Thursday’s episode of ESPN’s daily football show ‘NFL Live’ brought out the waterworks when one of the analysts brought out his son on World Autism Awareness Day.
In a segment on the show, former Detroit Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky brought out his 14-year-old son, Madden, on the program.
Madden, who has autism, was brought out onto the set to receive a special gift from one of his heroes.
A die-hard fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, Madden was handed a bag of team gear from Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith.
Madden had drawings of his art displayed on a screen behind him while talking with his father.
‘I love the Eagles,’ Madden said. ‘I know you do, bro. You love their song,’ Dan replied, referring to the Eagles’ fight song ‘Fly, Eagles Fly.’
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky was overcome with emotion when his 14-year-old son, Madden, made an appearance on NFL Live on World Autism Awareness Day to share his love for the Eagles
At one point, Orlovsky couldn’t hold back the waterworks and began shedding tears
He pulled his son in for a hug in a heartwarming and emotional scene for all involved
After Madden asked, ‘Can we sing it together?’ the former quarterback encouraged his son to belt out the music himself.
So, the 14-year-old started singing – bringing out the tears for Orlovsky and the show’s main host, Laura Rutledge.
Rutledge and fellow panelist Field Yates clapped for Madden while Orlovsky couldn’t hold back his tears.
‘Are you crying?’ Madden asked. His father replied, ‘Yeah, because I love you, good job.’
Madden then thanked ESPN ‘for inviting me here’ before listing off things he loves and turning to the camera to thank his mother and his siblings.
That led to the former NFL star crying even harder and pulling his son in for a hug.
Before the show began, Orlovsky said, ‘I’ll try not to get emotional about’ Madden’s appearance.
‘What I love about it, it’s his, it’s his thing,’ Dan explained. ‘I’m so thankful that ESPN, and you guys, let me be a part of it before the show. He’s just a special, special human.’