After a long NFL career, Greg Olsen has propelled himself into the national spotlight with a superb start to his NFL broadcasting career. In just his second year as an announcer, Olsen receives the prestigious honor of calling Super Bowl LVII alongside his broadcast partner, Kevin Burkhardt. Let’s look back at Olsen’s career, both on and off the field, his career earnings, and net worth.
Greg Olsen’s Career on the Football Field
Olsen’s football journey began in Wayne, New Jersey, at Wayne Hills High School. As a senior, Olsen was a first-team All-American and played in the 2003 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Rivals.com ranked him as the second tight end in the nation that year as a five-star recruit. Olsen originally committed to the University of Notre Dame before transferring to the University of Miami.
Olsen’s college career did not start well, as he suffered a shoulder injury as a freshman, leading to him being redshirted that year. In his redshirt sophomore year, Olsen became the Hurricanes’ starter. After spending three years on the field for the Hurricanes, with two as a starter, he finished with 1,215 yards and six touchdowns from 87 receptions.
After entering the NFL draft in 2007, Olsen was selected 31st overall as a first-round pick by the Chicago Bears. His NFL debut came in Week 3 of the 2007 season against the Dallas Cowboys. In 2009, Olsen was named the Bears Player of the Season by Chicago’s Comcast SportsNet. He spent four seasons with the Bears before being traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2011.
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Olsen would play for the Panthers for nine years. During that stretch, he was voted to the Pro Bowl for three consecutive years and was part of the team that the Denver Broncos defeated in Super Bowl 50. Olsen played 126 games for the Panthers, finishing with 6,463 yards and 39 touchdowns from 525 receptions. In 2015 and 2016, Olsen was selected to the NFL’s second-team All-Pro.
After being released by the Panthers in 2020, Olsen signed with the Seattle Seahawks for the following season. He would play just 11 games for the Seahawks, finishing with 24 receptions for 239 yards and a touchdown. Olsen retired after the 2020 season, signing a one-day deal with the Panthers in order to retire as a member of their organization.
Olsen’s NFL career spanned 14 seasons with three different teams. He played in a total of 199 games, catching 60 touchdowns with 8,683 yards from 742 receptions. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and a two-time second-team All-Pro during his career.
What Teams Did Olsen Play For?
- University of Miami (2003-06)
- Chicago Bears (2007-10)
- Carolina Panthers (2011-19)
- Seattle Seahawks (2020)
Olsen’s Career in Broadcasting
Olsen had begun working in NFL booths during bye weeks towards the end of his playing career. When he retired in 2021, Olsen joined Kevin Burkhardt on FOX’s No. 2 announcer team. When Joe Buck and Troy Aikman left for ESPN ahead of the 2022 season, Burkhardt and Olsen were promoted to the No. 1 team. In just his second year as a full-time NFL color commentator, Olsen will join Burkhardt in the booth for Super Bowl LVII.
However, Olsen’s time partnering with Burkhardt in FOX’s lead crew could be short-lived. In 2022, Tom Brady signed a 10-year contract with FOX to announce games after retiring from the NFL. The expectation is that Brady will join Burkhardt in the booth on the top crew, with Olsen stepping down into the second crew alongside Joe Davis. However, as of Feb. 2, it has not been confirmed by FOX exactly how their announcer groups for 2023 will look.
What’s Olsen’s Net Worth?
As of 2022-23, Olsen’s estimated net worth is around $16 million. However, this is just an estimate, and there is a wide range of these estimates, from anywhere between $10-20 million. During his time in the NFL, Olsen earned a total of $70.2 million across his 14-year career.
As a broadcaster, Olsen reportedly earns $10 million a year in FOX’s lead crew. However, his earnings will reportedly drop to $3 million a year if he returns to the No. 2 crew alongside Davis in 2023.