Greg Olsen (American football)

Gregory Walter Olsen (born March 11, 1985) is an American football sportscaster and former tight end who played for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Miami and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Olsen also played for the Carolina Panthers, with whom he made three Pro 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 the Seattle Seahawks in 2020.

Early years

Olsen grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and attended Wayne Hills High School, where he played football and basketball under his father, Chris Olsen Sr. As a high school senior he was one of three finalists for the Gatorade Player of the Year award, along with former Miami Hurricane teammate Kyle Wright. He was a ''USA Today'' first-team All-American as a senior in 2002. He finished his career with 73 receptions for 1,474 yards, and a school-record 27 touchdowns. He played in the 2003 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Olsen was listed as the No. 2 tight end in the nation in 2003, and the No. 2 prospect in New Jersey behind Nate Robinson.

In track and field, Olsen competed in the throwing events and as a sprinter. He recorded a personal-best time of 11.40 seconds in the 100 meters. He placed 2nd in the shot put event at the 2003 NJSIAA Meet of Champions, recording a career-best throw of 18.03 meters. He also had top-throws of 46.63 meters in the discus throw and 59.83 meters in the javelin throw.

College career

Olsen originally enrolled at the University of Notre Dame but transferred as a freshman to the University of Miami in 2003. In 2003, he was on the Hurricanes' scout team before suffering a shoulder injury and being redshirted. He became the starter of the Miami Hurricanes in his sophomore season in 2005 after Kevin Everett was drafted in the third round by the Buffalo Bills. In his career, he totaled 87 receptions for 1,215 yards and six touchdowns.

In 2003, Olsen was one of the players that participated in the University of Miami's rap group, the 7th Floor Crew, under the pseudonym ''G-Reg''. Many media sources ridiculed him for his involvement in the group, which earned national notoriety for their sexually explicit and vulgar lyrics.

Professional career

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears selected Olsen in the first round as the 31st overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. 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. He sustained a knee injury during the Bears' final preseason game in 2007, and consequently, he missed the team's first two games while recovering. He made his NFL debut on September 23, 2007, against the Dallas Cowboys, catching two passes for twenty-eight yards.
Olsen caught his first touchdown two weeks later during a Week 5 match-up against the Green Bay Packers. Olsen finished the season with 39 receptions for 391 yards and two touchdowns.

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. He led the team in receiving touchdowns, while finishing second in receptions and receiving yards. Olsen was selected as a second alternate for the 2009 Pro Bowl. Chicago's Comcast SportsNet named Olsen the Bears Player of the Year.

In 2009, Olsen quickly developed a rapport with Jay Cutler, whom the Bears had acquired from the Denver Broncos. Olsen and Cutler connected for 60 receptions, for 612 yards, and eight touchdowns. He led the Bears in receptions and touchdowns, while finishing behind Devin Hester for most receiving yards. Before the 2010 season the Bears fired Ron Turner and hired Mike 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. However, Olsen helped the Bears win their first 2011 playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, catching three passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

Carolina Panthers

On July 28, 2011, Olsen was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a 2012 third round draft pick.

2011 season

During his first year with the Carolina Panthers, Olsen recorded 45 receptions for 540 yards and five touchdowns.

2012 season

In Week 10, against the Denver Broncos, Olsen recorded nine receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns in the 36–14 loss. In the 2012 season, he recorded 69 receptions for 843 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.

2013 season

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.

2014 season

Olsen finished the regular season with a career-high 84 catches, 1,008 receiving yards, as well as six touchdowns en route to the Panthers second consecutive NFC South division title. He had three games going over 100 receiving yards and one game with two touchdowns on the year. Olsen finished third in the NFL for receptions by a tight end and second for both yards on the season and yards per game. For his efforts during the 2014–15 season, he was voted to the 2015 Pro Bowl. He was ranked 89th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015.

2015 season; Super Bowl 50

On March 5, 2015, the Panthers signed Olsen to a three-year extension worth $22.5 million. The extension includes a $12 million signing bonus with an average annual salary of $7.5 million, according to Olsen's agent Drew Rosenhaus.

He proved especially valuable to the Panthers in 2015, as teammate and #1 wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin suffered an ACL tear and did not play for the entire year. Olsen was tasked with being the main target of soon-to-be NFL MVP Cam Newton, and performed well. During the Panthers week three matchup against the New 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. He continued his high level of play during a week 6 matchup against the Seattle 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. 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.

During the 2015 season, Olsen set Panthers records for career receiving yards and receptions for a tight end, both previously held by former Panther Wesley Walls.Olsen finished the 2015 regular season with 77 receptions with 1,104 yards and seven touchdowns. He was selected for his second consecutive Pro Bowl and to the AP All-Pro second-team.He was ranked 38th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.

In the NFC Divisional Round, Olsen hauled in six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown to help the Panthers to a 31–24 win over the Seattle Seahawks and an NFC Championship matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. He caught six passes for 113 yards against the Cardinals to help the Panthers in their 49–15 win and a Super Bowl 50 berth against the Denver Broncos. In Super Bowl 50, he had four catches for 41 yards, but the Panthers lost by a score of 24–10.

2016 season

The 2016 season saw the Panthers fail to return to the playoffs following their Super Bowl 50 appearance. Olsen still had a good season in terms of production. In Week 2, against the San Francisco 49ers, he had five receptions for 122 receiving yards and a touchdown in the 46–27 victory. In Week 5, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he had nine receptions for 181 receiving yards in the 17–14 loss. He finished the 2016 season with 80 receptions for 1,073 yards and three touchdowns. He would be named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl. With a 17-yard catch in the second quarter of the game against the Atlanta Falcons, Olsen set an NFL record, becoming the first tight end in NFL history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He was also ranked 67th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.

2017 season

During Week 2 against the Buffalo 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. He was placed on injured reserve on September 19, 2017. On November 19, Olsen served as a guest analyst on FOX Sports, calling a matchup between the Vikings and the Rams. On November 24, 2017, Olsen was activated off injured reserve to the active roster. He ended up playing the next game against the New York Jets, upon playing Olsen aggravated his surgically repaired foot and was taken out of the game.

2018 season

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.

In the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, Olsen left the game in the second quarter with a foot injury. It was confirmed that he had re-fractured his right foot and would be sidelined indefinitely.

On December 2, Olsen ruptured his plantar fascia in the second quarter during a 24–17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on December 5, 2018. He finished the 2018 season with 27 receptions for 291 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns in nine games.

2019 season

In Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Olsen caught six passes for 110 yards as the Panthers lost 20–14. In Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals, Olsen caught six passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers won 38–20. Overall, Olsen finished with 52 receptions for 597 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.

On February 3, 2020, the Panthers released Olsen after nine seasons.

Seattle Seahawks

On February 18, 2020, Olsen signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks.
Olsen made his debut with the Seahawks in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons and caught four passes for 24 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown during the 38–25 victory. In Week 11, he suffered a plantar fascia tear and was placed on injured reserve on November 23, 2020. On December 26, 2020, Olsen was activated off of injured reserve. He finished the 2020 season with 24 receptions for 239 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. He was released after the season on March 4, 2021.

Retirement

On January 24, 2021, Olsen announced his retirement and that he would be joining Fox Sports as a full-time broadcaster. 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.

NFL career statistics

In media

Sportscasting

Olsen is a color commentator for NFL games on ''Fox Sports''. He began doing color commentary during bye weeks towards the end of his playing career and went full time in the profession in 2021, working with Kevin Burkhardt.

After Olsen's first full-time year at Fox, the pair were promoted to the #1 team just before the 2022 season, replacing Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, who left Fox to join ESPN and call ''Monday Night Football''. Burkhardt and Olsen are the broadcast team for Fox's broadcast of Super Bowl LVII.

Podcast network and production company

In March 2022, Olsen, along with Vince Vaughn and Ryan Kalil, launched a podcast network and production company named Audiorama. The first podcast available from the network, called Youth, Inc., focuses on youth sports.

Personal life

Olsen's older brother, Chris Jr., played quarterback for the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. His younger brother, Kevin, was recruited to Greg's alma mater, Miami. After incidents during his freshman and sophomore years, Kevin was dismissed from the team and the university.

Olsen founded Receptions For Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation in 2009, which helps fund cancer research. Greg's mother, Sue, is an 11-year cancer survivor and the inspiration for his foundation. One of his fundraising events includes Kicks for a Cure Kickball Tournament, the world's largest charity kickball tournament. The large-scale event is held annually each summer in Chicago's Grant Park and hosts over 1,000 people. Kickball teams compete and have fun in an effort to raise money for cancer research.

Greg and wife Kara welcomed their first son, Tate Christian Olsen, in early June 2011. In October 2012, twins Talbot and T. J. (Trent Jerry) were born. T. J. was born with a rare congenital heart condition known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome. On June 4, 2021, T. J. received a heart transplant.

References

External links

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''Fox Sports'' bio

{{DEFAULTSORT:Olsen, Greg
1985 births
Living people
American people of Danish descent
People from Wayne, New Jersey
Sportspeople from Passaic County, New Jersey
Players of American football from New Jersey
American football tight ends
Miami Hurricanes football players
Chicago Bears players
Carolina Panthers players
Seattle Seahawks players
Unconferenced Pro Bowl players
Wayne Hills High School alumni
National Conference Pro Bowl players
XFL (2020) broadcasters
National Football League announcers
Ed Block Courage Award recipients