On July 28, 2011, the Carolina Panthers received one of the greatest gifts in franchise history. And it was all thanks to, at least according to Mike Martz, not Mike Martz.
That gift was tight end Greg Olsen—who was traded to the Panthers following a relatively underwhelming tenure with the Chicago Bears. Despite having been a first-round pick of the organization in 2007, the University of Miami standout never reached his full potential in the move to the “Windy City.”
As the story goes (or at least how it has been perceived), Martz—Chicago’s offensive coordinator between 2010 and 2011—didn’t believe the 6-foot-5 pass catcher was a personnel fit for his system. In Olsen’s lone season with Martz, one that saw him block a bit more than he probably hoped to, he reeled in just 41 receptions for 404 yards and five touchdowns.
So, as Martz supposedly refused to make Olsen fit into his plans, the Bears shipped him away to Carolina for a 2012 third-round pick and the rest was history.
Well, the former coach joined ESPN radio’s Waddle and Silvy this past week and touched upon the topic. When asked if he did—in fact—press the front office to dump Olsen, Martz claimed he didn’t know the Bears planned on trading him until the trade was actually made.
“That is just a huge lie,” Martz said of his reported request to rid his offense of Olsen. “I didn’t know they did anything with him until after the fact. They didn’t tell me anything.”
Martz also noted that he was forced to use Olsen more as a blocker due to the team’s lack of effective offensive tackles. In 2010, Chicago tabbed Frank Omiyale and rookie J’Marcus Webb as their primary starters on the edges.
Did Mike Martz tell the Bears that they had to trade Greg Olsen or he wouldn't play Olsen?
"That is a huge lie. I didn't know they did anything with him until after the fact. They didn't tell me anything."
He discussed this and more with @WaddleandSilvy and @TWaddle87 pic.twitter.com/d7UlnmMmfV
— ESPN 1000 (@ESPN1000) September 15, 2022
Anywho, Olsen would go on to fit right in with the Panthers—becoming the franchise’s all-time leading receiver at the tight end position. So, thanks, Mike (or not Mike)!
