Greg Olsen, a former NFL player turned sportscaster, followed in the footsteps of another NFL legend, the late Merlin Olsen. Both spent ten seasons in the league before moving into the broadcast booth.
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- 0.1 Greg Olsen, a former NFL player turned sportscaster, followed in the footsteps of another NFL legend, the late Merlin Olsen. Both spent ten seasons in the league before moving into the broadcast booth.
- 0.2 Some football fans wonder if Greg Olsen is related to Merlin Olsen because they share a last name. They specifically inquire as to whether Greg is Merlin’s son or nephew. However, as we explain here, there is no evidence of a familial relationship between them.
- 1 Merlin Olsen is not related to Greg Olsen
Merlin Olsen was born in Utah on September 15, 1940. He was one of Merle Barrus and Lynn Jay Olsen’s nine children.
Merlin and his brothers Phil and Orrin Olsen were football players. They were both drafted into the NFL after college and played together, which is unusual. During the 1971 and 1972 seasons, Merlin and Phil were teammates and defensive tackles for the Los Angeles Rams.
Merlin retired in 1976 after one of the most successful NFL careers in history. Soon after, the Rams legend pursued a career in sportscasting while also acting on the side.
Merlin Olsen died in 2010 at the age of 69 after a battle with cancer. His wife and college sweetheart, Susan Wakley; their children, Kelly, Jill, and Nathan; his siblings; and extended family survive him.
There was no mention of a Greg Olsen at the time of his death. Younger football fans may recognize him as the recently retired NFL tight end.
Greg Olsen was born in New Jersey on March 11, 1985, to coach Chris Olsen Sr. and Sue Olsen. Chris Jr. and Kevin Olsen, his brothers, both played collegiate football. While Chris was not drafted into the NFL, Kevin had major legal issues that caused him to be dismissed from multiple college teams.
Greg played 14 seasons in the NFL after being drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 2007 NFL draft. He later played for the Carolina Panthers and the Seattle Seahawks before retiring in 2021. He, like Merlin Olsen, immediately transitioned to broadcasting, announcing his new job at Fox Sports on the day of his retirement.
There is no evidence that Greg Olsen or his family is related to Merlin Olsen. The families share a football talent and the last name, but that’s where the similarities end.
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