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Dan Orlovsky: Lions offensive coordinator once fell asleep during a game

The Detroit Lions have been a bit of a laughing stock over the past couple decades. Few know this better than QB Dan Orlovsky, who famously ran out of the back of the end zone for a self-imposed safety during the team’s 0-16 season in 2008. Orlovsky appeared on former NFL defensive end Chris Long’s …

The Detroit Lions have been a bit of a laughing stock over the past couple decades. Few know this better than QB Dan Orlovsky, who famously ran out of the back of the end zone for a self-imposed safety during the team’s 0-16 season in 2008.

Orlovsky appeared on former NFL defensive end Chris Long’s “Green Light” podcast Friday, where he was asked about the “most dysfunctional thing” that he saw during his tenure in Detroit.

“How much time do you have?” Orlovsky asked.

The ensuing story he has to offer is a doozy. During his tenure, Orlovsky spent time as the backup QB, where he would relay the play calls from the offensive coordinator to the starting QB from a headset.

“The series is starting, we trot out for first down, and silence on the call,” Orlovsky said. “Our offensive coordinator at the time had fallen asleep in the booth — in the booth! Our guys are on the field waiting for a play call and all you hear is (snoring). Fell asleep in the middle of an NFL football game, while we had the ball as the play-caller.”

Dan Orlovsky with the Lions in 2014Getty Images

The former QB, who is now an analyst for ESPN, did not mention which coordinator it was, nor the year. He played under six coordinators during his time in Detroit: Greg Olson, Ted Tollner, Mike Martz, Jim Colletto, Joe Lombardi and Jim Bob Cooter.

During the interview, where he discusses the current Lions and Matthew Stafford, he also tells a story about a quarterbacks coach who was prepping for a job interview with a college team during a practice while they were trying to install plays.

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