Greg Olsen Biography
Greg Olsen is an American football sportscaster and former tight end who played for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He works for Fox Sports as the lead NFL Analyst. He joined the Fox Sports team in 2021.
Greg Olsen Career
In 2003, Olsen transferred as a freshman from the University of Notre Dame to the University of Miami. He was a member of the Hurricanes scout squad in 2003 before being redshirted due to a shoulder injury. After Kevin Everett was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft, he started for the Miami Hurricanes in his sophomore campaign. He caught 87 passes for 1,215 yards and six touchdowns during his career. Olsen was a member of the 7th Floor Crew, a rap group from the University of Miami, in 2003. He went by the alias G-Reg. His membership in the group, which gained national attention for its vulgar and sexually explicit lyrics, was widely mocked by the media.
Olsen was chosen by the Chicago Bears with the 31st overall pick in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. On July 3, he agreed to a five-year contract with the team, becoming the first player selected in the top 64 of the draft to sign a contract. He was hurt in his knee in the Bears’ 2007 season-ending preseason game. He also missed the team’s first two games while he recovered. On September 23, 2007, he was introduced to the NFL by catching two passes for twenty-eight yards against the Dallas Cowboys. The following two weeks, in a Week 5 game against the Green Bay Packers, Olsen scored his first touchdown. Olsen had 39 receptions for 391 yards and two touchdowns at the end of the season.
In his sophomore year, Olsen’s playing time increased. During his seven starts out of sixteen games, he caught 54 passes for 574 yards and five touchdowns. He finished second in receiving yards and receptions, but he led the team in receiving touchdowns. Olsen was chosen for the 2009 Pro Bowl as a second alternate. He was named the Bears Player of the Year by Comcast SportsNet in Chicago. Olsen and Jay Cutler, who the Bears had acquired from the Denver Broncos in 2009, hit it off right away. With 60 receptions for 612 yards and eight touchdowns, Olsen and Cutler had a connection. Though he trailed Devin Hester in receiving yards, he led the Bears in touchdowns and receptions.
The Bears fired offensive coordinator Ron Turner before the 2010 campaign and hired Mike Martz in his place. In comparison to his 2008 and 2009 seasons, he had fewer receptions (41 for 404 yards and five touchdowns) and lower totals. On the other hand, Olsen caught three passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns to help the Bears defeat the Seattle Seahawks in their first 2011 playoff game. Olsen was traded to the Carolina Panthers on July 28, 2011, in exchange for a third-round draft pick in 2012. With the Carolina Panthers, Olsen caught 45 passes for 540 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie season. Week 10 of the 2012 season saw Olsen record nine receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns in a 36–14 loss to the Denver Broncos.
He had 69 receptions for 843 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns in the 2012 campaign. As the Panthers finished with a 12–4 record in 2013, Olsen recorded 73 receptions for 816 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. With 84 receptions, 1,008 receiving yards, and six touchdowns at the end of the 2014 regular season, Olsen helped the Panthers win the NFC South division for the second time in a row. Throughout the season, he recorded three games with over 100 receiving yards and one with two touchdowns. In terms of tight end receptions, Olsen placed third in the NFL. He also ranked second in terms of season and per-game yards.
He was selected to the 2015 Pro Bowl in recognition of his play during the 2014–15 season. By his teammates, he came in at number 89 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015. Olsen and the Panthers agreed to a $22.5 million, three-year contract extension on March 5, 2015. According to Olsen’s agent Drew Rosenhaus, the extension included a $12 million signing bonus with an average yearly salary of $7.5 million. With wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin sidelined for the entire season due to an ACL tear, Olsen was put in charge of being the primary target for NFL MVP-elect Cam Newton. Olsen caught eight passes in Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints, including two touchdowns and a career-high 134 receiving yards.
He matched his career-long 52-yard reception. He performed at a high level again in Week 6 against the Seattle Seahawks. With less than a minute remaining, Olsen caught seven passes for 131 yards and the game-winning touchdown. The touchdown helped the Panthers maintain their perfect record as they went 5-1 overall. He caught nine passes for 129 yards during the Panthers’ 41–38 victory over the New Orleans Saints to move them to 12–0. In the process, he passed Walls for the franchise record for most career receptions by a tight end in Panthers history. The records for career receiving yards and tight end receptions held by former Panther Wesley Walls were broken by Olsen in the 2015 season.
He matched his career-long 52-yard reception. He performed at a high level again in Week 6 against the Seattle Seahawks. With less than a minute remaining, Olsen caught seven passes for 131 yards and the game-winning touchdown. The touchdown helped the Panthers maintain their perfect record as they went 5-1 overall. He caught nine passes for 129 yards during the Panthers’ 41–38 victory over the New Orleans Saints to move them to 12–0. In the process, he passed Walls for the franchise record for most career receptions by a tight end in Panthers history. The records for career receiving yards and tight end receptions held by former Panther Wesley Walls were broken by Olsen in the 2015 season.
In the end, Olsen caught 77 passes for 1,104 yards and seven touchdowns. He was chosen for the AP All-Pro second team and for his second straight Pro Bowl. On the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016, he came in at number 38. Olsen had six receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown in the NFC Divisional Round. It helped the Panthers defeat the Seattle Seahawks 31–24 and advance to play the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship. In the Panthers’ 49–15 victory over the Cardinals and their Super Bowl 50 berth against the Denver Broncos, he hauled in six passes for 113 yards. He had four receptions for 41 yards in Super Bowl 50, but the Panthers were defeated 24–10.
Despite the Panthers’ inability to make it back to the postseason after their Super Bowl 50 appearance in 2016, Olsen had a successful campaign. He recorded five receptions for 122 receiving yards and a touchdown in the 49ers’ 46–27 victory in Week 2. He had nine receptions for 181 receiving yards in Week 5’s 17–14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Olsen became the first tight end in NFL history to record three consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards in Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons, setting a record with a 17-yard reception in the second quarter. Eighty receptions for 1,073 yards and three touchdowns marked the end of his 2016 campaign. It was his third consecutive Pro Bowl selection.
In addition, he was placed 67th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017 by his peers. Olsen left the game against the Buffalo Bills in Week 2 due to a foot injury. After an X-ray proved that Olsen’s foot was broken, he later admitted to having it broken. Surgery was necessary, so he missed six to eight weeks of work. Sep 19, 2017: He was placed on injured reserve. Olsen called the Vikings vs. Rams game on FOX Sports on November 19, while acting as a guest analyst. Olsen was brought off injured reserve and added to the active roster on November 24, 2017. He participated in the following game against the New York Jets, but was forced to leave due to an aggravated surgically repaired foot.
Olsen and the Panthers agreed to a two-year extension on April 26, 2018, for a total estimated value of $17.1 million with a potential upside of $20.1 million. Olsen left the game in the second quarter of the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys due to a foot injury. It was determined that he would be out of commission indefinitely due to a re-fractured right foot. On December 2, during a 24–17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Olsen tore his plantar fascia in the second quarter. On December 5, 2018, he was placed on injured reserve, with a season ending. With 27 receptions for 291 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns in nine games, he concluded the 2018 campaign.
Olsen caught six passes for 110 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2, but the Panthers were defeated 20–14. He caught six passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers’ 38–20 victory in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals. Olsen had 52 receptions for 597 yards and two receiving touchdowns by the end of the season. After nine seasons, Olsen was released by the Panthers on February 3, 2020. Olsen inked a $7 million, one-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks on February 18, 2020.
In Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, Olsen made his Seahawks debut. In the team’s 38–25 victory, he caught four passes for 24 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown. He tore his plantar fascia in Week 11, and on November 23, 2020, he was placed on injured reserve. Olsen was taken off injured reserve and activated on December 26, 2020. He had 24 receptions for 239 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown at the end of the 2020 campaign. On March 4, 2021, the Seahawks released him.
Greg Olsen Salary
According to Marchand, Olsen held the position of No. 2 analyst for Fox in 2021, which pays about $3 million a year. Olsen made a huge jump to the top spot in 2022 after Troy Aikman left for ESPN, bringing with him a salary of almost $10 million a season.
Greg Olsen Net Worth
Olsen has an estimated net worth of about $16 Million which he has earned through his career as a football sportscaster and NFL player.
Greg Olsen Age
Olsen was born on March 11, 1985, in Paterson, New Jersey, United States. He is 38 years old as of 2023 and he celebrates his birthday on the 11th of March every year.
Greg Olsen Height and Weight
Olsen stands at a height of 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters) and weighs 116 kg (255 lbs).
Greg Olsen Family
Olsen was born Gregory Walter Olsen to Chris Olsen, Sr. and Sue Olsen. He has two brothers, Kevin Olsen and Chris Olsen, Jr.. His older brother played quarterback for the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. His younger brother was recruited to Greg’s alma mater, Miami.
Greg Olsen Wife and Children
Early in June 2011, Greg and his wife Kara Dooley welcomed their first son. They became parents to twins in October 2012. One had hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare congenital cardiac defect. On June 4, 2021, he underwent a successful heart transplant.
Greg Olsen Fox Sports
While working for Fox Sports Olsen co-anchors alongside:
When did Greg Olsen Retire?
Olsen announced his retirement and his intention to become a full-time broadcaster for Fox Sports on January 24, 2021. On March 11, 2021, Olsen agreed to a one-day contract with the Carolina Panthers, which allowed him to leave the team.
Greg Olsen Social Media Platform
Olsen is very active on his Twitter and Instagram pages. He has 509.1k followers on Twitter and 399.1k followers on Instagram.