The Athletic Football Show

It's the last episode of The Athletic Football Show before the 2024 NFL Draft, and that can only mean one thing...it's time to highlight the things we can't wait to learn the next few days. Which team will trade up for a quarterback? Who inside the top 10 has... more

Play time is over, NFL fans. Draft week is here, and everything is finally starting to get serious. Dianna Russini joins Robert Mays on this episode of The Athletic Football Show to dive into what she's hearing behind the scenes as draft week begins.

Mike and Randy go over their top 10 defensive players in this year's draft. The guys discuss the reasons why they chose the players they did and how they fit. From there, Randy explains some of the things that go on in a draft room and how teams come up with... more

The Ringer’s Ben Solak and Danny Kelly join Robert Mays for an intense pre-draft competition among fellow football podcasters. Via a snake draft, each participant selects a team of 10 players eligible in this year’s draft, trying to build a squad with the... more

We are officially one week out from the 2024 NFL Draft and this episode is all about “Our Guys.” Robert Mays, Nate Tice and Dane Brugler talk about the prospects they love in the top 10, the first round, on Day 2 and outside the top 100 consensus.

On the last installment of The Athletic Football Show’s Mock Draft Scenarios, Robert Mays and Nate Tice discuss the top five picks of the 2024 NFL Draft. They examine the team needs for the Chargers, Cardinals, Patriots, Commanders and Bears. Plus, a bonus... more

We are two weeks away from the NFL draft. Is this a deep draft class this season? Mike and Randy look at how tape reveals character. The guys start off their discussion with the QB class in this year's draft and where they might rank. From there, we go through... more

How many defensive difference makers will go in the first round? What do the Rams do to try and replace Aaron Donald? Why do defensive backs seem so hard to evaluate? Robert Mays is joined by Diante Lee to answer all of your questions about the top prospects... more

Robert Mays, Nate Tice and Dane Brugler chat about which players in this year’s NFL draft class are the hardest to evaluate, from running backs to defensive linemen to defensive backs. They also talk about the work that went into The Beast, the annual guide to... more

In Chapter Four of their first round mock draft, Robert Mays and Nate Tice examine the potential options awaiting the teams picking from 11 to 6, and how they square with needs those teams are carrying into the 2024 NFL Draft.

As NFL free agency continues, Mike and Randy discuss the most recent news surrounding free agency. The guys start the conversation off with WR Stefon Diggs trade to the Houston Texans. Then we take a look at the top three wide receivers in the upcoming draft. more

In their second position breakdown of the talent pool in this year’s NFL draft class, Robert Mays, Nate Tice and Dane Brugler take a hard look at this year’s crop of pass catchers - from the big name prospects like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Brock Bowers to those... more

Stefon Diggs is heading to Houston! Robert Mays is joined by David Helman, host of the "NFL on Fox Podcast," to break down the blockbuster trade. Then, they dive into which teams have the most at stake in the 2024 NFL Draft.

In the third installment of their 2024 NFL Mock Draft, Robert Mays and Nate Tice explore the choices awaiting the teams picking between 18 and 12 and what they could mean for the future of the Bengals, Jaguars, Seahawks, Colts, Saints, Raiders and Broncos.

Mike and Randy are back with another edition of the Football GM where they start their discussion on Michael Penix Jr's workout. Then we shift to Dak Prescott as he awaits a new contract. From there, the guys look at the various possibilities for teams in the... more

The market for the NFL’s elite wide receivers could soon explode again, with Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb both eyeing big pay days. Robert Mays connects with ESPN’s Mina Kimes to survey the current market for the NFL’s wide receiver talent, for both top... more

It’s QB Day on The Athletic Football Show! Robert Mays, Nate Tice and Dane Brugler bring you an extensive look at the top QBs in the 2024 draft class. They dive into the film of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels and J.J. McCarthy. Plus, they also talk... more

In the second installment of their 2024 mock draft, Robert Mays and Nate Tice ponder the decisions waiting for the teams holding the picks between 25 and 19 (The Packers, Cowboys, Vikings, Eagles, Dolphins, Steelers and Rams). With Robert on the ground in... more

In this week's edition of the Football GM, Mike and Randy discuss the interesting rules that will be brought up in the NFL owners meeting this weekend. From there, the guys turn they attention to J.J. McCarthy and Caleb Willams pro day and how it all played... more

Teams around the league started putting cards on the table this month, when the market for free agency opened. Robert Mays chats with PFF’s Brad Spielberger and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler about what this month’s player movement says about the plans teams are... more

If your 2024 NFL Draft knowledge is lacking, this is the episode for you. Dane Brugler and Nate Tice join Robert Mays to discuss the most important things you need to know about this year’s prospects. They talk about the positions of strength and weakness,... more

Welcome to the first installment of Robert Mays and Nate Tice future casting the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. In this go-round, they work their way from picks 32 to 26 and explore what they could mean for the Chiefs, 49ers, Ravens, Lions, Bills,... more

We finally caught our breath on Friday of free agency week, only to be bombarded by news during a roughly 30-hour window. Aaron Donald, arguably the greatest defensive player of all time, retired. The Bears traded for Keenan Allen, then traded away Justin... more

Football GM has returned! Mike and Randy discuss some of the recent free agency moves and how they fit around the league. Then the guys take a closer look at each division and give their likes and dislikes of these recent moves. And lastly, we wrap the... more

Four days into free agency and we're still going strong. The Titans stay aggressive by signing Calvin Ridley. The Lions keep shoring up last year's weaknesses. The Jaguars continue to disappoint us. And hey, we got a couple of trades today. Robert Mays and... more

What an exciting three days it's been in the NFL. Well, unless you're a Cowboys fan. Chase Daniel joins Robert Mays to discuss Danielle Hunter joining the Texans, the Steelers trading Diontae Johnson to the Panthers, the Cowboys' complete inaction, and all the... more

Day two of NFL free agency in the 2024 offseason gave us a bit of a breather, but not much of one. Brian Burns is a Giant! Derrick Henry is a Raven! Aaron Jones is a Viking! Not literally, of course, but in a football sense. Plus, the Patriots and Commanders... more

Well that was quite the first day of free agency, huh? Oh, excuse us. It was quite the first day of the tampering period. Kirk Cousins to the Falcons! Saquon Barkley, and lots of others, to the Eagles! Guards and defensive tackles cashing in! Tee Higgins wants... more

The wildest NFL week of the year is on the horizon. Are you ready for some free agency?!? What are the best possible fits out there? Who's flying under the radar that can be a sneaky-good signing? What do we want to see happen? Robert Mays and Nate Tice answer... more

It's Kirk Cousins' world, and we're all living in it. Well, those of us who are neck-deep in NFL free agency, at least. Cousins will be among the big prizes when free agency opens next week, but who else will make headlines? Which teams should we expect to get... more

March 5 was franchise tag day across the NFL, and it brought us mostly what we expected. Robert Mays and Nate Tice wade through the decisions, the potential extensions, and what comes next on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. They also dig into Mike... more

What do you do after spending a long week in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine? You talk about it! Nate Tice and Dane Brugler but a bow on the combine by going over what we learned, position by position, on this episode of The Athletic Football Show's... more

The Athletic Football Show wraps up its week at the combine with Robert Mays and Dianna Russini digging into the moves and news taking place behind the scenes. What's the market for Justin Fields? Will Kirk Cousins move on from Minnesota? Could the Buccaneers... more

The NFL knows how to keep the news cycle churning, packing the combine, franchise tag decisions and madness of free agency into a three-week period within one month of the Super Bowl. What is all that like from the player's perspective? Robert Mays digs into... more

The combine is open, which means that we have really, truly turned the page to the offseason and, soon enough, the 2024 league year. This offseason brings questions for all 32 teams, but nine stand out above the rest. Robert Mays and Nate Tice identify the... more

Nate Tice and Dane Brugler get you ready for the 2024 NFL combine with a position-by-position preview. They discuss who they are looking forward to watching, what prospects need to have a big week and much more.

When the season ends the baton gets passed to the GM world.The NFL is in the offseason and Mike and Randy talk about free agents in the NFL. The guys go through each position group of free agents and look at potential fits around the league. Then the guys... more

Who needs an NFL Draft simulator when you have Dane Brugler! Dane joins Nate Tice to mock several scenarios for the top 12 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft. How many QBs will go? Where is the biggest pivot point? What teams could move up? They discuss all of that... more

In this post Super Bowl 58 edition, Mike and Randy discuss their takeaways from the game. Then the discussion furthers with the guys wondering if the 49ers are unraveling a little bit. From there, we talk about the decision made by head coach Kyle Shanahan to... more

What will the QB carousel look like? How do the Lions keep this thing going? What can we expect from the WR market? Robert Mays and Nate Tice discuss all of that and more as they share their biggest questions for the 2024 NFL offseason.

Robert Mays sits down with some of the NFL’s biggest stars at Super Bowl LVIII's Radio Row. He chats with NFL Defensive Rookie of the year Will Anderson Jr. about the culture in Houston. Then, Aidan Hutchinson and Brian Branch stop by to talk about the Lions... more

What did we learn after re-watching Super Bowl LVIII? Robert Mays and Chase Daniel discuss their biggest takeaways from the film including Steve Spagnuolo’s game plan, Chris Jones and Trent McDuffie’s big night and of course Patrick Mahomes’ final drive. They... more

With Super Bowl LVIII behind us, Dane Brugler joins Nate Tice to discuss his top 100 prospects for the 2024 NFL Draft. They talk about the talent in each position group and what players have caught their attention heading into the combine.

Two straight Super Bowl victories. Three Lombardi Trophies in five years. There may not be an exact definition of a dynasty in sports, but whatever the Chiefs are doing sure feels like it qualifies. Robert Mays and Nate Tice recap Super Bowl LVIII, break down... more

What will Super Bowl 58 come down to? In this Super Bowl 58 edition of the Football GM, Mike and Randy discuss the matchup of the 49ers vs. Chiefs and explore the various possibilities of what we'll see this Sunday. From there, the guys share their thoughts... more

On September 7, 2023, we published our Week 1 Preview. Five months later from radio row in Las Vegas, Robert Mays and Nate Tice preview the Super Bowl LVIII matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. What are the key matchups in the game?... more

We at The Athletic Football Show are lucky to have two members of our extended family who have been on Super Bowl Champions. We have the further good fortune of having one of those players be a recent teammate of Patrick Mahomes. So what's it like to win the... more

The Chiefs have become a Super Bowl mainstay, but this version of the Chiefs is different from any that we've previously seen. The 49ers, meanwhile, are back in the game as the league's greatest offensive juggernaut. How did these teams get here? What, beyond... more

The dust of the 2024 coaching cycle has settled. How did Washington pivot so quickly from Ben Johnson to Dan Quinn? What conclusions can we draw about what teams in the market prioritized? Which coordinator hires are the most interesting? Robert Mays and... more

In the past week we saw a few coaching hires in the NFL. Mike and Randy discuss these hires and how they might fit. Then we take a look at the 49ers and wonder if Brock Purdy is bailing out Kyle Shanahan? Lastly we wrap things up with the GM notebook and... more

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, right? So how can the other 28 teams imitate the Chiefs, 49ers, Ravens and Lions? And what can we in the media and football-loving world learn from them, too? ESPN's Bill Barnwell joins Robert Mays and Nate Tice to... more

We're all thinking about the S. Bowl these days. But while for most of us that means the Super Bowl, for The Athletic's NFL Draft expert Dane Brugler, it means the Senior Bowl. Dane checks in with Nate Tice from Mobile, where he's been attending Senior Bowl... more

Ben Johnson surprised most the football world on Tuesday by deciding to remain with the Lions as their offensive coordinator for at least one more season. And he helpfully did so just moments before Robert Mays and Chase Daniel began recording this week's... more

Chiefs-49ers...that has a familiar ring to it, doesn't it? That's what we'll all be watching in Las Vegas on February 11 in Super Bowl LVIII. Before we get there, though Robert Mays and Nate Tice recap Championship Sunday on this episode of The Athletic... more

There's been six new head coaches hired since our last episode. Mike and Randy discuss these coaches and how the teams hiring knew what they were in need of. From there, the guys look at whether or not each of the six teams made the right choice. Then we... more

Chiefs-Ravens has the look of an all-time AFC Championship Game. Lions-49ers features an up-and-coming team that has announced itself to the league going up against a team we've seen in this spot multiple times in recent years trying to finally break all the... more

If it seems strange that a podcast devoted to quarterbacks wouldn't talk much about Patrick Mahomes until January, consider this...Patrick Mahomes is inevitable. Robert Mays and Chase Daniel discuss what it feels like to face up against that inevitability on... more

College all-star game season has arrived, which means The Athletic's Dane Brugler is busy. Before he heads off to the Senior Bowl and East West Shrine Bowl, he sits down with Nate Tice and Jim Nagy, Executive Director of the Senior Bowl, to preview the game... more

The Ravens dominated. The 49ers had just enough. The Lions took care of business. And the Chiefs and Bills gave us another thriller. At the end of it all, we've got our Championship Weekend matchups: Chiefs-Ravens and Lions-49ers. Robert Mays and Nate Tice... more

The wild card round is over and now onward to the divisional round. But first, Mike and Randy take a look at all that went right and wrong for teams during the wild card round. From there, the guys discuss head coaching vacancies. Then we transition into a... more

We've reached the best weekend of the NFL season. Not only do we still have four playoff games to watch, we get the best of the best going up against one another. Robert Mays and Nate Tice break down Texans-Ravens, Packers-49ers, Buccaneers-Lions and... more

On the field, we're down to just eight teams still playing football this season. Off the field, we have one of the most star-studded prospective head coaching pools any of us has ever seen. Robert Mays and Chase Daniel dig into both the on- and off-field... more

The Seahawks, Commanders and Patriots will all have new coaches in 2024. That represents massive change in Seattle and New England, and necessary change in Washington. That change, however, means different things depending on the franchise. Robert Mays is... more

Six quarterbacks in the first two rounds? Three receivers, plus a tight end, in the top-six picks? Oh yeah, it's mock draft season. Nate Tice and Dane Brugler's dig into the latter's two-round mock on this episode of The Athletic Football Show's Prospects to... more

And with that, the Wild Card Round has reached its end. Robert Mays and Nate Tice break down the Buccaneers' win over the Eagles, the Bills' win over the Steelers, and a crossroads offseason on both sides of Pennsylvania on this episode of The Athletic... more

C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love spent the entire regular season announcing their arrival to the league. They both put an exclamation point on that announcement in the Wild Card round. What else? Oh, right, the Lions won the franchise's first playoff game in 32... more

In this week's edition of the Football GM Mike and Randy discuss head coaching changes around the NFL. Their conversation starts off with a look at all the teams looking for a new head coach. From there the guys talk about retirement as Nick Saban retires as... more

The Wild Card Round is here, and Robert Mays and Nate Tice break it down as only they can on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. What would a win mean to each of the 12 teams in action? What's the most important aspect on both sides of the ball in each... more

The playoffs are here, and oh boy do we have some intriguing quarterback matchups this weekend, especially on the NFC side of the bracket. Jared Goff vs. Matthew Stafford? Dak Prescott vs. Jordan Love? Yes, please. Robert Mays and Chase Daniel dig into those... more

The college football season wrapped with a couple of contenders for QB4 in the 2024 NFL Draft making their closing arguments. Where might Michigan's J.J. McCarthy and Washington's Michael Penix end up on draft day? Plus, what are our early thoughts on the NFL... more

Before we fully turn our attention to the playoffs, we must celebrate all the greatness we saw in the regular season. Lamar Jackson for MVP! Tyreek Hill vs. Christian McCaffrey vs. CeeDee Lamb for Offensive Player of the Year. Micah Parsons vs. Myles Garrett... more

While 14 NFL teams get ready for the playoffs, the other 18 have turned their attention to the offseason. At least six teams among those 18 will spend the immediate future looking for a new head coach. Robert Mays and Dianna Russini discuss all the Black... more

The playoff field is set. Which Wild Card matchup can we not wait to see? Which potential matchup do we hope to get to see a couple weeks from now? Robert Mays and Nate Tice start getting pumped for the playoffs on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. more

In this week's Football GM edition Mike and Randy start their discussion with the College Football Championship match up. From there, the guys take a look at some of the big news around the league this week........David Tepper's incident, Dak Prescott on the... more

The Bills and Dolphins meet on Sunday night with the AFC East on the line. The Texans and Colts meet on Saturday night with a trip to the playoffs on the line. The Packers find themselves in a win-and-in situation when they face the Bears in the latest entry... more

In the final regular season edition of The Athletic Football Show's In The Pocket, Robert Mays and Chase Daniel discuss Joe Flacco's rebirth, whether they'd rather see Jordan Love or Geno Smith in the playoffs, how ownership affects players, and more.

Michigan and Washington advanced to the CFP National Championship Game with wins in the semifinals on New Year's Day. They did it on the strength of individual performances from players who will be in the 2024 NFL Draft, most notably Washington quarterback... more

Okay, NOW the playoff picture is starting to come into focus. And it all starts with the Ravens and 49ers, the respective 1-seeds in the AFC and NFC. But it was the Lions and Cowboys who played the game of the week in Week 17. That's where Robert Mays and Nate... more

In the Week 17 edition of Keefer and the Beats, The Athletic's Zak Keefer discusses Cleveland's surge with Zac Jackson, Baltimore's recent dominance with Jeff Zrebiec untangles Denver's mess with Russell Wilson, his contract and his murky future with the... more

As the regular season is nearing an end there are a lot of looming questions. Mike and Randy discuss these questions that present opportunities for teams to write their own legacy. Then the guys take a look at teams that could flip a switch heading into the... more

Our Thursday night series in 2023 started with the Lions upsetting the Chiefs in what proved to be a sign of things to come. It ended with the Browns clinching a playoff berth with a win over the Jets. Robert Mays and Nate Tice break down the latter on this... more

A lazy show description writer would tell you that the playoffs are starting to come into focus, mostly because that's what people say this time of year. But in 2023, the picture isn't exactly coming into focus. Sure, seven teams have clinched playoff spots,... more

Denver and Washington indicated through moves they made on Wednesday that they will be on the quarterback carousel in 2024. Who might join them? Who might avoid the ride? Robert Mays and Chase Daniel dig into that on this episode of The Athletic Football... more

The Game of the Season did not disappoint, especially if you're a Ravens fan. Robert Mays and Nate Tice kick off the Week 16 recap episode of The Athletic Football Show with the Ravens' big win over the 49ers, a matchup we very well could see again in the... more

In this week's edition of the Football GM Mike and Randy start their discussion on how the Rams are clicking on all cylinders. Then the discussion shifts to a look at a name that hasn't been thrown around in the upcoming NFL draft. After that the guys discuss... more

TAFS go LIVE on YouTube to break down the Los Angeles Rams' 30-22 victory over the New Orleans Saints, the offensive love affair happening in LA, and the lack-of-return New Orleans is getting on Derek Carr so far.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, alright. While some people would say that because of the holidays, others would say that because we get the Game of the Year on Monday night when the Ravens and 49ers get together in San Francisco. That's where Robert... more

Is the existing Trevor Lawrence narrative correct? Can the Lions win the Super Bowl with Jared Goff, if not this season then at some point in the near future? Robert Mays and Chase Daniel dig into those questions, and more, on this episode of The Athletic... more

January 1, 2024, brings not only the hope and excitement of a new year, but also the College Football Playoff semifinals. Nate Tice and Dane Brugler preview Michigan vs. Alabama and Washington vs. Texas with an eye, as always, on the prospects who will do most... more

We might be impatiently waiting for Michigan-Alabama and Washington-Texas, but there is plenty of college football goodness coming our way before we get to the Playoff. Nate Tice and Dane Brugler dig into the best of the non-playoff bowls from an NFL Draft... more

Keefer and the Beats, takes a west coast swing this week, starting with Daniel Popper's insight into the Chargers' firings. Then, Zak stays in Los Angeles to discuss how Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford have revived the Rams with Jourdan Rodrigue. Finally,... more

The Bills were one of the big winners of Week 15, and loom as one of the most dangerous teams in the AFC...if they can just get into the playoffs. Then there's the Ravens, who remained atop the AFC with a win over the Jaguars. That's where Robert Mays and Nate... more

The LA Chargers made the move to fire HC Brandon Staley - Mike and Randy discuss the somewhat not so surprise firing of Staley. From there - we focus on the Raiders team- record 63 points on TNF. After that - we observe some of the QB's around the league... more

Cowboys-Bills is the marquee game of the weekend, and with good reason. On one side, we have a Cowboys team that looks like one of the Super Bowl favorites, led by an MVP frontrunner. On the other, we have a Bills team that could make a deep playoff run, if... more

A couple of Justins are going to be among the most interesting characters this NFL offseason. First, how are the Chargers going to build around Justin Herbert to finally get the most out of him? Second, with the Bears likely to get the first overall pick in... more

It's the middle of December, the time when seemingly countless college football players are on the move. Some of those players are headed to the draft. Others are headed to new programs, via the transfer portal. Nate Tice and Dane Brugler dig into both groups... more

In the Week 14 edition of Keefer and the Beats, Zak Keefer digs into the Bengals' resurgence with Jake Browning at QB with Paul Dehner, Jr.; the Lions' late-season skid and the worries that are growing in Detroit with Colton Pouncy; and Zach Wilson's return to... more

The Cowboys? They're in first place in the NFC East. The 49ers? They now lead the entire conference. The Bills? They're right back in this thing. And the Wild Card races? Well, the Wild Card races stay wild. Robert Mays and Nate Tice dig into all the key Week... more

Mike and Randy take a look at a few things around the league starting with what needs to change in Pittsburgh......some of the things going on and off the field in Buffalo......and thoughts on the ownership level in the NFL. Lastly the guys get into the GM... more

The Dallas Cowboys host the Philadelphia Eagles with a ton on the line in the NFC. Plus, the Bills-Chiefs doesn't quite have the luster it once did, but why? The Rams offense looks to stay hot against the gauntlet of the Ravens defense, CJ Stroud vs. the Jets... more