 in (1.98 m) | 254 lb (115 kg) | 32+1⁄2 in (0.83 m) | 10+1⁄2 in (0.27 m) | 4.51 s | 1.62 s | 2.66 s | 4.48 s | 7.04 s | 35+1⁄2 in (0.90 m) | 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) | 23 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine.[10][11] | ||||||||||||
TheChicago Bears selected Olsen in the first round as the 31st overall pick in the2007 NFL draft.[12] He signed a five-year contract with the team on July 3, which made him the first player of the draft's top 64 selections to come to terms with their team.[13] He sustained a knee injury during the Bears' final preseason game in 2007,[14] and consequently, he missed the team's first two games while recovering.[14] He made his NFL debut on September 23, 2007, against theDallas Cowboys, catching two passes for twenty-eight yards.[15]Olsen caught his first touchdown two weeks later during a Week 5 match-up against theGreen Bay Packers.[16] Olsen finished the season with 39 receptions for 391 yards and two touchdowns.[17]
Olsen saw his playing time increase during his second season. He started 7 of 16 games, making 54 receptions for 574 yards and five touchdowns.[18] He led the team in receiving touchdowns, while finishing second in receptions and receiving yards.[19] Olsen was selected as a second alternate for the2009 Pro Bowl.[20] Chicago's Comcast SportsNet named Olsen the Bears Player of the Year.[21]
In 2009, Olsen quickly developed a rapport withJay Cutler, whom the Bears had acquired from theDenver Broncos. Olsen and Cutler connected for 60 receptions, for 612 yards, and eight touchdowns.[22] He led the Bears in receptions and touchdowns, while finishing behindDevin Hester for most receiving yards.[23] Before the 2010 season the Bears firedRon Turner and hiredMike Martz as offensive coordinator. His numbers dropped compared to his 2008 and 2009 seasons, as he recorded 41 receptions for 404 yards, and five touchdowns.[24] However, Olsen helped the Bears win their first 2011 playoff game against theSeattle Seahawks, catching three passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns.[25]
On July 28, 2011, Olsen was traded to theCarolina Panthers for a2012 third round draft pick.[26]
During his first year with the Carolina Panthers, Olsen recorded 45 receptions for 540 yards and five touchdowns.[27]
In Week 10 of the 2012 season, against theDenver Broncos, Olsen recorded nine receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the 36–14 loss.[28] In the 2012 season, he recorded 69 receptions for 843 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.[29]
In the 2013 season, Olsen recorded 73 receptions for 816 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns as the Panthers finished with a 12–4 record.[30][31]
Olsen finished the 2014 regular season with a career-high 84 catches, 1,008 receiving yards, as well as six touchdowns en route to the Panthers second consecutiveNFC South division title. He had three games going over 100 receiving yards and one game with two touchdowns on the year.[32][33] Olsen finished third in theNFL for receptions by a tight end and second for both yards on the season and yards per game.[34]
For his efforts during the 2014–15 season, he was voted to the2015 Pro Bowl.[35]
He was ranked 89th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2015.[36]
On March 5, 2015, the Panthers signed Olsen to a three-year extension worth $22.5 million. The extension included a $12 million signing bonus with an average annual salary of $7.5 million, according to Olsen's agentDrew Rosenhaus.[37]
After wide receiverKelvin Benjamin suffered an ACL tear and did not play for the entire year,[38] Olsen was tasked with being the main target of soon-to-be NFL MVP Cam Newton.
In Week 3 against theNew Orleans Saints, Olsen caught eight passes including two touchdowns and a career-high 134 receiving yards. He tied a career long reception of 52 yards.[39] In Week 6, he continued his high level of play against theSeattle Seahawks. Olsen caught seven catches for 131 yards along with a game-winning touchdown with under a minute to play. The touchdown helped keep the Panthers undefeated season alive as they improved to 5–0 on the season.[40] During the Panthers' 41–38 victory over the New Orleans Saints to improve them to 12–0, he caught nine passes for 129 yards and, during the game, passed Walls for most career receptions by a TE in Panthers' history.[41][42]
In the 2015 season, Olsen set Panthers records for career receiving yards and receptions for a tight end, both previously held by former PantherWesley Walls. Olsen finished with 77 receptions with 1,104 yards and seven touchdowns.[43] He was selected for his second consecutivePro Bowl and to the AP All-Pro second-team.[44] He was ranked 38th on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2016.[45]
In the NFCDivisional Round, Olsen had six receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown to help the Panthers to a 31–24 win over theSeattle Seahawks and anNFC Championship matchup with theArizona Cardinals.[46] He caught six passes for 113 yards against the Cardinals to help the Panthers in their 49–15 win and aSuper Bowl 50 berth against theDenver Broncos.[47]
In Super Bowl 50, he had four catches for 41 yards, but the Panthers lost 24–10.[48][49]
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In2016, the Panthers failed to return to the playoffs following their Super Bowl 50 appearance, but Olsen still had a productive season.
In Week 2, against theSan Francisco 49ers, he had five receptions for 122 receiving yards and a touchdown in the 46–27 victory.[50] In Week 5, against theTampa Bay Buccaneers, he had nine receptions for 181 receiving yards in the 17–14 loss.[51]
In Week 16 against theAtlanta Falcons, with a 17-yard catch in the second quarter, Olsen set an NFL record, becoming the first tight end in NFL history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.[1]
He finished the 2016 season with 80 receptions for 1,073 yards and three touchdowns.[52] He was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl.[53] He was also ranked 67th by his peers on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2017.[54]
In Week 2 against theBuffalo Bills, Olsen left the game with a foot injury. Olsen later confessed that his foot was broken, which was positive after an X-ray test. It required surgery, causing him to miss 6–8 weeks.[55][56] He was placed on injured reserve on September 19, 2017.[57]
On November 19, Olsen served as a guest analyst on FOX Sports, calling a matchup between the Vikings and the Rams.[58] On November 24, 2017, Olsen was activated off injured reserve to the active roster.[59] He played the next game against theNew York Jets, aggravated his surgically repaired foot, and was taken out of the game.[60]
On April 26, 2018, Olsen signed a two-year extension with the Panthers worth $17.1 million with a potential maximum of $20.1 million.[61]
In the season opener against theDallas Cowboys, Olsen left the game in the second quarter with a foot injury.[62] It was confirmed that he had re-fractured his right foot and would be sidelined indefinitely.[63]
On December 2, Olsen ruptured his plantar fascia in the second quarter during a 24–17 loss to theTampa Bay Buccaneers.[64] He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on December 5, 2018.[65] He finished the 2018 season with 27 receptions for 291 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns in nine games.[66]
In Week 2 against theTampa Bay Buccaneers, Olsen caught six passes for 110 yards as the Panthers lost 20–14.[67] In Week 3 against theArizona Cardinals, Olsen caught six passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers won 38–20.[68] Overall, Olsen finished the season with 52 receptions for 597 yards and two receiving touchdowns.[69]
On February 3, 2020, the Panthers released Olsen after nine seasons.[70]
On February 18, 2020, Olsen signed a one-year, $7 million contract with theSeattle Seahawks.[71]
Olsen made his debut with the Seahawks in Week 1 against theAtlanta Falcons and caught four passes for 24 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown during the 38–25 victory.[72]
In Week 11, he suffered a plantar fascia tear and was placed on injured reserve on November 23, 2020.[73] On December 26, 2020, Olsen was activated off of injured reserve.[74]
He finished the 2020 season with 24 receptions for 239 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.[75]
He was released by the Seahawks on March 4, 2021.[76]
On January 24, 2021, Olsen announced his retirement and that he would be joiningFox Sports as a full-time broadcaster.[77] Olsen signed a one-day contract with the Carolina Panthers on March 11, 2021, that allowed him to retire as a member of the team.[78]
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2007 | CHI | 14 | 4 | 39 | 391 | 10.0 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | CHI | 16 | 7 | 54 | 574 | 10.6 | 52 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| 2009 | CHI | 16 | 15 | 60 | 612 | 10.2 | 41 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | CHI | 16 | 13 | 41 | 404 | 9.9 | 39 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 2011 | CAR | 16 | 13 | 45 | 540 | 12.0 | 44 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 | CAR | 16 | 16 | 69 | 843 | 12.2 | 47 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | CAR | 16 | 16 | 73 | 816 | 11.2 | 31 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | CAR | 16 | 16 | 84 | 1,008 | 12.0 | 38 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | CAR | 16 | 16 | 77 | 1,104 | 14.3 | 52 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| 2016 | CAR | 16 | 16 | 80 | 1,073 | 13.4 | 78 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | CAR | 7 | 7 | 17 | 191 | 11.2 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | CAR | 9 | 9 | 27 | 291 | 10.8 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | CAR | 16 | 16 | 52 | 597 | 11.5 | 41 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | SEA | 11 | 8 | 24 | 239 | 10.0 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 199 | 170 | 742 | 8,683 | 11.7 | 78 | 60 | 7 | 5 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2010 | CHI | 2 | 2 | 6 | 143 | 23.8 | 58 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | CAR | 1 | 1 | 4 | 55 | 13.8 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | CAR | 2 | 2 | 7 | 95 | 13.6 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | CAR | 3 | 3 | 16 | 231 | 14.4 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | CAR | 1 | 1 | 8 | 107 | 13.4 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | SEA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 10 | 9 | 41 | 629 | 15.3 | 58 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
Olsen is acolor commentator for NFL games onFox Sports. He began doingcolor commentary during bye weeks towards the end of his playing career and went full time in the profession in 2021, working withKevin Burkhardt.[79][80]
After Olsen's first full-time year at Fox, the pair were promoted to the #1 team just before the2022 season, replacingJoe Buck andTroy Aikman, who left Fox to joinESPN and callMonday Night Football.[81][82] The duo called Fox'sSuper Bowl LVII broadcast.[83][84][85][86] Olsen is now part of Fox's second team with play-by-play announcerJoe Davis for the2024 NFL season, afterTom Brady joined Fox Sports.[87][88][89]
In March 2022, Olsen, along withVince Vaughn andRyan Kalil, launched a podcast network and production company named Audiorama.[90] The first podcast available from the network, called Youth, Inc., focuses on youth sports.[91]
Olsen's older brother, Chris Olsen Jr., playedquarterback for theUniversity of Virginia inCharlottesville, Virginia.[92] His younger brother, Kevin, was recruited to Greg's alma mater, Miami.[93]
Olsen founded Receptions For Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation in 2009, which helps fundcancer research. His mother Sue is a cancer survivor and inspired the creation of his foundation. One of his fundraising events includes Kicks for a Cure Kickball Tournament, the world's largest charitykickball tournament. The large-scale event is held annually each summer in Chicago'sGrant Park. Over 1,000 people compete on kickball teams and have fun while raising money for cancer research.[94]
Olsen's first child was born in early June 2011.[95] In 2012 he and his wife, Kara, became parents of twins; one was born withhypoplastic left heart syndrome and on June 4, 2021, received a successfulheart transplant.[96][97] Olsen isCatholic.[98]
| Preceded by | Lead color commentator,The NFL on Fox 2022–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Super Bowl television color commentator (NFC package carrier) 2023 | Succeeded by |