OverDrive - Brown Jr. on playing with Patrick Mahomes, offensive line dinners, and his favourite players in Super Bowl LX

Episode Date: February 6, 2026

Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Tackle Orlando Brown Jr. joins to discuss his experience playing with Patrick Mahomes, the best gift he’s received from a quarterback, what a typical offensive line dinner looks like, and which players he’s rooting for in Super Bowl LX.

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Wait to see the jerseys got on. Orlando Brown Jr.'s coming out here. We're going to send him out here in a minute. He's won a Super Bowl, plays with the Cincinnati Bengals. look at this guy great to see it great to see you guys that's a vintage Alex

Ovechkin jersey it is man so you an OVie guy or what yeah so you know it's coincidental I'm from Baltimore so when he came to the caps I mean I never I'm gonna be honest

I don't watch hockey but this this one of the baddest badest man doing this that's your guy that's a lot of respect that's a great great jersey great seeing you we've had some players here

we haven't seen a guy have your stature yet. Yeah. Like how often, when you're walking around, do you ever have people, idiots, say, getting your three, getting your stance, I think I could get around you. Oh, yeah. I think I'd get around you. Yeah, you'd be surprised.

I mean, I've been in a few party-like settings, and I've had a few people, like, legitimately try to try me. I mean, but, anyway, it is what it is, man. I do this for a living. Yeah, exactly. Like, you won a Super Bowl. You're a legit stud in the NFL. But, like, you got to think liquid courage, right?

It's like, I think I could get around this guy. I think I could get around the corner. Yeah, no chance. No chance. No chance. It's going to happen. I love it. It's great to see it, man.

So what's this experience been like for you? I've seen you walking around. Yeah. The OV. Jersey makes it pop. Yeah. You having fun? Yeah, I am, man. I really enjoy this side of stuff.

This is my third year doing this. I would much rather be getting ready for the game. But, you know, it's my third year doing this, man. But I enjoy it. I enjoy the media side of things, being able to learn new stories and interact with people. It's awesome. So, you know, your job of protecting the quarterback, you play with Mahomes, won a Super Bowl.

Yep. Now you got Joe Burrow and Cincinnati. Yeah. You know, what's that mentality like when you step onto the field? Obviously, any quarterback, you're going to put in 100% effort and you're thinking, I've got to make sure this guy's upright and I've got to do what I can. Yeah. But when you have players of that status, all pro stud quarterbacks,

like how does that affect your mentality? as you walk onto the field. Yeah, I mean, it means a lot to me, man. And honestly, you know, pressure is a privilege, any professional sport that you do. And so for me, I take a lot of pride in keeping those guys clean, you know, being able to help them create an extra opportunity to make a highlight play, whatever it is, man.

I've learned to embrace my role everywhere that I've been. And in Cincinnati, fortunately for me, I'm a more mature version of myself. And so, you know, the left tackle version that Joe Burrow gets is not the same left tackle version that Pat Mahomes guy or even Lamar Jackson. So, you know, for me, man, I just, I've, over the years, I've learned to grow and evolve, you know, based off of, you know, where I'm at in life of my career. Is it true that the quarterback and the offensive line, like, does he take care of them?

Oh, big time. With gifts and stuff like that? Oh, yeah, yeah. So that's true. That's not just the story that's out on X or anything like that. No, man, it's legit, man. During my time here, there is, I mean, all the quarterbacks I'll put, I've, played for, have taken care of my first.

Who's the best, though? What's the best gift? Yeah, this is so funny because I host offensive line dinner every Thursday night in my house and so normally all the quarterbacks come, all the running backs come, all the offense alignment, and like the skill positions rotate, tight ends might show up, receivers might come through,

so it just varies, but at my bar in my house, I have a like a 7-Eleven slushy machine and it was my first offensive line gift from Joe Flacco. I mean, it's timeless. Yeah, Joe Flacco. Yeah, Joe Flacco.

That was his gift to the offensive line my rookie year. So that gift is timeless, man. And then the fossils this year are, and the sword from Joe. Yeah. I mean, that's. He gave me a sword. He gave me a sword two years ago. All of us.

I got the, it came with a story. I don't know about heart. I just know this sword as old as you can think. Okay. What goes on on Thursday night when the boys come over? Oh, yeah. I mean, what you would imagine? I mean, we could just say good vibes, no wives, no girlfriends.

No kids. But here's the thing. I'm thinking you've got a lot of guys coming over that are big men. Oh, yeah. What is the hearing? What kind of groceries do you guys put back? Yeah, so I really use it as an opportunity to, I guess, like, present other restaurants, opportunities to feed the Bengals.

And so I've done a variety of things. I've done everything from soul food, you know, southern soul food. I've done Jeff Ruby Steakhouse, which is a huge restaurant there. I've done sushi. We've done Caribbean. We've done Chinese. We've got like Italian-made sandwiches that are like facacia bread and how much sushi did you have to order?

I can't. Oh, bro, I mean, enough. I mean, it's semi-truck back. Yeah, you know how they bring out sushi broats. They bring us a sushi yacht. Like it's like, yeah, it's legit, man. It's like we've, we chow down. We get it in.

Is it chopsticks for the boys? Oh, for sure. Oh, really? Oh, yeah. Okay. Definitely. Yeah, I can only imagine the groceries you guys must put back. Yeah, man.

And like, what is the routine with? if you're, let's say, let's say you're out of dinner or something like that, or you're at a buffet. Yeah. Is it understood, like, the alignment are going first? Oh, yeah. Or how does that work with, like, the hierarchy within the room? Because you guys are the biggest guys. And, like, I can't imagine there's, like, too many, like, safeties being, like, step aside.

I'm up first. Like, how does that work? So, like, so I'll share this with you, like, Thursday night, O'Lon dinner is, like, one of the most sacred things in football. You know what I mean? Does that apply across the league usually? Not necessarily, but I would tell you probably 40% of the time. teams probably do it 40 to 50. Are kickers allowed?

I mean, Evan McPherson could come anytime. You probably know you know what they take the play. Evan can always come through. He's probably somewhere pushing a stroller, but he can always come to O-line dinner, no problem. Okay. But yeah, it's sacred. And so, you know, I think the first thing we do is we decompress as a group, whatever has happened that week, you know what I mean?

And then whatever happened in the O-line room or at practice or the game before, sit down, talk about it. And so it's really first come, first serve for the food. Yeah, that's amazing. Orlando Brown Jr. with us here at Radio Rose, Cincinnati Bengals. And, you know, the idea of, like, growing as a player, you mentioned, like, what you bring today compared to what you would have brought two or three years ago.

Yeah. How does that apply to, like, a job like yours where I don't think the average person can connect with what it means to be a tackle, right? Yeah. Like, everyone's played quarterback. Everyone's throwing a ball. Yeah. Everyone's played wide receiver and said, you know, I'm going deep throw it.

Yeah. Not many people have been like, I'm going to be a tackle here. I have a guy who's 280 and mean that's trying to chase me down or go through me. Like, how do you kind of discuss your job with like the average person, if that makes sense? And try to break it down to people. Yeah, it's unique, man. You know, what I do specifically, the margin of error is very slim. And all of my mistakes are on notice because a lot of times when I lose or 11,

tackle loses, you know, you're going to see it right away because it's the blind side. And so some of the sacks that I may give up may be a fumble as opposed to when it's a right tackle giving up a sack or he gets beat, the quarterback because he's right-handed and his shoulders and eyes are facing that right tackle, he can see that, he can see that defender and make a miss. And so for me, my margin of error is a lot slimmer and, you know, my responsibility is to keep the quarterback clean in the past game. we were talking about yesterday, like back in the day. Like I'd say every three or four months we bring up Lawrence Taylor.

Oh, yeah, yeah. Talking about his highlights on YouTube and how crazy he was coming off the edge. Oh, yeah. You know, way back in the day when Smack Talk was happening. Yeah. Does that exist now with like Mike's being prevalent in the league, the media being so on top of the game, the amount of cameras everywhere? Yeah.

Like how do you think, I guess, speak to your own experience, It's like how loud is it on the line of scrimmon? I'm going to talk. I'm going to talk my trash. Yeah, I really don't care who's miced up. So I don't, yeah, that never really bothers me. You know, I don't normally say anything disrespectful unless it calls for it. But, I mean, to be honest, I think it's a fine line and trash talk.

You know, I've never brought up someone's family or anything like that. But, yeah, I mean, if I dog you, I'm going to let you know. Okay. Do you have a guy in the league that you feel, I got this guy Like do you have a guy And then is there a guy Slap around on a regular

Is there a guy where you're like He's got a great rep But he's not beating me I know I got this guy Yeah no I wouldn't take it that far Man I would tell you They're outside of my teammates There isn't a defense alignment I like

So yeah Yeah I mean that's just because of The way that I've You know I've had to I guess Warp my mentality I mean outside of my defense Line teammates

It's not a lot of guys like you're going to catch me hanging out with it. You're not pulling for anybody here this weekend? No, no. It's a few offensive linemen like Morgan Moses, the right tackle for New England Patriots. We trained together for two years, two off-seasones and so, man, I'm rooting for him. Sam Darnow with his story. I'm a big fan of like, you know, the history of the game and everything is broad. And so guys like Sam Darno, man, it's special to see how far he's come. So Orlando Brown Jr. with us. Yeah, we've been talking about, you know, the brotherhood in the NFL and the reaction to

certain comments from other players and all that. How does that, like, how do you react to that? Like, the, you know, I guess is it by position? Is it just like a brotherhood in the league? There's so many players. Like, the rosters are so big. Yeah, they are. Football's a small world, though.

It's really small. And I imagine it's probably like that for a lot of professions, you know what I mean? Because what happens is, you know, with the NFL, especially, I feel like being so USA-based in terms of the guys coming into the league, we all grow. up in youth football playing against each other, you know, going to high school, playing against each other and meeting each other at these college visits. And then you play against each other in college. And then you go through the draft process and you're trained together with a guy. And now you're drafted during the same year. And so you get to know all everybody, you know

what I mean, somewhat over time. And so it's a small world, man. It is somewhat of a brotherhood. So Orlando Brown Jr. with us again, the Cincinnati Bengals. Breakthrough one Cincinnati gal, right? That's what you're going to be. lot of time with that. Yep. Take us through that. Yeah. So, you know, I work with a type breakthrough T1D.

My brother was diagnosed with type 1 when he was eight years old and I was nine years old at the time when we found out. And so my dad passed away of keto acidosis, which is a form of a diabetic coma. Both of my grandparents suffer from diabetic issues. And so one of my best friends is type 1 diabetic. So it's just something that's been around me my entire life, man. And, you know, for me, just being able to create a sense of peace. and the families that have been involved with it,

you know, and they're being an autoimmune disease, it can be confusing. And I just want to bring a sense of peace, man, to that side of the world. It's amazing. Love it. It's awesome. Well, it's great catching up with you, man. We really appreciate you coming by.

That jersey is unbelievable. Thank you. I appreciate you guys. Because Ovi's about your size. Yeah, that's why I hear. Ovi's a big, big boy. He loves Subway. Oh, really?

He lives on Subway sandwiches. He lives on Subway sandwiches. $5 foot logs, huh? That's great. He can't get enough. He scored more goals than anyone in NFL history, and all he does is... Is he going to hit a thousand or what? Yeah, I think he's going to hit a thousand.

I think he might. He's probably... How many Subway Sandys do you think he's had thrown his career? And he goes with the zesty chips. Zesty chips, too. You can't beat that. Thanks for coming on. That's great.

Thank you. We said you guys. Reverend Cincey on a Thursday, we might have to reach out. Yeah, please, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. There is. Orlando Brown joining us. I'm Dylan Clayford. And I'm Tyler Smith. We're putting loneliness in the penalty box by talking to some of our favorite athletes about the importance of friendship. This is bromance.

Bromance is brought to you by Charm Diamond Centers, proudly Canadian-owned and operator. Charm has been part of your love stories and bromances for over 50 years. And you can find Bromance on the IHeart Radio Network or wherever you get your podcast.