The Pat McAfee Show Live | Friday January 30th 2026

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[music] our humble abode, the. Thunderdome on this glorious Super Bowl. season, feelgood Friday, January 30th, 2026. This program begins now. >> FOOTBALL IS MAGICAL. WE'RE NINE DAYS. away from the Super Bowl that has the. Seattle Seahawks favored by four and a. half in a battle against the New England. Patriots in Santa Clara, California as. the Patriots and Mike Frabel and Drake. May try to reclaim the NFL kingdom for. the New England Patriots fan base and.

the Seattle Seahawks alongside what. appears to be a football defensive. computer genius, Mike McDonald and Sam. Darnold in a resurgence of a career in. which a lot of people said that he was. pass. can bring the Lombardi back to the. Pacific Northwest, a place that is uh. used to having success, but didn't. expect to have this type of run this. early. Nobody could have. But what Sam. Darnold has done over the last two years. is better than damn near anybody in the. history of the game. What this McDonald.

fellow has done is become a defensive. guru. You know, McVey down there at the. Los Angeles Rams got a lot of people. jobs because they were offensive. geniuses. They knew the X's and O's. This guy got a gig with the Seattle. Seahawks after Pete Carol was relieved. of his duties and he is the defensive. guru super genius coordinator guy. That. is what everybody is looking for right. now if they hire a defensive coach is. this guy right here. His first ever team. meeting that he had at the Seattle. Seahawks first time being a head coach. He comes in, he says, "All right, I want. you guys all Most of this team is not.

going to be here. You know, it's. offseason still. There's training camp. This is the first day of a brand new. regime. Who knows who's going to. actually make it? Close your eyes. I. want you to envision NFC Championship. We're at home. It's 30. It's raining a. little bit. Shitty for them. Just right. for us. What happens? The exact. situation. He thought it was going to. happen in year one. Turns out it happens. in year two. And I don't think it's. slowing down. When you have a defensive. mind like that, they are going to make. your day miserable for the next 10, 15. years, it feels like. And on the. offensive side, Sam Darnold being. welcomed in there. I think $55 million.

guaranteed deal. He's obviously not the. highest paid quarterback in the NFL, but. is on a great deal for where he was in. his career. he might ask for more, he's. going to have 10 years in his career as. well. So, if the offense is going to get. taken care of and the defense is going. to be great, are the Seattle Seahawks in. the middle of maybe a next dynasty? And. then on the flip side, with Drake maybe. 23 and VRel with a chip on his shoulder. after getting fired basically from the. Tennessee Titans, are they going to be. great for the next 10 years? We're. potentially watching the beginning of. what the next decade or two could look. like in the NFL. And that's why nine. days from now, it's such a big deal.

There's going to be parts of the globe. that are watching football for the first. time all year. They're going to see his. 23-y old out of nowhere. What's this. thing? He was up for MVP this year. Whoa, that's crazy. That guy with the. big nose, large head to head. What? What. is that guy? He's a head coach. One on. the other. No. Yeah, he was. Yeah. Yep. >> Mhm. >> He's like a really good coach. Yeah, they they. >> How are they doing? Yeah. >> Not great. >> Yeah. [laughter] So, yeah. And then on. the other side, who's that guy? I never. seen him before. Defense coordinator. Ravens. Yeah. He was Yeah.

>> Like one year, maybe two years over. there, then he was gone. Nobody really. knew who the hell he was either. He's. really And then that guy, the other guy. is supposed to suck, right? Yeah. >> No. Yeah, he doesn't anymore actually. 14 win seasons, back toback years like. him, Tom, and like Montana, I think, or. something like that. >> Holy hell. Is this a new era? It feels. like it is. But this new era could very. much look like an older era. And I don't. know if that's a bad thing, but I. certainly know there are parts of the. country that are pumped up about it. Let's go to the toxic table at boss of. Connor, Ty Schmidt. Con man, nine days. away from potentially being the kings of. the castle yet again. How do you feel?

Are you getting more nervous? I woke up. this morning. I'm going to tell you this. and I haven't made an official pick. I'm. not making my official pick at this. moment. I have gone. >> both sides of the coin here on this. particular game. 69% of the bets now are. on the Seattle Seahawks minus four and a. half. We have certainly seen them. buzzsaw some people and look a lot. better on the offensive side of things. You know, the Patriots underdogs in the. Super Bowl. I think they feel good about. that particular case. But I've been on. both sides. Yeah, I can see the Seattle. Seahawks winning by at least touchdown. I mean, last year was a blowoff. >> So, who says that Super Bowl has to be a. good game? I mean, I can see and then I.

woke up this morning, Patriots plus four. and a half was never more clear in my. mind because although the Seattle. Seahawks might win because they do have. offensive firepower. I I mean Jackson. Smith and Jigba is outrageous. Kenneth. Walker looks a little bit like Levon. Bell whenever he's playing there. Sam. Darnold is playing outrageous, let alone. the other weapons that they have. I. think they have Yeah, you get it. But. nonetheless, I've woke up. I just feel. like a four and a half points uh game is. a little bit too big for what this New. England Patriots team does. I think if. the history tells us about the Patriots,

which it shouldn't because it's a brand. new era, but has a lot of similar faces, I guess, up there, >> it they're gonna make it ugly. So, like. four and a half feels like a lot, even. if the Seahawks are to win it. That's. where I'm at this morning. How do you. feel? And have you wavered in your. belief on what the game could look like. for this Patriots team? For you, >> I don't think I've wavered in my belief. I I feel confident. I this morning when. I woke up, I texted probably 10, 15. people say, "Hey, Patriots are going to. win this game. This this is crazy. because we are talking about it getting. ugly and I don't know if it will get. ugly. I think the Patriots offense.

doesn't get any respect because of the. last game and how it went and kind of. the maybe box scores of Drake May. But. when you think about scoring 21 points. on offense against a Texans defense that. that didn't happen to all year, I think. it's very possible for Drake May to have. kind of a master class kind of a oh you. thought that this was because of the. schedule. You think that I'm good. because of the teams that I'm playing. >> COULD YOU IMAGINE? I CAN I I I can. >> against this Seattle Seahawks defense. too with the things that now granted. that's the thing for Sam Darnold. He's. going to have to deal with this New.

England Patriots defense. And I think. some people maybe saw Sty have success. in one drive against this New England. Patriots defense and thinking to. themselves like Stumm was able to have. success. It was like yeah but what. happened immediately after Stumm had. success? It was like they figured it. out. that is the Patriots are doing what. they've done in their previous dynasty. which is just figure out what the hell. you're doing and uh kind of I mean it's. like a boa constrictor basically. throughout the rest of the game. That is. kind of how the Patriots defense has. been and they haven't been chated about. Texans defense talked about Seattle. Seahawks defense been talked about and I. think if you were to ask the.

quarterbacks on the other teams they. would say hey the Patriots defense. should be talked about a little bit in. this entire thing and Sam might have a. problem with that as well which is why I. think four and a half feels like too. that just feels like these are it feels. like that feels like a lot of points. with this Patriots defense. >> Yeah, no doubt about it. This would be. the best defense the Seahawks have. played in the playoffs and this will be. the worst defense the Patriots have. played in these playoffs. Like when you. think about that kind of perspective it. does change a little. I do think the. best bet would probably be the first. quarter under just because Drake hasn't. started out too hot even in the NFC or.

AFC Championship rather when the weather. was good. He just was a little shaky it. felt like and that is you know that's. 23-year-old secondyear quarterback. You. kind of expect that and then same thing. for Darnold. I expect the kind of. Patriots uh plan to be very very good uh. for us in that Super Bowl. >> Hambo that including the play uh. playoffs the Seahawks and Patriots are. only allowing 17.2 points per game this. season. That is the lowest average. entering the Super Bowl since Steelers. Packers which was 2009. 10.

>> 2009 season 2010. >> and turned out to be high scoring both. of those quarterbacks you know. >> 21 I believe or something like that 27. 21. Yeah. >> And that was the one Aaron Rogers put. right past Ryan Clark's head. >> Yeah. Greg Jennings. >> Yep. >> You watch that Rogers roam ever? I just. learned of this guy this year. [laughter]. >> Oh yeah. I just learned this guy. >> Same. Just just found this guy. >> Just learned of this Rogers uh Realm. fella at the Steelers game when he was. in full uniform. >> when they dapped up each other. >> Yeah. Not just him. All the boys came.

over to him. I'm like, "This guy's. awesome." Showing up in full uniform to. a game is obviously awesome. Incredible. You what? Guy's an athlete. >> Guy can really Guy can really spin it. He him pointing out the little tiny. gestures like, "Hey, he does this one a. lot." He's like, he he does do Yeah, there is a lot of those as he throws. this thing up. Shout out to Rogers Rum. He's been a good What's going on in. Pittsburgh? >> What do you mean? >> What's going on in Pittsburgh? Donner, you guys are one half of the hammer. down. >> Cowboys AP tone. Any final thoughts here. on the Super Bowl? Uh you talked about.

the the last time these two uh two. defenses this good played in the Super. Bowl. It did seemingly have a little bit. higher score than people could imagine. What are the bets kind of saying about. how the game is going to go right now? >> So Connor mentioned the first quarter. under um just to get that started off. there. Um the last 11 I believe are. averaging 6.6 points per Super Bowl game. in the first quarter and the overunder. for this one is 7 12 in the first. quarter. The first quarter under is. traditionally a very good bet for teams.

are coming out feeling each other out. Don't want to make mistakes stuff like. that. The total has gone from 46 and 1/2. to 45 even though majority of the bets. are on the over but there's you know. words of sharp money being on the under. for this game in general. the to or the. number has not moved off of four and a. half. Uh the graphic right there is. showing 70% of the bets are on Seattle. It is now down to 69%. We have ticked. down all week long. It started in the. mid70s on Seattle. That's just a recency. bias thing coming off of the. championship games. It's like okay, everyone's in on Seattle and then you.

get the stats that come out. Um and then. a lot of money starts coming on the. Patriots and I think it'll keep ticking. down as far as dogs go because of the. dogs are on a a historic run. Um, since. 2007 they are 11-7 outright. That's just. winning the game. Dogs have won 11 and. seven outright. Since 2007 they are 13-5. against the spread. They have covered. five straight. Have the dogs. So the. dogs are on a great run. So I think. we're going to keep seeing Patriots. money come in and that number is going. to come down. >> Okay. I like how much action comes on a.

Super Bowl, you know, cuz everybody like. sees it as a last opportunity to maybe. go have a uh some sort of something. Coin toss has been pretty uh wishy-washy. to me. >> Yeah. >> Seems like that's your best odd, you. know, when you go in in um uh roulette. red black feels like it's your best. odds, but then obviously they got zero. double zero. The green can hit. So. you're a little bit less than that. But. if you go in there red black feels like. you got a chance like a 50-50 shot. You. don't obviously they're going to skew. it. But in that whole thing, it does.

feel like you got a chance to really hit. that. Now, speaking of hitting that, >> I think Pit Pittsburgh Steelers got it. right. >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. >> We just mentioned the stat that Hembo. sent in there about the two defenses uh. averaging 17.7 points per game or. whatever. Uh that's the lowest average. entering the Super Bowl since Steelers. Packers, you know, which was 15.3. Two. really good defenses. One of those. defenses, Green Bay Packers defense, was. actually mentioned by the man who's. about to join us in a press conference. when he said, "We thought top five. defense won a Super Bowl." So, I. understand how good Super Bowls are for.

the entirety. Uh, man who grew up in the. great city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, then would go on to become a coaching. legend with stops in numerous places, coaching legends from all different. generations of the NFL. He has to be the. only human that has the head coaching. resume that he has. And in the history. of the NFL, whenever you talk about. organizations that are storied, uh, full. of tradition around a long time, and. obviously could be considered America's. teams, you would think the Dallas.

Cowboys, you think the Green Bay. Packers, and then obviously you think of. the Pittsburgh Steelers. A man who's. been the head coach of the Green Bay. Packers and the Dallas Cowboys, and now. the head coach of the Pittsburgh. Steelers, Yinszer legend, Super Bowl. champion Mike McCarthy. Hey coach, [laughter]. >> great to hear your voice again, Pat. [ __ ] I missed you guys. >> Hey, >> thank you for the great introduction. >> Hey, we missed you, too. Congratulations, man. Obviously, we. watched a presser where you couldn't. even get a word out. Okay, as you were.

rubbing your hands, you literally look. like every Pittsburgh dad out there go, "All right, bear with me here.". [laughter] And then you Yep, there it. is. Bear with me here. And then doing. the uh you put on front row D. It's kind. of unfair. like you were I think you. endeared yourself with a lot of people. around Pittsburgh because obviously we. have seen inexperienced humans like you. in the past and that was kind of your. reference point to why when you walked. in the building it felt like home. Why. do you think that you've held on this uh. great appreciation of our home city for. as long as you have? Because when AJ was.

with you in Green Bay he was like yeah. you walk into his office it was like all. Pittsburgh memorabilia basically and in. Dallas we assume it was the same thing. Why do you think you have so much pride. in the city of Pittsburgh? And why do. you think at this moment you are the. right guy to get the Steelers to where. they need to be for everybody in. Pittsburgh to be pumped and celebrating. that damn Lombardi? Coach, >> I mean, Pittsburgh is who we are. Pat, I. I think you wear it on your sleeve the. same way. You you don't wear sleeves. because you're always working, you know, doing biceps and [ __ ] but [laughter].

>> Yeah. Thank you. I appreciate There you. go. There you go. But um put them away. No, I just I think it's a big part of. who we are and it's um and just. everywhere everywhere I go here. I mean, just to drive across the hot metal. bridge to work every day and you know. and I remember, you know, J&L still. being there as a kid and and now what. it's what it's turned into. But um yes, I think it's like anything in life, you. know, we're in an industry where you're. competing uh to win each and every day. and and who you are and where you come.

from is important. And uh so I've always. been very very proud to be from. Pittsburgh and specifically you know my. neighborhood of Greenfield. >> Yeah. And we are all proud that you're. from Pittsburgh as well as fellow. Yenszers. You getting the Steelers. coaching job though as a Yer, you. understand what that comes with? Very. high expectation and very passionate. fans. What was the conversation like. with Con with ownership whenever you're. getting interviewed for the job? And how. do you I mean I guess everywhere you're.

at there's high expectation, but how do. you kind of regulate the expectation. outside the building while trying to. figure out what you're trying to do. inside the building? >> Yeah, I mean I I think it's just like. anything you you know you have to be. aware and obviously we got we have a. great you know [snorts] PR department. here with with Bert and um so I mean you. have the responsibility to you know make. sure you're you know delivering the. message of of the direction of the. football team. Uh but it's my. responsible responsibility to show up. here every day and win and and that's. just the way I've always gone about it.

about it cuz you know this is a a 12. month job that you have to you know. there's always something to do. There's. always a video to watch. There's always. a conversation to have. There's there's. always things that you know as far as. your planning and and getting ready for. the for the next day because at the end. of the day you're you're guaranteed 17. games. you know, you're guaranteed 17. games, have the opportunity to get to. the tournament and hopefully playing in. the game that's being played this week. So, um, and I just think the simplistic. everyday bluecollar approach, uh, served.

me well and I obviously learned it here. in Pittsburgh. >> Yeah, perfect for Pittsburgh. I think. Yenszers are pumped to hear about it. Let's talk about the team that you're. going to have. You said that's Omar's. job. Good play by you, by the way. I. like that. And then also I appreciate. whenever you guys were asked to talk. about each other's experience uh with. each other I think with the Saints or. whatever. Uh you let Omar go first and. you said because if Omar says you can. smack him or something like that. It. feels like you two very close. Let's. talk about that relationship a little. bit. And then also the team going.

forward because a lot of people said. hiring you was basically a signal from. the Steelers. It's like hey we're not. rebuilding this thing. We are still. where we are. Is that the vibe you get, the sense you get? And how does team. construction go here until we kick off. the next season for you? >> Yeah, definitely. I mean, if you look, you look at the opportunities this year, you look at the roster. I mean, this is. not a, you know, this is not a start. over, you know, opportunity at all. I. think that's clear. I mean, it's a. football team that was, you know, in the. playoffs last year. So, it's a it's a to.

categorize it, it's a playoff playoff. roster. So, but, you know, just like. anything, you got the financial, you. know, realm that you're dealing with. every every year. you know, the the free. agents on your or your own football. team. To me, that's that's always the. primary focus. So, uh we're definitely. starting to have those conversations uh. as we continue to hire the staff. Staff. is the primary focus right now because. that's a you know, a lot of work and you. know, timing time that goes into that. Um but yes, this this is a roster I'm. excited about and um you know, we'll.

just you know, once again, take it one. day at a time and make sure we're ready. for free agency, make sure we're ready. for the draft. You know, we got a bunch. of draft picks. Uh, so this will be a. hell of a draft class. >> Drafts in Pittsburgh, too. We might be. asking you to work. I guess you could. pass I guess you could pass it up this. year. You know, last year you were great. on draft analysis. I want to let you. know. Amazing. >> Amazing on there. [laughter]. >> I had a great point guard. Yeah, I had a. great point guard. So, yeah. >> A lot of notes. >> Wow. Great team. >> He had a lot of notes. You had a lot of. notes. I was asked about that and I was.

like this most prepared guy we have had. that that we have worked with and. >> we got quoted Galileo you know I didn't. think a lot of people you know would. really have that in the Mike McCarthy. bag before it came out here if you would. didn't play for a Mike McCarthy team. Now I I did mention that. Now you. mentioned in there uh staff hiring. Okay. It seems like some's coming. together. Go ahead Tone. >> Congrats coach first and foremost. Uh. it's awesome that this happened. Um, but. yeah, staff hiring obviously you talked. about is a huge deal. I don't think.

anything's official yet, but but there's. there's been names out there. Patrick. Graham, James Campin, Jarry Evans, Scotty Scotty Tolene, all those uh seem. like they'd be awesome hires. How is the. staff coming together and what are you. looking for uh in a staff specifically? >> I I think the biggest thing I mean you. have to have a level of experience and. expertise as far as you know competing. in this league. I think that's something. that that I really value a lot, you. know, having an opportunity to to put, you know, staffs together in the past.

Uh, so as you do that, but I'm also. looking for, you know, some younger, you. know, energetic um, you know, coaches. that al also fit to, you know, the. direction of what we're doing. So, I. mean, [snorts] it's hard not to hire, you know, 17 coaches, coaching staffs. from Pittsburgh cuz I mean, it seems. like half the league's from Pittsburgh, but, you know, so that's that's always. always a challenge, but really just. making it fit together. Uh, that's. that's really my focus right now. >> AQ Shipley, you know, I know I AQ.

Shipley, you know, he he's gets the urge. to get out of ship, you know, he would. have to zoom call in. I think he's a. little bit too comfortable out there in. Phoenix, you know. Uh cold as hell there. in Pittsburgh. Obviously nothing. Yeah. Yeah. Welcome back. >> Yeah. I mean, I've never seen snow like. this. This has been a long time. >> since uh this this city's been hit with. a snowstorm like this. >> How many inches? >> I think 10 inches. Yeah. 10 in the city. I mean, you know, a lot of side streets. are just getting cleared. So, >> was that 94 blizzard? When was the.

blizzard in Pittsburgh? >> 93. >> 93. 93. There was one uh when I think I. don't know if you were a senior in. college or I was a senior in college 200. >> 9 8 10 somewhere around there that was. >> yeah they talk about 2010 I think it was. the one. >> last time I had one this big. >> well I mean especially with the way. Pittsburgh is constructed it's like well. where the hell is the snow going to. gohere and yeah there's nowhere Yeah. it's just all going to sit on top let's. get warm let's get our hey let's get. flamethrowers out there I think that's. really the only option you have at this. point but let's talk about you dealing.

with frozen tundra in the past. Ty. Schmidt obviously uh is one of your. biggest fans. I think he's pumped you to. the Steelers. >> Yeah, I'm absolutely pumped and I I let. coach know. I texted him and said, "Hey, you know, no nothing wrong with having. to uh root on the Steelers in the AFC. I'm I'm happy with doing that." But. coach, you kind of alluded to this a. little bit in your opening press. conference. last time you had a year. off, you basically said like, "Yeah, it. was a year off, but you know, you were. doing the McCarthy project in your barn. with a couple of your buddies, you know,

like with the intention of, hey, I I. want to stay in the game and I kind of. want I I want to get another head. coaching opportunity as quick as. possible." Last year, with actually. having a year off and, you know, joining. us once a week, did did you learn. anything about yourself in terms of like. your philosophy or how you might change. things this time around? like how did. actually taking a year off maybe make. you a better or a different coach moving. forward? >> Uh I think this year uh was was clearly.

you know the appreciation you know for. the time with family which obviously you. know the you know being grateful for an. incredible career that I had to the to. the point and and was very comfortable. you know with that time with my family. So, I I just think the the biggest thing. is, you know, the appreciation about. being around the people you love and um. and I love coaching. You know, I miss. the locker room. Uh I missed the staff. meetings. I miss game plan days on. Tuesday. So, all the little things that.

you're able to take, you know, sit back. and think about and then to get this. opportunity with the Steelers, you know, I I just, you know, frankly, I felt like. it was meant to be. Uh, but I would just say just just. appreciation for, you know, this great. life that good Lord has blessed me with. >> Little perspective, huh? Give you a. little perspective there whenever you. step away for a little bit. >> Oh, absolutely. No, absolutely. And, you. know, it's uh the time that I've had. with the kids has has been remarkable. It's, you know, it's really the only. time as a, you know, as a as a head.

coach that, you know, it's, you know, I. feel like I'm a better father today than. I definitely was a year ago. So, and. that's a and and I thank you guys cuz. you guys kept my head in the game, you. know, so I was able to talk football. once a week with you guys, you know, break down the Thursday Thursday night. game. So, you know, I was able to stay. in it enough. But, uh, I just had great. quality family time this year. >> We love to hear that. Anytime somebody's. p uh perspective has changed in a. positive way where you appreciate. everything more, that is seems like a. good life event. Uh, and you didn't pick.

the games obviously because you know. obviously what but if you were to. >> Yeah, STILL PRETTY SHORT. >> GUY PRETTY GOOD. Guy wasn't sticking. with the game. Guy was sticking with the. game for sure. My no ball a little bit. Uh, okay. Speaking of knowing ball, you've coached a lot of legends. Lot of. legends. I mean, there there there's a. lot of names being thrown that have been. in the same, you know, building as you. that have basically built ball in this. entirety. So, I think that's something. that's exciting that people are learning. about your history with quarterbacks. But there's certainly one that has a lot. of conversation right now. Go ahead, Con.

man. >> Yeah, coach, congrats again. It's cool. to see you back in Pittsburgh and how. much it means to you. Um, one of the. first questions you had at your press. conference was about Aaron. Have you. been able to talk to Aaron Rogers at. all? Has there been any dialogue with. him just about next year? I saw a lot of. people kind of linking Aaron with James. Camp, the offensive line coach that you. guys are bringing in with uh, you know, his time from Green Bay. But has there. been any more dialogue with that? Has it. strictly been kind of just about Will. and Mason because they are definitely on.

the roster or have you actually been. able to reach out and uh kind of have a. initial back and forth with Aaron? Uh yes, I I I've definitely I've spoken. to Aaron a number of times, but you. know, I I think just like anybody that's. that played the game a long time, particularly at this point of their. career, I mean, it's important to get. away and and so that's a normal process. that, you know, I think it's important. for all the all these players to. decompress and step away from the. season. And that's really the mindset. that he's in. And and that's really.

about as far as our conversations have. gone as far as if he's coming back or. not coming back. So, uh, I think it's. important for him to, you know, do do. the things that, you know, he he. normally does just to just to step away. and to make those decisions. But, you. know, this, you know, you're talking. about every player on the roster. I. mean, I'm obviously [snorts] it's a. constant, uh, as far as the. communication between Omar and I, and. he, you know, he always has the, you. know, the roster board open in his. office. So, you know, we're talking. about these players a number of times a.

day just, you know, make sure that I'm. getting familiar with them and, you. know, we're just continuing to have. conversation about the direction we want. to go. >> How do you feel about the whole. building? You know, obviously, uh, name. game and everything is what it is, you. know, and studying faces and I believe. we sent over at the beginning to you. I. think names, faces, the whole thing. I I. think that is something that happens uh. in some places. How is the building? Do. you is there familiar faces in that. building or are you learning everything. as you go right here? >> I mean, I'm learning everything as I go, but it's, you know, this building hasn't.

had any change in 19 years. You know, it's funny cuz uh I was talking to Mike. Tom on the phone the other day and, you. know, he didn't spend he he operated out. of a different office and I think the. furniture was, you know, it's still. there from Bill Cow. So, so we us three. have had a laugh about the furniture, but so I'm getting new furniture. So. that that's a good gig [laughter]. because you know it's it's been there. for decades. Uh but no, it it's awesome. Uh it's right on the river here. I look.

out my window, you know, right across. right across the rivers is is is where I. grew up, you know, in the neighborhood. of Greenfield. So, um it it's super. cool. But yeah, learning the names and. and frankly at night it takes me it. takes me a while to get down the hall. just looking at all the great teams from. the past and and so forth. And you know, it's just it's it's really, you know, you're reliving your childhood all over. again. So, with the six Super Bowl. trophies right at the top of the steps. and so forth. So, super cool facility. You know, it's all football. >> That's awesome. I'm happy to hear that.

about a Yinszer walking in the. Pittsburgh Steelers building and just. being like, "Holy hell, what a time. I. remember where I was when this happened. Oh, my mom and dad are going to love to. see this. Hey, you see this?" You know, as they're walking around with you. I. mean, it's like a museum you're working. in. And I appreciate the fact you. changed over the couches and the. furniture from Coward. There was. something that uh I don't know if coach. Coward told us. He definitely told us, but I don't know how many other places. he told. So I don't want to act like we. broke the news or he told it to us. specifically, but he said he uh he left. two beers for Mike Tomlin in the fridge.

whenever uh coach Tomlin took over the. job. He said I don't I think him and. coach null I don't know if they had a. relationship or not. And Bill Cower said. he wasn't like him and Tomlin he was not. dropping in on him every day. Hey, this. is your team now. But he left him two IC. lights, I guess, in the fridge. Was. there anything left for you uh in the. building? Or have you found anything. that has been left for you yet in the. building? >> Well, Bill, Bill and Mike have have been. awesome um you know, through this. experience, but I I think Mike must have.

drank him [laughter] because I. But I'm sure Mike and I will catch up. down the road here and have a couple. ourselves. So, >> okay, that's it's all good. >> That's awesome. Well, coach, I. appreciate you joining us. Congratulations on the gig. I know there. was uh obviously some loudness outside. the building in Pittsburgh before uh. your press conference. Immediately. afterwards, everybody learning who you. were a little bit more. People were. like, "We love this guy. We're happy. he's back." Not everybody. Obviously, it's Pittsburgh. You know how that's. going to go. [laughter] But like it.

feels like everybody's excited and. rallied, man. We hope you do amazing. things. >> Oh, thank you. And hey, anytime. It's. always great seeing the gang. And we got. some great swag over here and I I know. how much you guys like like Black. So. we'll make sure we we'll send you some. So. >> he gets it. Yeah. >> Hey, where's AJ today? I know AJ. >> Second hour, Mike. Come on, coach. >> Sleeping still. [laughter]. >> Yeah. Second hour, coach. He comes in in. second hour. So yeah, he probably is. sleeping, right? You know how he is. Snoozing all the time. You know, he's.

just. >> Hyper bear chamber. >> That is probably accurate. Yeah, exactly. Oh, you're the man, ladies and. gentlemen. The head coach of the. Pittsburgh Steelers, >> Mike McCarthy. Yeah, coach. >> Good for him, man. >> Yeah. Unreal. >> Cuz when we went and did game day back. there and I was just walking through. like the stadium in the sweets, you just. see like pictures of your childhood. It's like, oh my god, >> Lloyd with the the big the. >> Greg Lloyd. Yeah. >> His uh face mask. There was like a photo.

where his turn. He had those big ass. remember those obnoxious. >> Oh yeah. nose bar. >> duck face mask. Yeah. It was just like. the ridiculous times. And then there's. pictures like Troy Paul and Malu. whenever he was young, you know, because. he played for a while, you know, and a. lot of people saw him at the end where. amazing it was. But when he was young in. Palamalu was coming into the city first. and he was doing this absurd [ __ ] Just. like absolutely absurd [ __ ] It was like. a young photo of him flying. You like. think to yourself like, "Oh, I. remember." You got little young Ben and. then Neil O'Donnell's spinning one. It's. like, "Holy hell, Cordell Stewart's in.

there. It's like, whoa, I remember this. entire thing.". >> They need a little bit more fu matuma. follow love. Okay, Chris was a dog. Chris was an absolute dog. Obviously, Busy does his entire thing. Hines word. It's like as you walk through, they do a. good job of reminding you like, hey, yeah, ball here. This is kind of what we. do. Same furniture from cars there. something. That's certainly something. >> Drew Tomlin, he's going to get some new. furniture. But it was cool to hear that. he has been talking to Coach Cower and. Coach Tomlin. Um because we've talked. about multiple times this year like.

those games where all the players come. back. Big Mike's gonna keep that going. Like that's part of the pro of hiring. someone who gets the organization and. who was born and raised there. He's not. going to change it where he's like, "Oh. yeah, you pass players can't come back. This that's not how we do it here." Like. that's going to still be a staple. Which. is something that I think is pretty. cool. >> Yeah, I think it's very cool. That's. part of the coolness of the Pittsburgh. Steelers building. What do you say about. Aaron there? Hey, Aeron's doing his own. thing. Doing is that what he's saying? He's doing his normal stuff. >> Yeah, just kind [clears throat] of a. waiting game. You know, he's doing his. normal stuff. Who knows what that means?

I think if we all we can all think of. something different when it comes to. Aaron doing his normal stuff in the. offseason, but I do think based on there. not being kind of like a finite, hey, I'm done after this year. I kind of. think that he's going to come back and. play for coach Mike. Yeah, I think I. just assumed especially when you know. and again none of us were in there so we. don't know how true the reports came out. but like he was gutted when you know. Tomlin got or didn't get fired but when. Tomlin you know said he was stepping. down and I think if it would have just.

stayed that way and it would have been a. different head coach I think it probably. would have been pretty easy for him to. just be like you know what I am done but. then when McCarthy gets hired as a head. coach I think he's probably like you. know what like if if there was one guy. who I would maybe consider coming out of. retirement to come play for it'd be this. guy. >> delaying retirement. Exactly. Yeah. And. Mike McCarthy and he obviously have had. great success in the NFL whenever they. were at the Green Bay Packers. Different. time, different era, different NFL, I. would say. 9855 and one in the regular.

season, eighth most wins by a tandem, 9-7 in the playoffs, tied seventh most. wins by a tandem. He would certainly. understand what uh everybody would want. to have happen. His offensive line coach. he loves from Green Bay, Campy just got. hired. He uh in New York Jets hard. knocks against Carolina Panthers joint. practice. Aaron Rogers basically walks. through the Carolina Panthers team like. right through their sideline. Wild move. He was he was the only Jets guy over. there on a beline directly to this guy.

and then he started talking [ __ ] to him. immediately. It's like oh these two are. very close. It appears he is now the. offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh. Steelers. So, it's like a lot of. familiar faces, especially if Scotty. Toline, who is the uh former backup. quarterback of Aaron Rogers, is. potentially getting an offensive. coordinator interview. He was down with. Kelly Mo down with the Saints. It's like. there's a Yeah, there's Aaron finding. him in the middle. Look, that's Carolina. Panthers practice. Aaron just walked his. ass right into it's like I don't think. that's normal. Now, granted, he's Aaron. Rogers. So, everybody in the league is. like, >> "What up, dude?".

>> Yeah, we've watched you and you're wild. I assume a lot of people are like, "You're wild, man." But you are uh cuz. every player and coach has respect for. Aaron Rogers. Like no matter what he. says or how he does, there's a lot of. people that hold a lot of things that. have happened or he has said or maybe. things that are narratives that have. been said or built about Aaron that make. them hate Aaron Rogers, you know, like. there is and Aaron Rogers certainly is. uh Mount Rushmore quarterback in the. history of the NFL. So he's going to. draw a lot of attention to begin with. So whenever he's not normal, there's. going to be people that think. differently about him. But everybody in.

ball respects him and appreciates him. That's why I think anytime you hear. anybody in Bald talk about Aaron Rogers. like if Aaron Rogers wants to come play. I think we'll give him a shot. Like I I. think we would get just because. everybody in the locker room is like we. got Aaron Rogers as a quarterback. Like. that is and I think that was a big part. of the exit interviews from my. understanding with the Pittsburgh. Steelers is a bunch of the OGs met with. Khan and met with Rooney and everything. like that on their way out and they were. asked I guess do you think Aaron Rogers. could still play winning football? And. they were all like yeah we think Aaron. could definitely do it. And that's just.

like how I think the Pittsburgh Steelers. building feels about Aaron. Now, how do. Pittsburgh Steelers fans feel. >> about Aaron coming back? How does media. I heard Danovski say? >> Oh, yeah. >> Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers would be. a worst the worst decision of all time. Of all time, I think like something like. that. It's like that's a fascinating. take because are you destined to. potentially just finish in the same spot. which is what everybody's saying. Aaron. coming back to play for the Steelers. with Mike McCarthy. >> is like [clears throat] uh seems like.

the most likely outcome. >> Yes, >> it feels like the most likely outcome, but I don't know if everybody has kind. of wrapped their minds around that being. an actual thing or I don't know how. everybody kind of views it. >> Yeah. And I mean you like when things. ended how they ended in Green Bay and. there was a lot of uh conjecture and. discussion about him and Big Mike's. relationship when Big Mike got fired and. Aaron was still there and all that kind. of stuff. But like a after that all. happened and he let like he has nothing. but good things to say about that entire.

staff, that entire regime. So, I just. think it's one of those things and who. knows like you know the comfortability. he has with that offense like again you. know the last several years after he's. left Green Bay really ever since Laflur. came in it's kind of been like marrying. what he likes to do along with whoever. the new person's system and it's kind of. trying to you know like does it take. eight weeks or however long to kind of. find that sweet spot like he doesn't. have to do that anymore he knows exa he. knows exactly what big Mike wants to do. and big Mike knows exactly what he likes.

to do. >> well on that note Big Mike when he was. talking about the Pittsburgh Steelers uh. season with us I think on draft night. and then uh maybe not draft night. because he wasn't on the team yet. Had. to be maybe early weeks when Mike. McCarthy was coming on or whatever. He. goes in this game you look at stats cuz. he's big stats oriented guy too. A lot. of people don't think that because he's. Yinser or whatever. He goes you look at. the numbers like it's going to come down. to a drive in the fourth quarter. And he. said there's nobody else in football. that I would want to have the ball in. the fourth quarter than Aaron Rogers. with a a last second drive or whatever. And I think he said that because he.

understands Aaron. Aaron has his ability. and I think it's why people um can maybe. throw uh a lot of rocks at his stats and. [ __ ] First couple quarters like Aaron. Rogers is very okay like if he throws it. [ __ ] eight times maybe six times he's. running he's trying to figure out what. you're doing. He is trying to understand. everything that your defense is doing. That's kind of his thing. He's like a. computer. So then third, fourth quarter, the reason why big Mike McCarthy has so. much faith in him, it's like by fourth. quarter, Aaron Rogers has got this. defense figured out. He understands what.

we're doing. So anything I call, he. knows what we're going to need. We're. going to be able to have success. There's no way with how Aaron looked at. the end of whenever they were running. good there that Mike McCarthy is going. to change that mindset. Who else is. going to be better than Aaron Rogers. that we're going to be able to get in. here? I assume Mike McCarthy, who's. always been a fan of Aaron publicly. I. we don't know how it ended privately, but we know publicly both men have. certainly said very positive things. about each other on our show and to. people we know. It's like what if they. do say, "Hey, let's do it one more run. on this thing. We both get buried kind.

of, you know, hey, we both need to win. another one.". >> Doing that together, that's a movie. That is a movie in the city of. Pittsburgh, too, with Mike McCarthy. doing it all. But I think Steelers fans. are having a hard time buying in that. the movie is going to end. >> with a Super Bowl. Instead, it's going. to end with the 13th overall pick again. when it would be nice to maybe end up. with the top three pick so we can get a. organizational changer uh at the top of. the which is kind of how Steelers fans. feel. >> Yeah, they are they're yearning for. change after the whole Tomlin um run.

They are yearning for change. Uh and. then Big Mike didn't help when he said. that he loves Will Howard in the uh. press conference. So now, um, I think a. lot of Steelers fans are yearning for. Will Howard next season, and it goes two. ways. He's either good and he's your. future, or it's really, really bad, and. you're set up in a good spot for the. next draft where, you know, things can. change a lot. Um, but it's supposed to. be a really good quarterback draft. >> It would be a hilarious experience to do.

an NFL season with Yenszers. And I don't. know if enough people know about. Yenszers. I think we have brought some. spotlight to Yenszers uh in a more. national way and I would like to say. it's an incredible honor for for that to. happen but Yenszers are an incredibly. passionate bunch and boy if they lose. faith they're they're good at. shit-talking them losing the faith in. you you know so an entire season of. Yenszers having to ride the wave of. understanding like hey we're trying to. be bad right now we're trying to be bad. right now. Yeah, right. That would be.

the loudest, most miserable tried tank. job in history. No matter what happens. next year, if it's not a successful. season, it's going to be loud for Big. Mike's ass. And he understands that. All. he wants to do is just win ball games. out. So, and you see what Liam did, you. see what Fra did, you see what Ben. Johnson did, you see these very quick. success stories for these coaches. And. it's like Pittsburgh is definitely going. to be Will Hired, Mason Rudolph, they. got Diego Pavia playing quarterback. Steelers fans are going to say it's your. Corbin win. This is this is what you.

need to do. And if not, if they end up. right in the middle of the pack again, it's going to be like, Rooney, you're. the dumbest. You Why would you even do. that? That is possible. >> Yes, it is. >> McCarthy knows all of that cuz his. family has told him all of these things. already about potentially another coach. they were going to hire that is similar. to him. So, he knows exactly how these. people, the inras are. And I think the. fact that he's still signed up for it. and like, "Yeah, I'm supposed to be this. guy." It feels like it's set up to be. that. I'm happy for him. I hope it works. out. They want a Super Bowl. That would. be that would be a fairy tale movie.

That' be a fairy tale movie if they're. able to do that. >> Well, and I think from a fan. perspective, it's easy to say that. But. like when it is a city like Pittsburgh. or New England or Green Bay or something. like that, like when you live and die. with what the team does on Sunday, like. no one is okay with just punting a. season. You want you want to watch your. team get their ass beat or get beat. every single week? No. because there's. no guarantee that you're going to get. the next guy. Like Connor got lucky. There's a chance the Patriots go through. that. They have that terrible season and. then what happens if you don't get Drake.

May or Yeah. or Vel. It's like okay well. we just threw away this season and now. what? We have to throw away another one. And then you're looking at it and it's. like before you know it, you've thrown. three years of your fandom away where. you're watching every single game, every. second of it. And it's like you can only. do that for so long where you're. watching your team get their ass beat. every week. >> Yeah. And that's why some people just. decide to win all the time. >> Exactly. That's good. >> And whenever you decide to win all the. time, you stay committed to everything. that needs to be done. You know, obviously you're in the best shape of. all time. Obviously, you're the best.

talker, got to be the best looker, got. to be the toughest, you know, got to be. the smartest. Businessly got. business-wise, got to be savvy. But. there's only some people in the history. of mankind that are able to attain all. of those things. Joining us now is a man. who is somehow able to accomplish all of. that and still has more to do. Ladies. and gentlemen, I believe he is in. tomorrow's Royal Rumble 200 p.m. Eastern.

on ESPN. >> Unlimited. >> Our tribal chief, the only tribal chief, Roman Reigns. >> Yeah. [screaming]. >> What a what an artist. What What a. transition. Yeah. Only only you. You. know what I mean? That's why you're the. man. That's why they pay I was going to. say us. And it is true. It is us. But. it's about you right now. That's why. they pay you the big bucks. >> No, we we we. But yes, we did go from a. team punting on a season to a man who's.

never punted on anything. You know, a. man who takes everything serious. That. is why you have climbed yourself to the. top of an industry that only a few have. been to the top of. You have obviously. taken the top of a mountain and raised. its altitude somehow to a whole another. level and now it appears as if we are on. the hunt back to the top of said. mountain. What is tomorrow look like for. Roman Reigns? Uh obviously I don't know. this vision crew, you know, I don't like. I don't like what they got going on.

Okay, they're already talking about. being a team in there and beating the. hell out of everybody. What is the plan. tomorrow? I know you're smarter than. everybody. Are we winning this thing? And should we be confident in saying our. tribal chief is. back? >> I didn't come all the way out here for. nothing. You know what I mean? This is a. long from Miami. This is a long travel. day. So, >> um yeah. I mean, I I haven't been able. to pull this off [snorts] in what over. 10 years now. For the longest I felt.

like I was like the gatekeeper, the. runnerup guy. >> [snorts]. >> um you know, they would spam me and and. try to get that big pot for the baby. face or whatever. But, um I don't know. This feels like me. It feels like me. And and I think there's so many. different, you know, fingers and and. different signs pointing to this. I. think we're at a place where our fans. are demanding more. You know what I I. set us up, I put us in position, you. know, to to be fulfilled in the promised. land, to be in a position to break.

records and make ungodly amount of. money. Um, and we're at that point that. our fans are craving that. So, and and. they already know it's a proof of. concept with me. They know what they're. getting with me. >> Man, those were the good old days, weren't they? Not too long ago, Roman. Those are good old days, weren't they? >> It was a good time, man. But we can't. rest on the on the past. I mean, literally, you know what I mean? when. you have a hell of a run like that, I I. could just sit and rest on my laurels. and and just let the dump truck continue. to let that money flow. But I want to I.

want to push, man. I I I have four sons. My daughter, you know, she's just. entering adulthood. I want to continue. to uh create a shadow, a mountain so big. they'll never get out of my shadow. You. I want to make it tough for them because. they're privileged children. You know, your children are going to be the same. way. Um so we have to create obstacles. We have to create this adversity for. them. Why not do it through my success? You know what I mean? >> Yeah. Goat talk real quick. Yeah. Just, hey, this is what's happening in this. family. This is what's possible. Okay. In this bloodline, right? This is the.

opportunity. You're going to have to. work your ass off for it. Speaking of, we just showed some clips of you walking. out there. Hey. >> Hey. >> Hey. How do we feel right now? What's. the Where are we at? What weight wise? Because we've seen a couple different. We've seen Powerhouse and then we've. seen like uh Shredded Little Quicker. Still Powerhouse. But you know what? what Roman is uh entering the Rumble. tomorrow. >> Well, that's good. And we're always. strong, no matter that's just genetics. that you and that's from a lot of work. That's compounded time in the gym. So,

we're always strong. Um but yeah, we can. always come in a little tighter. It just. depends. This is the Royal Rumble. You. know, the objective of the game is to. not get thrown out. So, you want to have. a good low center of gravity. You got to. be able to squat down and hold on to. that rope if need be. Um but it's the. same for me. Wreck everybody and leave. the Jets going to be fired up, ready to. get me up out of here. Uh, but yeah, I. mean, I've been working. We We're coming. off of uh winter break, you know what I. mean? October Fest, right into holiday.

season. So, you know, we we've been. grinding it out. But I'm a human, you. know what I mean? >> Football season stuff. >> But we we look all right. We'll look all. right. But we going into Mania. That. That's the beauty of this is we have so. much time to Mania. So, we're just going. to cruise right in and be comfortable. >> Okay. Where are you right now? Is that. room gym? I assume you just live in the. in the place where you're just only. going to get greater all the time. I. assume hyperbaric chambers right over. yonder. I assume you know we got a. couple. >> You must have heard we got all that down. here. Yeah, they they got it set up. The. gym here's special. They got cold tub.

They got infrared sauna. They got. normatex and red light. You're missing. it, man. Yeah. Yeah. Riad's not messing. around this time. >> But yeah, I've I've already been to the. gym twice today. I'm going to go back. later uh to trying to grind it out. before I go to bed to to wear myself. down. Um but yeah, that's what it is. We're on three days now. Full camp type. mode, you know what I mean? Getting. ready. So, it it we'll we'll bring in a. solid package tomorrow night, you know, a winning package, but then at main it's. going to get it's going to get. ridiculous.

>> What time is it over there right now? What is the time difference? >> It's uh tribal chief time. [laughter]. Come on now. No, it's uh it's almost 9. So it's it's a it's AP time. Black. ceramic. That's what time it is. [laughter]. >> Oh yeah. Yeah. Obviously. Keep living. Keep living. Okay. We found out via a. random FaceTime the other day about an. entrant in Royal Rumble. Go ahead, Con. man. >> Yeah, my trial chief. I acknowledge as. always. Um but yeah, Brock Lesnar being. in the Rumble. That was news to us, news.

to you perhaps. Um is there any plans. with Brock that you have? Is there a uh. possibly a you and Brock together kind. of take out the vision, take out the. wise man's boys after he kind of threw. you guys aside, you threw him aside and. of course the the tribal thief. I hate. this guy because of what he's doing in. the, you know, word puns he's doing. Do. you guys have specific plans or do you. have a specific plan with Lesnar uh in. the Rumble tomorrow?

>> I'm still caught up on the fact that. Brock knows how to work FaceTime. I. mean, You know what I mean? That's like. a hello. [laughter]. >> You know what I mean? Like I'm just. That's tripping me. I didn't even know. he had a phone. [laughter]. You know what I mean? Like I thought it. was like old school. You had to call the. farm and then like that [laughter] the. the farm hand would come and then he. would go to the like lead farm guy and. then you know what I mean? Like. [laughter]. >> uh so I I'm surprised he even works the. farm. But no, there's no way I can. there's no way I can work with Brock. I.

mean he he's one of my greatest rivals. I can't trust that guy. He was literally. just competing with uh all the Vision. Boys and all them. And I mean, talk. about a group who just. >> say it. >> Talk about the name. You They don't know. what they're doing. They don't know. where they're going. They They can't see. clearly at all. Um Vision's [snorts]. probably the that's that's a Seth. Rollins word. They probably need to have. a rebranding right now. But there's a. lot of young talent there. Um you know, and they're physically impressive. Even.

Logan, you know what I mean? someone who. wasn't a professional athlete or, you. know, a D1 guy. He He's a hell of an. athlete. He He Hey, he was popping me. though with the He was just flexing. >> on the show. Yeah. Unbelievable. Me, too. He He would see himself. >> flexing it up, man. I was like, "What. this? What's going on here?" Yeah, he. was feeling it. But, um, but he's a hell. of a personality. Uh, Bronson Reed, he's. confused. He should already be. acknowledging the tra. He should just. bow down to Caesar is what he should do. and align properly. He's confused, but.

sometimes that happens. Um, >> tsunami. >> and then breaker. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I imagine if I had that at my. disposal just, you know what I mean? >> Right to the top. He would go, too. He. would go. >> We'll find Yeah, we we would find every. type of balcony. We could drop him off. and kill everybody. It would be great. >> Yeah. [laughter] Yeah. Bron Breaker, I. heard. >> Maybe one day. Maybe one day I I will. wield the sword of the tribal thief. Who. knows? Maybe he maybe he'll be taking. direction one day. But we we got a lot. of uh we got a lot of uh footage to.

climb. We we're not there yet. >> I you mentioned Bron Breaker before I. stopped you there and I apologize for. that cuz you know the dogs are barking. in Riad. We were watching this morning. at the uh the pre-show Michael Cole uh. hosted out there. Dogs are barking in. Riad. Braun Breaker Paul Heymon has said. uh going to be Wrestlemania I believe. next year, a year after that, year after. that, year after that, year after that. This is uh you know I was lucky to be. there at the beginning of the entire. ride and I saw he's explosive. I mean.

his spear. >> Yeah. >> Oh his spear cuts people in half. >> Oh my god. His spear. They're saying. maybe best spear in the history of. >> well. >> in the history of wrestling. >> Who's saying that? >> I DIDN'T SAY THAT. I WAS TELLING YOU. WHAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING. I DIDN'T SAY. THAT. >> THAT'S A LIE. >> I DIDN'T SAY THIS. I I. >> if if I was a young insignificant. performer, then I would take, you know, a little bit of offense. I feel some, >> you know, competitive nature about that. But it a finishing move is a finishing. move. I'm such a different type of.

performer. I'm on a whole different. level. We're talking about finishers. We're talking about the spirit, bro. Come on now. Like I You talking to. Mozart here. I I create real art. It's. not just about running down a ramp and. flying through the air and hitting. somebody. But he's a great athlete. I. mean, but we all are, you know what I. mean? And as you get older, you got to. evolve. You got to you got to learn all. the different nuances to this game. You. got to sharpen every blade in, you know, in your set. Um, so I I think Breaker's. got a hell of a future in front of him. As long as he kind of stays out of my,

you know, my wheelhouse of what I'm. trying to do, I think he'll be all. right. Uh, but he's still got a lot, you. know, a long ways to go. I'd love to see. him not get nervous on ESPN and, you. know, get quiet on you cuz I think. there's a lot of personality there. >> Um, hey, it takes time, bro. It Oh, what? I can't [laughter]. I got to jab back, man. I got I got to. fight back, you know? We can't just let. these these kids are calling us old and. [ __ ] You know what I mean? So, I got. to, you know, I mean, we got to we got.

to come back. Don't get don't get. nervous on national television, son. You. know what I mean? >> That was awesome. [laughter] Yeah. Such. so compliment. This is a global. This is. Pat McAfee. You can't, you know what I. mean? >> You're in Saudi Arabia right now. This. is pretty crazy to us. This is a pretty. crazy situation that's taking place. And. uh we're obviously very grateful for our. tribal chief uh making time for us. Every time you're on our show, you are. electrifying. You are awesome. And uh. there's a reason why, you know, >> there's a Mount Rushmore 4. There's a. Mount Rushmore 4. And then there's a. mountain that's being built, you know,

on the other side all by its damn self. And on that note, Ty has a question for. you for tomorrow. Yeah, Roman, I I I. would agree with Connor. I just real. quick would like to acknowledge my. tribal chief as well. Um, if everyone. here wants to do Thank you. Uh, I'm just. curious. You you said, okay, so like. there are, you know, there is some good. talent in in the WWE right now, but. >> do you kind of just notice like, hey, you know what? Uh, I think it's time I. got to come back this weekend, make. everyone kiss the ring, and kind of.

acknowledge that like, yeah, you know, hey, the vision, that's the cool new. thing. Seth Rollins is on. He's doing. the car wash on every single channel on. TV right now. I've seen him 50,000 times. over the last three days. But is it nice. everyone. >> grasping on the relevancy, right? >> Please see me. >> And it's the same thing cuz we kind of. had the same conversation when we were. in Vegas last year for Wrestlemania. But. is it do you kind of just pick and. choose and and let people know like okay. hey you guys can kind of do your thing.

but when I come back when the big dog. comes back into town like this is my. show and it will always be my show. >> I think you know I mean there's always a. mindset of that you know but to be. completely honest and transparent here. you know two years ago it all changed. around and and you know what I've been. doing out there hasn't exactly been the. same of what I've done before. And the. way I look at it is I'm a generous uh. tribal chief. I I give the people plenty.

of time. These young talent, they they. say we hog all the TV time, you know, I. mean, they'll complain about one thing. and then I leave an opening. I give them. plenty of space to create, you know, whatever type of superstardom they want. Get over, kids, get over. You know what. I mean? Um, and we're two years here now. and we haven't advanced. We haven't. evolved. You know what I mean? We have. great leadership and Nick Cotton, God. bless him, what a businessman. He's a. genius. But we have to be able to keep.

up with that creatively. And that's why. people like me, people who are striving. to be the very best, the greatest, the. the GOATs, the MJs, I just can't sit. around and see mediocracy. Not when I. set it up for everybody to just slam at. home. I I mean, we're on Netflix for. crying out. We gota We You got to. capitalize. We got people over here. playing around trying to figure it out. And I got the formula. I know how to. cook it up. You know what I mean? So, it.

it it's been a a tough couple years for. me. But at the same time, when you come. off such a hell of a run, you got to. kind of just pump the brakes for a. second. I you know, I got five children. at home. I I wear, you know, we all wear. those two important hats. Being a. husband and a father, you got to be able. to, you know, click in. I've been on the. road for a long time, so I needed to be. able to pull back a little bit, but I, you know, I'm fully capable. I'm only 40. years old, uh, with all the tech and all. the information we have now. I feel like. I'm 25 years old, so I'm still good to.

go. You know what I mean? >> Well, I appreciate you doing your. schedule to help the other talent, not. yourself. Cuz obviously, if you wanted. to help yourself, >> it's a it's a help them help me. We're. all helping each other. You know what I. mean? >> Of course. Yeah. That's good for all. parties because. >> but like I said, you got to you got to. get the reps. Got to get the reps. >> Yeah. And also, go ahead. Come on. >> You know, that's the business. That's. been the business. >> Yeah. It's anytime now. You know what I. mean? Like. >> that's been the business. That has been. the business. You know, people said it. before you hit your entire thing. You.

know, Cena, hey, who you know? And then. before that, uh it was obviously uh. Rocker Austin. >> Yeah, Rock Austin. one one of them, you. know, and before that it was, you know, hauling at whatever. And then before. that it was, you know, so it feels like. that has always been this business, you. know, and uh I want to let you know the. fact that you just dropped the whole I'm. 40 and I still got a lot of time left. That's good news for the business. >> Yes, it is. >> Hey, that's good news for the business,

Roman. And I like what I'm hearing out. of you. It sounds like we're about to. maybe go on one of these types of runs. again that are going to be talked about. in documentaries 20 years from now. Is. that what we're feeling? Is that how the. body feels? Is that how the mental uh uh. kind of aligns right now? >> Always capable. Always capable. You know. what I mean? Like that that's just built. in. Just staying ready, you know? Um. what else am I going to do? This is what. I do. This is how this is my livelihood. This is how I feed my children. This is. how, you know, I create the abundance. So, uh why not stay in shape? Why not.

stay mentally sharp and in tune with the. game? Um this is my family's art form. That that's why it's so important to me. That's that's why I'm I'm not BSing when. I'm talking about representing my. legacy, furthering our story, taking our. book to different levels and be able to. create different chapters. And if I'm. able to do it at the highest level, inspire my family members to follow my. lead, can't nobody stop us, man. You know what. I mean? That to me, we're the first. family of wrestling.

Nobody else can't touch us. >> Okay. So, Young Rock, I think, exposed. that even more so. You know, when I. watch Young Rock, which obviously they. hinted out with uh you and Dwayne. potentially in a future Wrestlemania, you guys are wrestling in a living room. and about to get after it and they pause. and The Rock's character looks and goes, "That's for Wrestlemania, kid.". Basically said that it was like a tease. Oh, we're going to get it. We're going. to go uh get it. But what I learned. through that and obviously every other. documentary and then when you guys were. doing the bloodline angle and they put. that tree up there you why do you think.

the Uses have been such a great. professional wrestling kind of uh group. of people like why why do you think it. is kind of in your guys's blood like. actually because if you look at the. history of the entire industry ooes. throughout all of it you know it feels. like that is kind of a why is that do do. we know the exact like beginnings of it. all or how we got there. >> I'm going to tell you right Oh, yeah. I'm I'mma learn you right now. Um, we're. just great athletes, first of all. I. mean, that just, you know, there's got. to be, you guys might know, there's got.

to be some kind of Polynesian percentage. for the NFL and and even other sports, but especially the NFL, I think there's. a there's got to be some crazy. percentage of men that make it to the. NFL that are Polynesian. Um, so the. athletic size and we're big, so you have. to, you know, that that all that all. works. But within our culture, it it's. surrounded around storytelling. When you. grow up on an island, you know what I. mean? There's not that much to do. So, you have to be able to entertain each.

other and you have to be able to tell. stories. And that's how all like, you. know, indigenous cultures, you know, people, ancient people, that's how you. keep the information is these stories. and these myths. And you can't be up. there in front of the fire like it with. a boring story. You got to be able to, you know what I mean? You got to be able. to spin it. You got to be able to tell. that story and and be an aator. Um, and. we actually have them. You have high. chiefs. You have Matias and speaking. chiefs um, within our culture. So, it's. built in. And so I just think it it's a.

perfect recipe of the genetics that God. has given us, you know, as as islanders. and Polynesian simones and then just our. history and our culture and the customs. of our people and being on the islands. and just having that that communal, you. know, gathering and just sharing these. stories about our history and our. ancestors and it's all the way here in. modern day. We just do it in a weird WWE. way now. >> No, it's not weird at all. It's. beautiful actually. That was awesome to. hear. actually born for it.

>> Yeah. >> Isn't that a crazy thing? Actually born. for it. And the way you tell it, it. makes so much sense. Well, we'll see. >> if tomorrow continues to add to that. incredible family bloodline legacy. And. uh we'll be watching 2 p.m. Eastern on. ESPN Unlimited. Our tribal chief, fresh. out of a three a day fight camp. >> Hell yeah. >> Right into the Royal Rumble. We. appreciate the hell out of you, man. >> Same, bro. Always. Thanks, man. >> Hey, Seahawks might be running that NFC. West for like the next 10 years, bro.

when [clears throat] when you when. you're when you're the dynasty when. you're one of the dynasties, you know. what I mean? We we gota we got to share. the wealth and what happened. We were. down for like two years and we're back. in five. I'm not worried about the. Niners. The culture between Lynch and. Shanahan, the coach, >> we're we're killers over there. We what. we have like 50 injuries and still went. as far as we did. >> Yeah. >> We got to get that conspiracy stuff. figured out though. We need to get those. get that power plant shut. Whatever it. is, we need to we need to shake and bake. and move that stuff or get that. I don't.

know. Something's got to happen. We need. to look into this. >> I'll tell you that and you know this. You know this as the always aware tribal. chief that you are. >> The other side's going to have an. argument. You know that electric. company, they are going to have an. argument in this entire thing. There's. no way we're going to get a good study. This study is going to take 20 years to. get done. I I I you know how that goes. >> Bunch of power companies out there. Whole bunch of power companies out there. only one niners baby. [laughter]. They got to remember that. Hey, Santa.

Clara. You know, we go back to San. Francisco if we got [laughter] we need. to figure this out now. Like. >> support support the team, the local team. now. You know how it is. >> Yeah, let's win. Okay. Niner gang. All. right. Well, I appreciate the hell out. of you, man. Good luck tomorrow. >> Thank you, brother. >> Safe travel. Safe travels back to. America. Our travel chief, ladies and. gentlemen, Roman Reign. >> Yeah. [applause]. That was hilarious. Actually, our people are known. storytellers, you know, cuz we're on an. island. The only way that the history. gets passed on is by telling the.

stories. And then you think of like. Moana. I just watched Moana. And then. you think of like every other cave and. stuff that kind of has stories being. wrote and told for future generations. And then like very lucky that I've been. able to go to Hawaii and you talk about. like the way they talk, the how they. talk, the stories, the history. It's. like, oh my god, there is actual Oh, there's s there is a reason why the. Polynesian people are the best at. professional wrestling because they are. I mean, whenever they were doing that. bloodline angle and they put that tree. up. >> So cool. >> Okay, here's the history of wrestling in. this one family bloodline. Now, granted,

cousins, uncles, you know, the whole not. everybody's just father. Uh he his uh. dad uh Saka. I believe one of the wild Samoans is uh. Roman Reigns's father passed away. Sika. I think yeah Sika. Okay. Yeah it is Sika. is his father. So his dad was in the. business but then there is and the Uso. brother's dad in the business. They are. cousins with each other. Grew up same. street with each other. But then there's.

also other family members that are in. there like Nia Jackson. Like these are. all just the current people. And then. you go back like every generation it. goes. Yeah. It is. >> It's a big tree. >> Oh yeah. >> Absolutely. Say it's like thank you for. your contributions to wrestling and to. our entertainment in our childhood. Like. legitimately. >> I think we saw that uh for the first. time uh at the Super Bowl. Uh you guys. were doing your press conference and we. were sitting in the crowd and then. somebody slapped somebody and that tree. was up there looking so beautiful. >> Yeah. Did uh who got slapped? The Rock.

got slapped or The Rock did the slap? Rock didn't slap. Cody slapped Cody. >> Cody right right in the mouth. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. That was that was pretty tense. day. >> It was called a [ __ ] maybe. >> Yeah. >> Do you hear what Roman said there? >> Roman said we've been waiting. You know, people are craving a little bit more. What a thing to say at the this time of. the business. >> Yeah. Exactly. >> You know, that is a. that is a couple time. Hey, can't be. getting nervous on ESPN. Little slight. of a you know, like he he said a bunch. of things in there that are like very uh.

we appreciate our travel chief. I I got. a chance to be there for that. >> most a lot of that. >> Oh yeah. >> That tribal chief run. >> Oh yeah. Oh. >> lonely at the top. >> It was awesome. What do you mean by that. brother? >> I mean he's I mean he talked about he's. definitely not friends with Seth. He's. not friends with the vision. He's not. friends with Brock. He's when you get in. there with 30 other men, maybe women, I. don't know. It's. >> We watched 2000 China. Rest in peace. She was in there. Yeah. She got a. couple. >> It's going to be lonely in there. potentially. Royal Rumble should be.

exciting tomorrow. I mean, if Roman. feels like he's trying to win this. thing, you know. >> Oh, yeah. Also, the way he talked about. the vision, you know. I don't know. Maybe they got something in their back. pocket. >> What? >> He was complimentary, wasn't he? >> I don't know. Yeah, he he he didn't talk. down as much as I thought. And maybe the. tribal thief might get thieved, >> stolen. >> Something to think about. >> Hour two will be on the other side of. this break. Be a friend, tell a friend. something nice. It might change your. life. We'll see you on the other side.

But it is great to be down here in. Taton, Alabama. Now, [cheering]. let's do a little history here, shall. we? This is uh what's your name? >> Gabby. >> Gabby, you're a senior here, right? >> That's correct. >> And what is your major? >> Chemical engineering. >> Okay. Okay. Uh have you ever kicked anything. before? >> No. >> Okay. But you said you want to do it, not get somebody ELSE BECAUSE. >> BECAUSE I CAMPED OUT for so many hours.

with my friend and I got lucky enough to. get picked. So, LET'S GO FOR IT. >> YES. >> YES. >> ALL RIGHT. >> WE LOVE THAT, GABBY. $300,000 if you. make this kick right here, Gabby. Okay. >> Oh my gosh, >> that sounds fair. >> I don't know what a chemical engineering. degree costs, but hopefully that'll help. towards it all. >> My parents would love that. Okay, >> I'll throw in 200 AS WELL. HE STARTED TO. $500,000. [cheering]. [screaming].

>> ALL RIGHT, GABBY. >> OKAY, >> GOOD LUCK. WE'RE PULLING FOR YOU. 33. YARDS. ALL YOU GOT TO DO is make the. kick. Good luck, Gabby. >> Okay. >> Any final thoughts? >> I love you, mom and dad and brother. [screaming]. >> Love that. Mom and dad, hope you have a. good time. Ladies and gentlemen, Gabby. Matthysse, chemical engineer, senior. here at Alabama, WILL ATTEMPT TO WIN. 500,000. It's come to this, huh? It's come to. this. [cheering].

>> It's come to this. >> Yeah, this Why'd you smack me in the. face? Kirk just smack me in the face. How about this? How about this, Gabby? If Kirk Herbstre can throw that football. through those uprights right there, we'll give you $300,000. >> Are you okay with that? [cheering]. >> 300,000. If Kirk Hry can THROW IT. THROUGH THOSE UPRIGHTES, FORMER OHIO. STATE QUARTERBACK, >> NO WARM UP. phone suit for Gabby.

[cheering]. [laughter]. >> Get. [cheering]. [laughter]. [cheering]. All right, it's getting even more pricey. Kirk Herb. Street, I DID NOT KNOW YOU HAD THAT IN. YOU. You son of a [ __ ].

[laughter]. >> Oh, that's great. >> David. Gavin, it's for you, your mom, your brother, the whole family. Congratulations. And Kirk, >> good on you, man. It was close. Back to. you, Louis. Jeez. Way to go, Gabby. >> Hey, what a moment. You know, I love the. fact that Gabby wanted the experience. The old blue-eyed Buckeye still got a. little sing in that arm of his.

>> The following program is a collection of. stooges talking about happenings in the. sports world. It is meant to be comedic. informative. The opinions expressed on. this show do not necessarily reflect the. beliefs of their peers, their boss, or. ESPN. There may be some cuss words. because that's how Cubans is the real. world talk. If you are a young, please. seek permission before watching any. further. >> Hey,

let's go. >> This show sticks and the fact that you. listen, we are very, very thankful for. you. >> McAfee on the line with a gorgeous. assist. >> The alltime leading tackler for the. Green Bay Packers. You pick. >> stutter. Damn it. >> Your friend tell a friend something nice. could change their life. [music]. Hello, beautiful people and welcome back. to our humble abode, the Thunderdome on.

this Super [music] Bowl season. Feelgood. Friday, January 30th, 2026. Hour two of. the program begins now. >> FOOTBALL IS MAGICAL. There's some. breaking news out of the football world. and uh we need to discuss it. It's not. just me. Obviously the toxic tables here. at Boston Conor and at Tai Schmidt one. half of the hammer down Cowboys AP Ton. is here and a man joining us live from. Manatakin Ohio is a college football. national champion Super Bowl champion. Rder Cup winner AJ H. >> AJ good to see you brother. How's life.

>> doing great Mike was awesome on here so. appreciate him doing that. >> Yeah, Big Mike was awesome. I'm thankful. he took his time. Um happy. >> and Roman Reigns sorry tribal chief was. unbelievable as well. Thank you for. acknowledging obviously big Royal Rumble. tomorrow uh 2 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. Unlimited. >> Okay. Uh news happened in the NFL while. we were talking to our tribal chief who. will look to win the Royal Rumble. tomorrow on ESPN Unlimited. Uh general. manager for the Minnesota Vikings, Quacia Adopa Mensah, has been fired. Uh.

joining us now, the man that broke the. news, senior NFL insider for ESPN, Adam. Sheffy. >> Chefy, good to see you. Hope the. kitchen's doing well. Okay, tell me. about the Quacia Doofa Mensa firing. This feels late in the cycle. What do. they do from here? How'd they get to. this point? >> Well, it is late in the cycle. It's an. unusual time to fire somebody when he. had been in Mobile at the Senior Bowl. all week long working for the Vikings. and then you come back to Chile,

Minnesota and deliver the news just a. short time ago, minutes ago that you are. firing Quazia Dafsa. Now, let me say. this that I think one of the things that. people talked about in the league all. during the year was the tension that. existed within the Vikings organization. And there were people who said, someone. just texted me this morning, they go, "I. told you it was ugly in Minnesota." And. there was all sorts of talk. People.

didn't like people. People didn't get. along. Tension. Um, I remember speaking to our Vikings. reporter Kevin Sepford about it a few. weeks ago. Um, we had thought that there. was a transfer of some power from the. front office to the coaching staff that. the coaching staff had been given more. power. The point is Pat, there's a lot. to this. There's a lot that's going to. come out on this particular situation, but the way it was set up was not.

working for people. >> and the Vikings made the decision to. fire him. Now, they have inserted their. longtime executive vice president, Rob. Brzzinski, into the role, the leadership. role. He will lead the team through the. draft. So, that tells you that they're. not in any rush to go hire some new. general manager. Right now, Rob Bzinski. will lead the team and then after the. draft, >> they will do a search for search for for. a new general manager. >> Okay. It sounds like Kevin Oonnell is. doing the leading of the team. feels.

like if that is what you are uh kind of. talking about the power going and if you. need to answer that certainly answer. that if it's any more information or. breaking news we appreciate you. obviously joining us here with little to. no warning so it sounded like somebody. wasn't happy that maybe JJ McCarthy had. to be the quarterback of the Minnesota. Vikings I don't want to just like point. to one thing but cuz there was reports. that maybe Aaron Rogers would go to the. Minnesota Vikings and then there was. rumblings maybe uh coach was like yes. just like any player or coach in the NFL. would naturally do normally He's like,

Aaron Rogers can potentially be, especially if the coach is a. quarterback, I could really make some. magic. There was allegedly interest. there and then ultimately a decision was. made to go with JJ McCarthy and let. alone Sam Darnold. Interest had to be. there. No, we're going to go with JJ. McCarthy. Sam Darnold now obviously in. the Super Bowl. Is that where it kind of. begins and ends? I don't want to cont. >> Look, here here's the deal. When you. have the quarterback situation that they. did this past year. >> where Daniel Jones was in the building. and Sam Darnold was in the building and.

they leave, clearly there are going to. be questions that are asked and blame. that's assigned. Now I'm not telling you. that this was a quasi adulson decision. or Kevin Oop. I don't know exactly how. it came out. I do remember I do remember. that they wanted and tried to keep Sam. Darnold. They made an offer to him and. it just so happened that the market was. such that there was more money out there. and a team that wanted him even more.

than Minnesota which had drafted JJ. McCarthy. Daniel Jones, they also. attempted to resign. They tried to. resign both those guys and it wasn't. happening at that moment. So they wanted. to keep both but they also had a. commitment to. JJ McCarthy. they draft in the first. round and that's an organizational. decision. I I don't know, you know, who. drafted him over the other one, but they. all signed off on it, I think,

obviously. And they I know that they. definitely worked to keep Darnold and. Jones and both wanted and were willing. to leave. >> Yeah. And you and I know what that means. when a team wants to keep somebody or. they don't want to keep somebody or. they're interested but not actually. You. know, Sam Darnold's deal is not that. huge of a deal whenever it comes to. quarterback deals that he took to go to. Seattle. Now, I did hear that he took. less money to go to Indianapolis. Now, granted, that was only like $10 million. So, whenever you talk about what the. deals could be with Minnesota offering, not that I want to just continue to Was.

that Go ahead. >> No, no, no. I I I think Minnesota. offered I think Minnesota was offering. Sam Darnold way less than Seattle. Seattle was about 35 million a year. >> Yeah. And guarantee. I think. >> Minnesota came in way less, I believe. Exactly. Which goes back to what I was. asking you about like, yeah, we want. you, >> right? Well, here's the deal. People. teams offers always speak volume. That's. what you're saying, right? >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Chef, it's not about. the money, but it's always about the.

money. >> Yes. Yes. Yes, it is. >> Says to you how much we're prioritizing. you. The money says how much we want. you. So, if you're the Vikings, Yeah. We. want you. We want you to the tune of 20. to $25 million a year or whatever it is, right? >> Yeah. Oh, Seattle, they want you $35. million a year. So, Seattle wants you. more than Minnesota. Yeah, that's the. deal. >> Yeah, that's how business works uh at at. in professional sports at least. Now, granted, there are guys that make. decisions to do stuff. And allegedly, Daniel Jones took less money here to.

come to Indianapolis because of the. opportunity potentially. It worked out. for us great. I didn't even think about. Daniel Jones because how long he's been. injured. having to see Sam Darnold in. the Super Bowl after what he won 14. games or whatever with you guys a year. before that, let alone Daniel Jones like. the number one. I forgot about that. >> Oh, yeah. >> That's next year, too. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Well, >> YEAH. >> BREAK THAT NEWS, SHER. Daniel Jones. coming back to be the number one. quarterback in the league. And the. Vikings let him out. Maybe that's why. Quy is currently not the Minnesota. Vikings general manager, but I'm sure. there was other decisions that were. making as well. Quickly before we let.

you go, other conversation. Miles. Garrett. I've been watching the Monkin. introduction over there in Cleveland. There's people just getting coffee in. the back as if they're shooting tires. Shane Gillis' show as he walks into the. building. Everybody else has these. massive shots of people walking in the. building. The entire building, you know, the whole the whole thing. Oh, yeah. Doing the entire thing. Monkin. walks in there dress casual. Love what. he's doing there. Jeans with the loose. dress shirt and the sport coat. I'm here. to be a professional ball guy. Okay.

Obviously. walks in front desk. Oh, made. him check in. They didn't. Hey, sorry I. didn't bring the B. There's people just. GETTING COFFEE IN THE BACK. People just. walking around a Yep. No big deal. New. head COACHES HERE. EVERY OTHER building. we've seen everybody there clapping for. the person. And then obviously got Miles. Garrett posting on his IG story. What's. going on in Cleveland? And uh what do we. expect the future to look like up there. for the Browns? because I like to think. their fans are a good fan base in the. NFL, but it just feels like there's. always [ __ ] happening around Brownie the.

Elf. What are your thoughts on the. Cleveland Browns and how it's kind of. rolled out and what we should look for? >> Well, here's the deal. Todd Monin is a. very good football coach. He really is. The I got no problems at all with hiring. Todd Min. The phone's just going nuts. Um I got no issues with Tom Mon. The. issue is that you plugged one dam or one. leak and you created another. Like you. wanted to build up the offense and so. you brought in somebody that knows.

offense and Todd Monkin, a football. coach, and now you're going to probably. wind up losing Jim Schwarz. So now your. defense suffers. And I think they felt. like our defense is so good that if we. could just get somebody to elevate the. offense, then we'll be in good position. and good shape. So they got Todd Mockin. He's going to do that. But now I know. Jim Schwarz has got two years left on. his contract, but we're talking about. how money shows you certain appreciation.

in whatever business. And it's the same. thing in any business. If you don't get. the job that you applied for, the. promotion that you wanted, and it went. to somebody else, you're not going to. feel great about staying with that. particular company. Right? So now it's. up to those two sides to figure out how. they're going to go on and probably. break up. I know the Browns want Jim. Schwarz back, but Jim Schwarz doesn't. want to be back. So, how's that going to. end up? >> Hamlam's done this before. Hlam's done. this before. Hey, you don't like me? Go.

talk to Andrew. I'm not even taking a. meeting with you. Andrew, what's he. need? Money. Give him the most. >> Make him the highest paid coordinator in. the NFL. >> The guy in Houston does not want to come. to Cleveland no matter what we offer. him. Oh, yeah. What? What's the offer? Yeah. Make him the most of all time. And. he goes in there. Can easily do that. with Schwarz right now. I'm sure there. is some somebody that knows what. coordinators are worth. What is an. average coordinator salary in the NFL. right now? Pretty high, I would assume, or no? >> I I will say this that the coaching. salaries this season, this offseason. have spiked and uh they've gone up quite.

a bit. And it speaks to number one how. important the coaches are and number two. how desperate the teams are to have. them. Like Tennessee hires Robert Salah. and they're planning around having Brian. Dable and then they might lose Brian. Dable but they get him so they're. relieved. The Ravens are going to hire. Jesse Mter and they'd like to go get Joe. Brady as their offensive coordinator and. then Joe Brady gets a head coaching job. The Giants hire John Harbaugh. They love.

that. He's a great coach and he's going. to bring Todd Mckin, but Todd Monin gets. the Browns head coaching job. So it's. great to hire a defensive or special. teams coach, a great leader. Look, look. in the Super Bowl this year, Mike. McDonald and Mike Vrabel. Two. defensive-minded coaches. But if you. don't have a plan and you lose your guy. on the offensive side, or you're an. offensive guy, you lose your defensive. guy. >> Oh, no. >> It's some issues. See, Brad had it. perfect because Josh McDaniels had been. a head coach and nobody was going to. hire coach and he lived in Foxboro. It.

was teed up with Mike McDonald. He fired. last year his offensive coordinator and. hired Clint Kubak who now is going to be. a head coach in the league after this. Super Bowl. So. if you have the right guy, it looks. great. But if you don't and you lose. your guy, now you're scrambling. >> Sounds like you're saying, "Hey, Harball, who's going to go? Who's behind. door number two? I'm excited to find out. who it is as well.". >> No, no, no, no. They'll find somebody,

but it wasn't who they playing cuz that. guy's the head coach in Cleveland now. Who's Kubak getting? Which job? >> Well, he's going to get the Raiders or. he's going to get the Cardinals job. >> Okay. So, he's definitely getting one of. those jobs. >> He's definitely getting one of those. jobs. >> Okay. >> All right. That's awesome. Thank you, Chef. We appreciate you, man. You're the. best. >> Thank you, guys. >> Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Chef. >> That's breaking news for the first pick. or the third pick. >> Yeah. What do you It's up to you, bud. >> Phoenix, Vegas, what do you want to do?

How do you want to live? Um that was I. mean huge news there out of Minnesota. and it sound like as he was talking it. was like there was a power transfer to. the coaches. There was disagreements in. the building. It's like so that normally. is a case of we don't think you did the. right stuff with the players. Whose job. is that? It's that job or that. That's. why alignment is such a big deal. But. boy, if it gets out of line, you I think. cutting is the right move because if two. guys or a girl and a guy, whatever the.

case is in the future, if they are not. on the same page, they're working. against each other trying to prove that. they are the right one so they can stick. around. So cutting it off, if that is. the case, is the right play. I think. personally, and it feels like they're. empowering Kevin Oonnell here. That's. what it feels like. >> It I mean the timing just the timing. seems very weird to get rid of your GM. right now January 30th when he's what at. the senior bowl. And that's makes you. think like, okay, this has been an. ongoing thing for a long time and then. they just finally pulled the trigger. now, which is kind of a just a just a. weird time, I think. >> Well, the the narrative kind of started.

going from because we talked about Kevin. O'Connell with like, hey, this guy can. win with any quarterback. It doesn't. matter who he gets in there. And then. the Darnold stuff happens and we see. what happens with JJ this year and it. started to become kind of like, well, are we sure KOC knows what he's doing, too? So, I wonder if that was part of. like a hey, no, I wanted Darnold and. this guy said he'd get it done and he. lowballed him and then Darnold decided. to go to Seattle. >> So many different thoughts and Sheffer. said we're going to hear a lot about. this, >> you know, cuz Quy's team is certainly. going to want people to understand where. he's coming from. You know, that is.

certainly a part of this entire gig just. like that electric company over there in. San Santa Cl. They're going to have. their side. >> Yeah, they will. >> They're going to have their They're. going to have their things arguing. You. think they're going to want to move that. entire power plant? Do you think they're. going to shut that down? >> No. >> No way. >> I'm worried about that over there. >> They're not shutting that down. >> They got a great argument. >> Who? >> Tell you that much. The electrical. company. >> Yeah, we started to see their game plan. We started to see their game plan. And. I'm telling you what, it's going to be a. It's going to be a dog fight. It's going. to be It's going to be an absolute dog. fight. But we understand what they're. saying. I just don't think that's.

necessarily great for, >> you know, any of it. If you're. >> NerS are an older team, too. >> Oh, yeah. >> We don't need Yeah. >> They see them. They're still train. They're uh they're getting back after it. right now. Mhm. >> Like they are, >> which is part of the conversation the. electrical company has. >> We'll talk to a few of them next week. Can't wait to hear their thoughts on it. all. Uh joining us now, speaking of next. week, is a man who's going to be a. captain of a team in the celebrity sweat. flag football game. He'll be taking on. Quo at Cal Memorial Field on Cal.

Berkeley's campus. His team, we assume, going to win. >> cuz this guy, you look at his resume, people have forgot. I don't think people. have put enough respect on this man's. name. To read off all his accolades, it. would literally take 10 minutes at this. point. I think all of us kind of forgot. because we don't talk about it nearly. enough. This man, they called him. Superman. Obviously, this man, DH12, this man is a Taiwan Beer Leopard. legend, an NBA icon and Hall of Famer.

Ladies and gentlemen, Dwight Howard. >> Yeah, Dwight. >> How are you, dude? Taiwan Beer Leopards. is crazy. Thank you for the team, Taiwan. Shout out. Oh man. >> Is that the team? We tried to do some. journalism. That's the actual team, right? The Beer Leopards. >> Well, well, when I played, they were. just the Taiwan Leopards. And then the. next year they combined with two teams. and became the Taiwan Beer Leopards, which was cool. That's when Boogie. played with them. >> Okay. So, you're just a Leopards legend.

We will have to strike that from the. record. It's a Taiwan. leopard legend. That's 100% on me. But. hey, can before we talk to you about. what you have going on next week, which. is sweet, raising money for local food. bank and other stuff, and also providing. tickets for military and first. responders, what you guys are doing is. awesome. I think it's the 26th annual. flag football game you're doing with. Celebrity Sweat. This is the graphic we. made with all your accolades. I DON'T. THINK IT GETS TALKED about nearly. enough, Dwight. And I'm only saying that. because I, Sports Stoogge, on a regular. basis, forgot about a lot of this [ __ ].

You had a run in the NBA that was. obviously phenomenal. So, we appreciate. the fact that not only are you back, you. know, with your podcast, back doing. [ __ ] but also like uh potentially. getting some flowers. We appreciate your. time, man. Thank you for joining us. here. >> Thank you so much. I really appreciate. you. And um that's amazing, man. Thank. you. I'm really uh honored, you know, just to receive flowers. A lot of times, you know, people get flowers when. they're not here and they can't actually.

be present. >> Yeah. Take it in. So take it in right. now, >> man. Just I am Thank you, man. It really. means a lot, man. Just to to be on the. show uh to actually hear you uh what you. were just uh reading off about, you. know, my resume as a basketball player. You know, it's just crazy that, you. know, I spent my whole life wanting to. become one of the greatest players ever. And you know, as a kid, I had the dream. and actually to fulfill it, you know, uh.

is just amazing and uh just so so. humbled and and and thankful for you and. just this awesome opportunity to play. against Quo in the Super Bowl. I know. it's not basketball, but you know, this. is going to be a lot of fun to, you. know, help be out there with the first. responders and the the people who serve. our country who we triple salute and um. just always giving back is something. that I enjoy doing. Hell yeah, Dwight. Well, we appreciate you doing that. Good. for society. And uh yeah, man. All the.

things that you dreamt about only came. to fruition because you had to have. worked your ass off. Okay. So, that's. what I that's what we respect here. We. know how hard it is to make it and. everything. A lot of people. [clears throat] want to do it. Obviously, you're 6'10. Had a little bit. of an advantage maybe over me. I I was. working my ass off on throwing it up and. then hitting it off the backboard and. then double it. You know, I was trying. my best. I don't think I ever got it, Dwight. I don't think I ever got But. it's okay. What you're doing now is what. your your purpose is for this season in. life. >> HELL YEAH. DWIGHT.

>> HELL YEAH. >> Thank you, man. Okay, let's talk about. next week a little bit. What is this? This is a flag football game. Are you. quarterback coaching? How's it going to. go? I know we got some names already in. the in the game. It's the 26th annual. What do you have going on? And what is. your plans here to get a dub? >> Well, I just really want to get out. there and have a great time and enjoy. the moment. you know, if I'm the. quarterback, if I'm the wide receiver, if I'm coaching, whatever it may be, I. just want to go out there and have a. great time, you know, to celebrate the. 60th uh Super Bowl. Uh so, this is a big.

year. I just turned 40. Uh my dad just. turned 70 and we get to go see the 60th. Super Bowl. And I also be a part of the. whole uh weekend festivities. So, I'm. just so grateful. had a wonderful career. and I can't wait to go out there and um. put on a good show. >> Is Diplo on your team or the other team? Do you know who's on the team? >> Diplo is on my team. Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah, we need Diplo in the squad. Doug Fluty is on your team or the other. team? >> Doug Fluty is on THE OTHER TEAM. >> OH NO.

>> Qu That's a good draft pick, by the way. >> I know. I love Doug Fluty. Oh my god. He. left me too, man. Yeah, [laughter]. >> but I think we going to have Jesus. I. think Jesus is coming. >> Hey, Jesus. >> Nazareth. >> Yeah, Jesus is coming to play on the. team. >> That's crazy. [laughter]. Holy [ __ ] On that note, Cal Memorial. Stadium, Thursday, February 5th, 7:00 to. 9:00 p.m. You have no idea who's going.

to be on these rosters. There's a chance. anybody's there. Uh, >> anybody will be there. >> Quo verse, uh, Dwight Howard. Okay, let's talk a little bit about. basketball. How do you feel about the. current state of the way the game is. being played? Obviously in basketball, you hear a lot of old heads talking. Feels like you guys view it much uh more. like a fraternity because there's not as. many people that make it to the NBA than. maybe some other sports. Feels like. there's a lot of distaste for maybe the. modern stage of basketball. What are. your kind of thoughts on where we land.

right now with NBA hoops? I can. understand both sides, you know. Um, as. a member of the Hall of Fame and playing. basketball my whole life and being this. fraternity of basketball, you know, it's. a certain standard and level of play. that we would love to see. But we also. understand that times are changing. We. have to adapt and be able to change with. the times as well. Uh but the best thing. we could do uh as a retired players, the. players that are no longer, you know, playing at a high level is give back,

you know, go back into the communities, go back and and teach and, you know, really get the fundamentals of the game. and also help the parents. You know, I. think every parent wants to see their. kid be that next superstar in the NBA or. whatever sport it is, but they might not. understand how hard it really takes to. get there. the the amount of work uh. that the parents have to put in uh the. kid have to put in and it takes a lot. and it's so much harder for these kids I. think now to be able to you know get.

into a sport or you know work get into. the working field because of technology. so it's a lot that us as players can. really do to give back but you know with. basketball. I love it I think the game is. entertaining these young kids are. getting better and better and I only. want to see the best in these kids back, you know, 40 points. >> and rebounds as a 49 points as a. 19year-old, you know, that's amazing to. see. I know how hard it is to play at. this level. And I'm so proud of the.

young kid for just and Jason Kid for. taking a chance and putting him at the. point guard position at a young at a. young age and just letting him learn the. game and he's doing such a great job and. I'm really proud of his growth and this. effort that he's playing with. Keep it. up, young fella. Keep it up. >> Oh yeah, I love to hear that. Thank you. for doing it. Any other players that you. just want to shout out randomly? Definitely do that uh throughout the. rest of this whole conversation anytime. >> Oh man, Tyrese Maxi, he is killing it. Uh. >> Wimi is my favorite player now.

>> Okay. How would Okay, so what would you. do there? CUZ WHAT? HE'S A FOOT taller. than you, right? >> Man, he a foot taller than me. I'm going. just have to get him three hard fouls. [laughter]. But hey, go sit your ass on the bench. somewhere, man. But I I love what he's. doing, man. the fact that he's using his. height and and his he he's just going to. be I think he has the ability to be one. of the best players all time once he. learn how to really dominate the paint. and then when they try to stop that and.

put a smaller guard on him just shoot. over the top like KD does and I think he. has the right mentality he's locked in. he's focused on being one of the. greatest his. last summer training with Monks you know. going with KG all the stuff he's doing, you can tell like he's in it to be one. of the greatest, you know. So, I think. the game is in good hands. When you got. players, oh my god, like like Wimi, man, they they really love what they do, you. know. Him, Jokic,

um all these guys, man, what they're. doing. >> SGA, this guy's unguardable. I mean, he's unbelievable. He seem never misses. Joel, >> they're so smart now, you know. you. know, and not saying that we weren't. smart, but they figured out like it's. like they they seen what we did and. they've added on to it with this new age. and. >> evolution. That's just evolution of. sport. That's why like judging one era. to the next is kind of impossible. >> You can't do that. I I hate doing that. And I tell people comparison is a thief. of joy. You know, you you know, when.

you're trying to compare this era to the. next, you're taking out the joy in the. life of basketball by doing that. These. kids grew up watching a lot of us play. Like it's their time. like let's give. them their props and help them when we. can, but not let's not put them down, man. It's we need more positivity, especially from the, you know, the. oldheads. >> Hell yeah, Dwight. Hall of Famer talking. right there. >> Go ahead, AJ. >> Yeah, Dwight, you mentioned uh Jason. Kit, obviously a great player and a. great coach. Now, we got JJ Reick in LA.

We're are we going to see more coach or. more players you think transition from. playing to coaching like we are to. become head coaches? I know in the NFL, we see Mike Vrael, we see all these guys. that were great players becoming great. coaches. Is that going to be a trend? You think that's going to, you know, uptick as we look forward? >> And I would love to see that because we. want to keep the the name of basketball. going, you know, it's such a the game. and what it's done for me and a lot of. players around the world, the the. inspiration,

uh the gratitude that we have for it, we. want to have it in the best hands. And. you know, I think a guy like Rondo would. be an amazing coach. Uh cuz he was an. amazing point guard. You know, these. guys would be amazing coaches. So, you. know, I really do believe it's time for, you know, the the these players to come. back and give back to the game because I. believe the era that, you know, I played. in the Kobe era, uh KG, that Tim Duncan, uh Dwayne Wade, Dirt and Whiskey, that's. like the best era of basketball. Like it.

was really like the golden age. It was. everybody and it was a interesting. matchup every night even though it. wasn't like no they would say name brand. centers back when I was playing but I'm. fighting against four or five centers. every single night and you got Dirt No. Whiskey, you got KG out there, you know, you got Dwayne Wade, you got some of the. greatest guards ever, Kobe Bryant, you. know, LeBron James in his prime. Like it.

was an amazing time for basketball. It. certainly was. And if you guys are going. to continue to get back and give back, I. mean, we just saw Rondo's eighth grade. son. >> Yeah. >> Dominating. Unbelievable. He's in eighth. grade. That was outrageous. Is that. That's not That's very I don't know the. basketball community well enough. I. know. Like you got drafted out of high. school. I assume whenever you were in. seventh, eighth grade, they probably. said like, "Hey, this guy probably go. into the NBA." I think that happens in. basketball more. He's dominating varsity. in eighth grade. Is that normal? That. feels abnormal. Is that still. >> I feel like it's it's because it's Rond.

though and what he the knowledge that he. has for the game. He's putting it right. in his son like every single day. His. son was there when we won the. championship. You go back and you look. at the footage of Ronda on the floor. with his son. His son is taking in all. that wisdom and knowledge and. understanding from one of the greatest. point guards ever now. And he's. dominating high school basketball with. calm, with ease. and he's only going to. get better. So, just imagine in four.

years what he's going to be like. He. might be able to get drafted out of 11th. grade. >> Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. >> Great. Speaking of getting drafted out of 11th. grade, there's a chance you could still. Go ahead, Ty. >> Yeah, Dwight, I'm just curious. I doubt. you have many regrets about your. basketball career because you fared very. well. But we hear a lot about NIL now. and how guys maybe stay a year longer or. whatever the case may be because they're. making millions and millions of dollars.

Do you think if that would have been in. place when you came out of high school. that would have been something you. considered or do you remember what like. the thought process was behind when you. decided to go straight from high school. to the NBA? >> I wanted to go number one. I didn't. think about nothing else but going. number one in the draft, being the. number one player and trying to be. become the greatest one of the greatest. basketball players ever. That was my. only mindset, my only goal. I truthfully. never even looked at the money aspect of. it until once I got to the NBA. It was.

about the business and basketball. I. just solely looked at it as, man, I want. to be one of those greats. I want to be. like the Shaqs, the Will Chamblings, the. Kareemes. I want to be like those guys. when I'm done playing. So that was just. my mindset. I didn't think about. college. Um because I felt like college. was a place for me to really understand. or figure out what to do with my life. And at this point right here, I already. knew what I wanted. Already knew where I. wanted to be. It was only going to be.

me, the gym, and hard work. You know, how much I was going to put in to get. there. >> The high school to the NBA days created. so many legends. Just absolutely. One of. them obvious goats obviously in that. conversation. Go ahead Connor. >> Yeah Dwight just to kind of emphasize. what Pat said as a Celtics fan I will. never forget the Dwight Howard, Hedo. Turkaloo, Jamir Nelson, Michael Petus. I. mean those teams were legendary and. those teams also went on to play Kobe. Bryant in the finals. How grateful are. you for that time, you know, to go up.

against Kobe while also being a teammate. of him with Team USA? And um what do you. kind of think of when you think of that. time with the Magic just because uh you. will always be a legend, especially for. the Magic, let alone the Team USA run as. well. >> That was such an amazing time with the. Magic. Um I truly hate how everything. ended, you know. Uh, but my time with. the Magic was just what it was. Magical. Going to the finals at 22, playing.

against one of your favorite players all. time and Kobe Bryant, you know, having a. chance to win a championship, going. against LeBron, you know, uh, playing. against the Boston Celtics, the big. three, you know, all those great. memories to have in in that city, beautiful Orlando. It was such an. amazing time there and I'm just grateful. that, you know, I was able to see what I. saw at a young age, you know, uh, going. to the finals, you know, bringing this. city together, you know, seeing how how.

powerful and strong basketball is. It's. it was it's unforgettable time in. Orlando. >> Anybody um that you played against, like. obviously Kobe and all those greats you. talk about, are you just trying to pick. brains? Like how do how did you kind of. operate whenever you were uh playing. watch? cuz I think Jay Will um uh Duke. Jay Will he told a story about how when. Kobe came and played the Chicago Bulls? >> Yes. >> He thought he got to the gym early and. Kobe was already.

>> already there. Is was there a lot of. those moment? Like how many of those. types of situations happened for you. straight out of high school right into. the NBA is a crazy thing, but I assume. there can be development whenever you. see cuz that's like a formidable year. So whenever you see. >> Yeah. It was just so much going on like. like imagine 18, you're just finishing. high school. You're just graduating, going to the prom, you know, you get. your, you know, all that stuff is just. happening. Then you're drafted number. one to a NBA team. The your whole life.

changes. Like everything happens so. fast. Like it's hard to even remember a. lot of these moments. Like man, 18year-old Dwight, like what was I. doing? What was I thinking? Like things. were happening so fast. Like in one mind. I'm like, man, I just want to play. basketball. Like I want to be like Kobe. or, you know, Shaq and how they're just. their names are in the rafters, you. know, and people like I'm at 18 thinking. like, wow, like this is this is crazy.

I'm actually living this dream. And you. know, I wasn't really thinking of the. magnitude of what all this stuff meant. until I got a lot older and in my. career. And you know, now I'm not. playing. It's like, man, like that was a. time I'm looking at pictures in my house. of my teammates in Orlando. Uh I was. looking at a picture last night of our. um Olympic team and just the team that. we had. Like, man, that was a the redeem. team was was incredible.

>> Yeah, you've had a great run, brother. And you can continue that if you want to. go back to Orlando and have good times. with the new rules. >> You could actually, I think, go play for. UCF still. >> Oh, yeah. Goodness. >> Yeah, you go play for UCF. >> for a reason. [laughter]. >> I don't think you GOT TO DO CLASS. EITHER. I think you just kind of go. No. Okay. >> I think you're just underneath, brother. I think that's all you're doing. No, >> they got Paulo. They got um Suggs. Orlando got a pretty good team. So, I I.

can come and watch and help and um you. know, in any way I can, but as far as. playing, it's it's the young fella's. time. >> All right. Well, listen, that's kind of. the issue, though. was like the sports. got an interesting thing going on in. college right now. Got we got an. interesting thing going on with like how. the whole business is working. I just. want to let you know if you start. feeling froggy you could I think go back. to college right now. >> No sir. >> Now if you do if I'm just telling you if. you if you do if you do you can. >> go back and coach. >> maybe a March Madness run. Maybe a March.

Madness run. No class. >> They're paying. They'll give you a new. They'll give you I don't know money. >> Hey, can we talk about what's going on. here? What is this? That's like a That. looks like a a D. >> Oh, this is uh one of my favorite. crystals. I just like to wear crystals. It's just some nice little uh artwork, you know, to wear. >> It's also good for the soul, right? Is. it not? How long have you been into the. the crystals? >> Uh forever. You know, as a kid, I used. to always go find rocks and to keep and.

look at and stuff like that. And as I. got older, it became into nice crystals. and stuff like that. I have them all. around my house. Uh rose quartz, um. crystal quartz. Um. >> Mhm. >> Yes. A whole bunch of different ones. So. yeah, I'm big into it. Yeah. >> All right. It looks awesome. I It looks. really cool. >> Thank you so much. >> Yeah, cuz on top of the hoodie with the. big ass chain. >> Yeah. [clears throat] He's also 7 ft. So. that crystal is about. >> WHAT? 10. >> YEAH. ASK ME A full. >> Yeah, that's a huge crystal.

>> Yeah, that's a short bingo. They got a. crystal sword on his chest. Yeah. All. right. All right. Sick. All right. I'm. happy you wore that. Thank you for doing. that. [laughter] Hey, you're the man. Good luck in your uh flag football game. >> Thank you so much, you guys. I would. love to come in and actually get on the. uh show, you know, live, you know, and. in person, you know, so you know, let me. know when I can come on. >> So, let me tell can we show you what we. do to the rims here, you know, and. >> put that right off the wall. He'll take. those right off the wall. >> So, the one on the right side there, 8. ft. We're having a good time on that. one. We're Dwight Howard on that one.

Okay. We are Dwight Howard on that one. And then the one on the left there, 10. ft. Do Can you uh do you still anything. with basketball? Do we shoot? Do we do. anything? >> Yeah, I do. I do. I train uh with my. son. I work out. Uh I'm still jumping. and dunking. So, >> you know, I just did a couple 360s the. other day. Windmills. But, UH. >> GO RUN MARCH MADNESS. WHAT ARE WE. [laughter] WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? I. didn't know. >> No, no, I'm good. Oh, man. That was. 19-year-old Dwight Howard.

>> Okay. So, as we're running these clips, Tone has a question for you actually. about it. >> Yeah, Dwight, I do. As we're watching. you do it there and and then like Blake. and Zack Lavine, it felt like after you. guys were done doing the dunk contest, and I say this with a heavy heart. >> that the dunk contest may have died. Is. there any way to save the dunk contest, do you think? Well, I think people just. got to stop comparing what happened in. the old dunk contest and and and just. allow people to try new things. It's so. hard to be creative with dunks cuz you.

don't get that much time and it's very. different, you know, actually doing the. dunk contest and being in the gym. ducking the basketball. You know, you. don't have you don't have no like juice. You got to bring your own energy. You. got to entertain the crowd. I think the era of people that, you. know, I've dunked with, we were good. entertainers and that's what made the. dunk contest so fun. We was willing to. get out there and, you know, not worry. about embarrassing oursel or have a. great time and enjoy the fans and enjoy.

the moment. Like, this is something that. we all grew up watching is the duck. contest and wanting to have moments like. this. So, when I got an opportunity to. get out there, I'm like, man, yeah, I'mma put on the cape. I'll put on the. jersey, the tight jersey. I jump over I. get a bigger rim whatever cuz I want. people to see how much of you know for. me basketball is how I express my art. you know how I express who I am. So you. know this is a part of my art you know. was dunking the basketball in different. ways jumping as high as I can. So you.

know I enjoyed it man I had so much fun. doing it and uh I remember doing the. last uh dunks and tribute to Kobe and. stuff like that for the last dunk. contest but. >> that was so much fun man. >> Yeah. Yeah, it was so much fun. And once. again, all glory day type stuff here. I. appreciate you saying like obviously. let's not be comparing them to. everything that has happened in the. past. Incredible moment there obviously, but you saying so. >> Yeah, crazy. Let's not uh compare to the. past dunks, but it's also I I appreciate.

you acknowledging like uh we had like. personalities, you know, like we uh we. wanted it to be awesome, >> you know, like there is there's a little. bit of that too that is potentially. needed and maybe a generation will show. up and it's like, >> hey, let's make this. >> I think it will. >> content, right? Content. >> I think it I think it will, you know, and I think also like more people are. like seeing the tricks of learning how. to dunk and be able to jump higher. So. now these athletes that are coming up, they're going to want to get into the.

dunk contest cuz they're like, "Man, nobody's doing it." So when I get a. chance to get up into the NBA or get a. become a content creator, I'm going to. jump into the dunk contest and see what. I can do. So hopefully they should add. in some content creators this year cuz I. know a couple that could really jump. that would actually make the dunk. contest go crazy. Like NBA verse the. world dunk contest. Like. >> no, they don't want that. Hey, they got. that little white There's that little. white guy. >> Yeah, >> he does triple axles. >> Jordan Kill Ganon. >> Jordan Kil Ganon.

>> He's unbelievable. >> Jordan Kilan. Then they got a guy named. T. Curry. He's a young guy that he got a. 51inch vert. They was trying to say MJ. had a 51inch vert, >> but he actually does have a 51. >> Not to mention like Shams. I believe. Shams. >> He does. I seen him jump up and but. before he dunked the ball, he tied his. shoe, then put the ball between his legs. and dunked it. >> That sounds. >> Shirania DID THAT. >> NO, NO, NO, >> NO. I'VE SEEN CH. I've seen a video of.

doing that, too. >> We don't know. We have no idea. He's in. the Allstar game. >> If he can do that, he need to stop uh. [laughter] recording and go play. basketball and do stuff. That's crazy. >> Hey, we appreciate you. We don't know if. you're already out there, but safe. travels to California. Uh we're going to. try to make it to this. We would we we. don't do anything Super Bowl week. We uh. we kind of find where we hang and uh we. just kind of hang there and and do our. thing. But Thursday, February 5th, 7. to9, I mean, sounds like it's going to.

be a great time, you know, and. >> yeah, everybody come on. [laughter]. >> All right, we will. Ladies and. gentlemen, it's Dwight Howard. >> Yeah. >> We had personalities, too. So, >> yeah. Yeah, good point. >> You know, like. >> that's the problem, though. They are. comparing to those old dunk contests, which is like, okay, how do we top this? Like what? That was that was a great. time for the dunk contests. >> Well, comparing is the thief of joy. >> He did say that. >> Words or spells? >> Well, they're spelled. >> Mhm. Ruin spells.

>> Who said that? >> Another uh lover of crystals. >> Yeah, it was fascinating. He does. And. it felt like he had a real meta, you. know, flow state. >> vibe in that whole thing. him playing. for the Taiwan Leopards and us thinking. they were already the Beer Leopards uh. was was missed by us. >> Didn't realize they merged teams because. the the beer team is one of our. favorites as well. >> Yeah, the Beers. >> Yeah. Yeah, the Beers. >> The Milwaukee Beers. >> Well, also a great team. >> I think it was who they combined with.

Taipei Bears. Uh beers, excuse me, I. forget. >> Uh we'll be joined by the all-time. leading point in US hockey history uh. here in a matter of moments, I would. assume. We ran a little bit behind there. uh with our first conversation with. Shfter as a general manager of the. Minnesota Vikings was fired in the. middle of our program as we're talking. to our tribal chief Royal Rumble. tomorrow 2 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. Unlimited. >> Do we Is that the name? >> Yes. >> Yeah, it's ESPN Plus Unlimited.

>> Okay. So, ESPN. >> So, it's. >> you have to have ESPN Plus and then. there are two kind of subcategories. There's, you know, whatever the the. basic one is. And then unlimited is the. all-encompassing all you can eat. >> And then there's another one. And then. there's another one which is like, >> hold on, hold on, hold on. Let's not get. super duper. Okay, we let's stay. So for. tomorrow for a roll rumble, >> I need to be looking for ESPN plus. >> Unlimited. >> Okay. And then they're super duper. unlimited right underneath it. >> Yeah. And that's where I I think you're.

allowed to check into the Rumble. >> Do yourselves a favor. >> Okay. >> Do it tonight. >> Yes. this smart idea. >> Yeah, this is I did one time uh Sunday. ticket. Didn't sign up until about two. minutes before kickoff. What a terrible. decision that was. This will feel like. that tomorrow 2 pm on ESPN Plus. >> Unlimited. >> Uh joining us now is a man who is. unlimited powers on the ice. Okay, unlimited. Whenever you talk about hockey, normally, you know, in the old days,

you'd have to immediately mention. Canada, you know, because Canada is. hockey town. Now, NHL, where is most of. the teams? Where's best of success? Where's the Stanley Cups at? Okay, thank. you. We'll have that conversation later. And oh, yeah, we got curling from you a. couple years back, too. Don't let us do. that again. Matt Hamilton might go ahead. and do that, but Canada obviously. created an incredible sport in this. hockey, and US has become a dominant. force. It is not easy to become a great. hockey player. It's a lot of early hours. on the ice. Ice time is obviously. incredibly expensive. It's incredibly.

hard. the cardiovascular plus the. physical toll that it takes on your body. is impossible. So for anybody to remain. committed to that, they would have to be. super disciplined and X out a lot of. things that could potentially distract. them, especially in the modern United. States of America. Well, we have the. guy, ladies and gentlemen, fresh off of. breaking the record for the most points. ever scored in the NHL by an American. player, absolute living legend, three-time Stanley Cup champion, Patrick. Kane. KO,

WHAT'S GOING ON, BOB? How's the How the. Mitz, pal? How to Mitz, pal. [laughter]. >> Talking Canadian though. >> Trying to do a little. >> That's more of a Canadian accent than uh. than hockey accent, I think. >> Yeah. Well, I just kind of tie it all. together, you know, with hockey. I. apologize. Congratulations, dude. That's. a huge deal. >> Huge deal. Obviously, >> thanks, boys. Appreciate it. Thanks for. taking the time to have me. >> No, no problem. Thank you for taking the. time to join us. Madano, uh, Mike, obviously, stud living legend. He sent a. message to you and then we got the. information that obviously you looked up. to him as a kid coming up in USA hockey.

What does last night mean to you? Obviously it was on the horizon and I. assume you understood that at some point. you were going to get this, but then. when the moment actually happens, how do. you kind of feel on the ice there? >> Uh I think I think the biggest feeling. is almost relief, right? Just to kind of. uh get it done and over with and uh and. move on a little bit. Um, I feel like. there's a lot of attention on it, especially coming into the season. Um, and uh, just kind of doing it and being.

able to to get it out of the way and. move on is is a good feeling. So, listen, it's it's a special night. I. mean, uh, I had, uh, Amanda, my son, and. and my parents there to kind of uh, you. know, cheer me on and and be be there. for the moment. So, it was it was. special to uh, obviously share the. moment with my teammates, but also with. them. Great for hockey as well, brother. Especially in the United States of. America with this, you know, rivalry. with Canada obviously always existing, but now it feels like at a fever's.

pitch. How do we feel about the state of. USA hockey right now as you become lead. USA hockey man of all time? >> You know what, I think it's in a it's. it's really in a great spot. Um, I think. you look at the foreign nations last. year, what that team did brought a lot. of excitement to the game, especially uh. in the United States and um, you know, now going into the Olympics, um, pretty. much a similar team going back there. and, uh, have a chance to to win the. best on best. So, I'll be cheering them. on. Um, there's some some great young.

American hockey players that are doing. some special things in the game. Um, and. uh, definitely be cheering them on. Obviously, we have a great one here in. in Detroit and Dylan Larkin, who's um. lives and breathes uh USA hockey. He's. been uh. >> Hold on. Hold on, Kanel. Hold on, Kanel. >> I should have known this. I just assumed. the guy who has the most [ __ ] points. in the history of American hockey. players that he would be on the [ __ ]. TEAM. I I JUST I JUST SOMEBODY just told.

me that that was Are you not You said. YOU'LL BE LOOKING WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT. ARE WE DOING HERE? WHAT? WHAT? What is. going on? You're not on Okay. Uh. >> that [ __ ]. >> I don't like that at all, Kano. I don't. like that at all, Kano. I'm sorry. >> Must be opting out. >> Yeah, exactly. >> They do have a good team going over, so. I'll be I'll be cheering them on. Listen, I didn't have the the greatest. start to the year and would have been. would have been great to be there, but. uh definitely be cheering them on this. year. >> The future of America's in good hands,

you say. Legend American hockey player. Go ahead, AJ. Yeah, you mentioned all. these these young players that are in. the league right now. I guess when you. first came up in the league, did you. ever find yourself like who were some of. those older guys that maybe you grew up. watching where you you look around and. you find yourself on the ice with some. of these legends that you grew up. watching? Are there any guys like that. you can remember? >> Yeah, for sure. Um Mike Madano was a big. one. He he's a guy that I I watched a. lot when I was younger. Kind of had a. great flare for the game. Um his speed. and skill was something I always.

admired, especially at his size. you. know, he's um around 63 or 6'4. Uh Chris. Chelios, um I think he's probably the greatest. American of all time when it's uh when. you add it all up um playing till he's. 46, 47 years old, he's really become a. great friend and uh obviously have have. really gotten to know him, you know, just from my Chicago days and being in. Chicago. Um Jeremy Ronic had a great. career. I grew up in Buffalo. Pat La.

Fontaine was a great player. So, those. are some of the the Americans that I uh. really looked up to. >> Oh, Charlie. Great to hear his name. Great to hear. Oh, Charlie. Yeah, that's. what we call him, right? Ko. [laughter]. >> Oh, he's he's the best, man. He's he's. such a great guy. Um, honestly, he's one of the one of the. best humans in the world. And, uh, anytime I do something or. um, anything like that, he's the first. to reach out. So, I' I've really. developed a good friendship with him. and um one of uh one of the best guys in.

the world. >> The hockey culture is an incredible one. Every time we learn about a new hockey. player, we love him and we respect him. mostly because it's not easy at all. The. sport is damn near impossible, let alone. you're on ice moving at like 20, 30. miles an hour, but the amount of work to. build your body up to get to the point. to make it is impossible. And it starts. at a young age. Go ahead, Ty. >> Yeah, Kainer. It seems like in this day. and age, every time there is a draft, whoever gets picked first overall, it's, oh, this guy's the he's the next one. He's the next great hope or, you know,

whatever the case may be, you were kind. of in that same model being the first. overall pick. What like when it comes to. this record, was there a point in your. career, maybe I mean probably not when. you were younger, but when it kind of. all clicked into place and you're like, "Holy [ __ ] this actually is something. that is attainable and I could. potentially be the, you know, the. greatest point getter in American. history.". >> Yeah. I mean, it's it's hard to say, right, when when that moment comes. Um,

I don't know. I feel like for me, like. as a young player, you're just trying to. uh become the best player you can, you. know, uh obviously as an offensive guy, you're always trying to put up numbers. and score goals, score points, create. chances, things like that. But, uh um I. don't think it was ever really like a. thought until, you know, maybe the past. year or two where there was some more. attention on it and people started. mentioning to me that, you know, maybe. this is something that could be, you. know, attainable. Well, then you start. thinking about it a little bit and um.

how cool it would be to to actually. accomplish especially, you know, you. look at all the the amazing American. hockey players that have played the game. and all of a sudden, you know, here you. are at the top of the list. It's uh it's. a little bit surreal and um humbling in. a lot of ways, too. >> Uh speaking of humbling, feels like your. culture is that way. And I I mentioned. it there before. He asked about the. point in your professional career when. you thought this was possible, but was I. accurate in describing like your your. childhood as hockey player? You guys are. like all in. We're talking moving. We're.

doing this right from a very young age. Is that an accurate depiction of how you. kind of came about it as well? >> Yeah, for sure. I mean, um, you know, for me, when I was younger, I I I just I. love playing hockey, right? That was. that was my childhood. That's what I. love to do. So, you know, I was on the. ice all the time. um you know maybe 350. days a year. I loved playing summer. hockey. I loved going up to uh I grew up. in Buffalo, so tournaments in Toronto. and Canada were some of the best. tournaments you could play against. competition. um that maybe was uh a little bit better.

than um you know what you were playing. against in the States. So it was always. fun to do that. And then you know I. moved away my uh my freshman year of. high school to try and um you know. become a better hockey player. I. actually moved to Detroit when I was uh. when I was a freshman in high school and. decided to play here for a year, then a. couple years with the US program in Ann. Arbor and then, you know, another year. in London, Ontario. So, my four years of. high school were um you know, all away. from home. So, definitely some.

sacrifices had to be made, but um you. look look back on them, it was. definitely, you know, all worth it. >> You hockey people are awesome. Legitimately, you hockey people are. awesome. Yeah. I moved away from home. freshman year of high school. [laughter]. I'm going off to [ __ ] count. Where. where are you ever coming back? Hopefully not. [laughter]. >> Actually, I'm going to go to Canada. before I come back home. I'll see you a. couple different times. That's every. hockey story. It feels like it's so much. commitment literally. But I I think they. they know who's going to be somebody. right early. Don't Is that not in hockey.

as well? >> It's you know what it's I feel like it's. it's hard to say, right? I mean, some of. the some of the best players I played. against, you know, 14, 15 years old, you. know, never made it or or made it and. never really had a great career. Um, I. think it's about opportunity, too. You. have to make the right decisions. You. have to make the most of, you know, kind. of your opportunity in certain. situations. Um, you know, I didn't think. I was I was the best player at my age. level growing up, especially at that. age. But um you get some opportunity,

you you play in good situations, you. continue devel to to develop and you. know all of a sudden you're uh. you know looking at yourself being being. drafted as a as a first round pick or. first overall and then you get even more. opportunity because you're going to a. team that that needs some help, right? So uh you know I look back on it I'm. definitely grateful for a lot of the. situations I was in that I was able to. uh you know excel in. >> Yeah, I think you did great. We'll head. to the weekend. We'll see you Wednesday.

here on ESPN. We're still live though, Kano. Still live, Kano. Okay. No Zamboni. yet. Okay. We are still live action. here. All right. We're on YouTube, Tik. Tok Live X, I believe ESPN Plus, Disney. Plus, and even ESPN Plus Unlimited. >> Hey, so when'd you get the dangles? When. do we get the sticky mitts? You know, when when do we start when we start. saucing? You know, cuz I you know, I got. I got pretty good. When did that start. happening? As a child, you just that. thing was glued to the stick.

>> Yeah. As a as a kid, um you know, actually actually funny story, I used to. uh always carry around a stick in like. one of those little orange hockey balls. and uh going into hotels. I'd stick. handle going up the stairs or I'd stick. handle going into the rink. And we were. actually uh we were playing in London. and my my dad would actually carry the. bag, my hockey bag into the rink so I. could stick handle and and just like. work on my hands or whatever. And uh we. were playing in London, had a bunch of. people come down, the bus was leaving.

and uh I was saying, you know, my hi's. and goodbyes to, you know, family and. friends that were there. So my dad took. my bag out to the bus and someone. shouted out, "Look, the old man's still. still carrying the bag for him." So um. we kind of looked back to see what it. was, but uh never really put a a face to. the situation, but that's just kind of. what I was what I was doing as a kid. just uh always stick handling, always. had a stick and ball and uh not just. because I was like trying to work on my.

hands or anything, but just because it's. that's what I love to do, you know? So, >> it's crazy how you can be obsessed with. something that you just enjoy doing, you. know? >> Yeah. >> Like there is What's that book? What's. that book? >> Uh Outliers. >> The Outliers. Have you ever heard of the. book The Outliers? >> I haven't. >> Okay. It basically goes through the. stories of all these people who are at. the top of their fields and how like a. happen stance in their life certainly. led them to that. Like I think uh Bill. Gates or something like that. >> Yeah. He grew up next to the first. supercomputer ever in in the United.

States in Washington. So he obviously. was privy to that information before. anybody. Like for Patrick Kane it would. be growing up in Buffalo. >> and having an obsession with hockey. Like that could certainly help. Oh yeah. And you can just go across the bridge. here and go play against some Canadians. And when you come back, your dad's going. to be known for carrying your bag. Everybody else ask because the little. Kano is obsessed with just dangles. This. guy's triple deicking uh everything he. sees whenever he's walking into. buildings. That's awesome. That's a. beautiful thing. >> Yeah. We used to uh we used to go to. Savers games and we'd on the way in we'd.

buy like one of those little mini sticks. and we'd see some like garbage or like. uh like napkins on the ground and we'd. uh we'd make a ball out of it and like. I'd go running up and down the hallway. at six, seven years old like stick. handling in and out of people like. putting it through their legs. They're. probably like what's this what's this. [laughter] kid doing? >> Oh, they said that's that's. [ __ ] KO. >> There goes Ko again. >> Go [ __ ] Ko. Put it home. That little. goddamn Kano never stops. Jeez Louise. That's what they say. And uh they said.

that man would go on to be Lord. Stanley's friend multiple times. >> The all-time leading United States. scorer in the history of hockey. We talk. about you hoisting Lordo. Go ahead, Con. man. >> Yeah, KO, obviously three Stanley Cups. Uh is there one that stands out as a. Boston Bruins fan? The one where you. snatch the soul out of New England uh. and Bruins fans everywhere does for me. but also, you know, you score an. overtime game winner to win the Stanley. Cup. That's basically what you dream of. when you're, you know, as a kid in those. uh arenas. But is there one you look.

back on just thinking of the team or the. moment that's kind of seems more special. than maybe the others? >> Yeah, I I mean, I don't know if one is. uh more special than the others. They're. all special in their own way. Um like. you said, 2010 was a overtime goal. 2013. was, you know, the Bruins were up 2-1. and we scored two in 17 seconds to uh to. take game six and win that one. And. then, you know, 2015 was our was our.

first one at home. So, that was special. just kind of. spending it in uh in in the locker room. after your home locker room and just. kind of having a never- ending party. there was uh I think uh memories we'll. never forget. But um yeah, I definitely. think they're all special in their own. way. >> All right. Hey, last question for you. and I would like you to get this one. right and I know you're gonna feel. obligated to say the wrong answer. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Because because what's on your your head.

right now? >> Taran Diggs from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has a question for you. >> Yeah. Patty, obviously you're playing in. Detroit now. You've played in Chicago. You grew up in Buffalo. You've obviously. played in the barn uh in Boston. You've. played Pittsburgh a lot. Pittsburgh a. lot. Where is Hockey Town, USA? We have. this debate around here uh quite a bit. Where in your opinion, Pittsburgh is. Hockey Town USA? >> Is that what you would say? >> No, there's only one hockey town. It's. Detroit.

>> I mean, that's the name. That's the name. that's given here in Detroit is the is. the hockey town. That's the logo on the. center ice, right? >> The [ __ ]. >> Only one hockey. [laughter]. >> That's what I'm talking about, Kar. I. needed you to say that to these boys cuz. everyone's forgetting around here. You. >> know, I will say this. I will say this. the person that set up this. conversation, they're in their email. It's there is a. reference to it in name of email for. opportunity. Like it is. >> exactly. >> it's like everything they I didn't know. that that came through and I saw it. I'm. like uh [ __ ] I have to be incredibly.

disrespectful whenever I'm. >> when I'm saying Pittsburgh is hockey. town. I mean [laughter] that is wildly. disrespectful every time I say that. >> If you Google where is hockey town, Detroit, Michigan shows up. >> Okay. Yeah. AI certainly get everything. right. We both did. That is a Red Wings. That is a Red Wings fan there. Uh Foxy, he has a question for you actually. Can. >> Yeah, Caner. First and foremost, thank. you for your service to Hockey Town. Uh. growing up in Michigan in the '9s, 2000s. Detroit Redwing hockey was.

absolutely everything. Everyone in the. state of Michigan was playing hockey at. a young age. And now, as you can see, some people are forgetting what hockey. town really means to the NHL. And it's. been, I think, 10 years since we've made. the playoffs, which is uh this year you. guys are having an awesome season. So. hopefully that drought ends. But can you. just talk about Hockey Town and why it's. such a special place to play hockey? >> Yeah. Um,

you know, obviously I came from Chicago, being in Chicago a lot of years, and big. rivalry between the Red Wings and the. Blackhawks. And I guess for me, I never. really knew how I was going to be. accepted at first. And honestly, the. fans and the organization has been. incredible. Um, really has just welcomed. me with open arms and um it's it's been. an amazing place to play. I mean, playing at Little Caesar's Arena and um. the support we get every night from the. fans and how loud the building is, it's.

just uh it feels like you're playing in. the playoffs every night here. So, um, listen, I think it's it's hockey town. for a reason. And like you said, we. haven't been in the playoffs for a. while. So, in a good spot right now, and, uh, excited to get back there and. do some damage. >> Is it It's a pizza or pizza pizza. [laughter]. >> Pizza. >> I had to check that. Check that. [laughter]. >> Way to go, Kane. Hey, we appreciate you, man. Congrats on the accolade. Another.

of many throughout your entire career. Thanks for what you're doing for USA. Hockey and uh good luck to Hockey Town. Good luck to Hockey Town. >> Thanks for having me, boys. Appreciate. it. >> Hey, next time I'll show off my mitts, you know, with our top [laughter] eight. do the whole thing. KO sound good. >> Yeah. All right. >> Love to see him. I'd love to see him. >> Patrick Ko, we appreciate. >> sure sound Canadian there, pal. >> Mhm. >> I mean, only people to call him Kano, I. think, in his life, probably.

>> That is interesting. Oh. hockey. You're. right. No, it's Ker. It's been Kane. Every time you hear it's Kane, they all. say caner, but you go, "Hey, >> can. >> Yeah. Yeah. I just, you know, anytime. you throw an O on there. >> Yeah, it works. >> cuz you can showcase the Canadian. >> Yeah, that's hockey, baby. >> Yeah, that is hockey. That is hockey. That's hockey. >> Hole doesn't know. >> Hakleer. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, >> we do both. I was going to say, >> I try to throw in a hoggle every time.

Yeah, >> hockey has the best inside their. community [ __ ] without a. >> doubt. Their lingo is top tier. >> Top tier. Yeah. And I don't know if it's. just Canadians like I think Canadians. potentially just have top tier lingo and. it's cuz I think they're all locked in. their houses like because it's so cold. for so long. So, got to be funny, got to. be entertaining, got to come up with. ways to say things. >> Yeah. The Canadians bring the lingo, the. United States brings the Moxy, and then. like the Russians bring like the party, you know? that that's kind of how the. culture gets formed.

>> I think that is probably a pretty. accurate depiction of how it all goes. >> Swedes bring the skill. You know, you. could argue that the the Fins bring the. goalies. Uh. >> and you know what America brings? >> What's that? >> Gold, >> gold medals. >> and the be. >> Do you believe in miracles? >> Yes. >> How could you not? Especially whenever. Team USA hockey did what it did. Whenever you hear somebody so perfectly. phrase something, it's a moment etched. in sports history. And then there's. documentaries about the behind the. scenes. And it's clear that a pies on.

was certainly one of the most pivotal. pieces and one of the greatest runs in. the history of sports. Ladies and. gentlemen, there's a documentary that is. out today on Netflix called Miracle. The. boys of 80, THE GOLD MEDALIST captain. for the Miracle on ICE OUT OF WINTHROP, MASSACHUSETTS, MIKE. >> YEAH. >> How you doing? >> Hi guys. How's it going? >> Hey, Paison, how's it going? Thank you. for joining us. We appreciate you. No.

better person to join us on this. feel-good Friday as we head into a. massive weekend kicking off Super Bowl. uh week. So, we appreciate you taking. time out of your life. How has it been. reliving uh the glory, if you will, with. this new documentary? I assume it's a. nice trip of nostalgia, a little trip. down memory lane. How was it, and how. has it been? >> Well, I'm looking forward to seeing it. Um, I haven't I haven't seen the final. version, so we're going to see it. tonight. I got I got 60 family, friends,

and relatives going to go to the golf. club down the street from where I live, and we're going to sit at the bar, and. we're going to watch the video, and. everybody's going to remember what it. was like uh 40 something years ago. It's. it I'm I'm excited about it. >> Okay, so you haven't seen it yet, but. the process of the making of it, a lot. of reliving, a lot of storytelling. What. uh what kind of was it for you? >> It was It was great. you know, a bunch. of us went back to Lake Placid uh. although you know, many of us have been. there off and on over the years, but to. go back with your teammates to to sit in. the locker room uh and just kind of.

reminisce what it was like uh in this. quaint little place in Lake Placid. I. mean, it it's hard for people to believe. that if you ever go to Lake Placid, if. you go to that arena, it's hard to think. that they had an Olympic games there. But, um whenever we go back, I call it. Pleasantville. It it's like going back. in time. Um it's a special place and uh. we're excited about you know seeing how. they put this whole documentary. together. I have seen bits and pieces. but have not seen the final version. So. I'm excited about that and uh I think. people are going to enjoy it. I think.

the way the way this country is going. now we could use a 1980. So maybe it'd. be nice for everybody to look back on a. great moment. >> Hell yes. Also with the Olympics around. the corner I think sports do have an. incredible way of bringing people. together. Couldn't be a more perfect. time for the Winter Olympics just a few. weeks out. You said it feels like you're. going back in time. Let's go back in. time in that locker room after the huge. win. Obviously, you guys can't hear what. Al Michaels is saying with the miracle. call and it's a much much more what like. unless you have a phone in the kitchen. I don't know how you contacted people.

Did you guys know the gravity of the. situation there? Because that wasn't. even in the finals, but did you know the. gravity of what your team was going to. be in in in the moment? >> No clue whatsoever. Um, we knew people. in Lake Placid were excited. I knew my. family and friends at home were excited, but no clue that the world and the. country was watching the way they were. And remember now, there were only three. TV stations then. There was no Twitter. or Facebook or Instagram and all this. crazy stuff that everybody deals with. today. We were in a little place in Lake. Placid playing a hockey game. And it.

wasn't until after we beat Finland, uh, which people forget about because if we. don't beat Finland, you and I aren't. having this conversation right now. Um, and uh, we beat Finland and we go to the. White House on Monday and the streets. were lined with people four or five rows. deep waving American flags, pe people. singing the Star Spangle Banner. It was. like, "Oh my god, you people watched. >> It was just incredible." And people will. come up to me today, depending on how. old they are, they remember where they.

were when Kennedy got assassinated. They. remember where they were when the. Challenger blew up. They remember where. they were on 911. and they'll always. say, "I remember where I was when we. won." And [clears throat] I always go, "We I didn't know you were on the team.". >> Um, but that's what that moment was. It. was It wasn't Boston. It wasn't Chicago. Uh, and I've said this and I'll say this. the day I die. Other than being a police. officer, a firefighter, someone in the. military who protects our country, there's no greater feeling than putting. on a USA jersey because you're not. playing for a Super Bowl, you're not.

playing for a Stanley Cup, you're. playing for an Olympic gold medal. And. you put the USA jersey on, it's pretty. special and pretty amazing. And when we. accomplished what we did and saw how. much joy it brought to a nation, makes. it even that much more special. >> Who do you play for, man? You know, that's the uh. >> it's it's a it's very few people will. get to be Olympic athletes. And when you. are, it's it's something you should. cherish and honor. >> Yeah. Hell yeah. And you guys certainly. did that and we're still obviously. talking about it and we'll talk about it. for the rest of time. And documentaries.

obviously are a nice reminder to people. that maybe haven't heard the story that. there is great inspiration and optimism. right around the corner and sports. certainly can provide that. Go ahead AJ. Yeah, your head coach Herb Brooks. I. know a lot of people are aware of a lot. of the the your whole story through the. movie Miracle that came out. I don't. know what year it did come out, but can. you talk about your head coach like what. he was like back then? I know there's. always a big thing of you guys bonding. together to go against him almost like. the whole how he was a hard driving. coach. What was he like? Did the movie. do a good job uh representing him? I'm.

sure we'll get to see in the documentary. tonight, you know, even more. >> He's a he he's AJ. He's a lot friendlier. in the movie. Um they [laughter]. yeah they softened him up in the movie. Um but you know you know and preaching. to you guys, you know sports as well as. I do. That's how coaches coached in the. 70s. U my high school football coach, my. college hockey coach, they demanded a. lot out of you. They challenged you all. the time. And Herb was maybe a little. more demanding and a little more. challenging, but uh there there's a way. he was going to coach this particular. team and this is the way it's going to.

be. And he stayed true to form right. till the end. you know, when we won the. gold medal, he didn't come out in the. ice and celebrate with us. Uh, if he. did, it would have been, "Oh, now you. want to be our friend. Now you want to. be close to us." He he let us enjoy the. moment. And he made a decision to coach. that team the way he did, partly because. there were 12 guys on the team from. Minnesota, nine that played under him at. the University of Minnesota. And as a. player trying out for the team, wondering are they going to pick any. Eastern guys? Because normally Eastern. coach, Eastern players, Western coach,

Western players. clearly, you know, the. best team was put together and all the. Minnesota kids on that team were not not. only good people, great players. So, he. made a decision that it was going to be. us against him. And uh as he said during. throughout the year, there's a method to. to my madness. And uh we understood. that's the way it was going to be. I. mean, two-hour practice, you can yell. and scream at me all you want. After. practice, I'm going to go have a few. beers with the guys and come back to. practice the next day. But two of the. qualities that Herb had, and I say this. all the time about uh coaches, if you.

don't trust your coach, you're in. trouble. And if you don't respect your. coach, you're in trouble. We trusted. Herb. We respected Herb. And if this is. the way he was going to coach our team, then we're going to deal with it. And. we're going to play. And and look again. at the success of our team. Um you know, doing something that nobody in nobody in. the world thought we can win a medal, let alone win the whole thing. But he. believed in us and and and we understood. what he was doing. That's the way it was. going to be. >> The power of team, beautiful thing. And. uh obviously you talk about Eastern guys.

and Western guys, Midwest guys. You are. Eastern guy. Incredible Eastern Italian. by the way. >> We uh we love that around here. Gratzi. And I don't know if you know this, but. uh the NFL is back to being an Eastern. league. I guess Connor uh Boston Connor. has a question for you. >> Yeah, Rizzo, absolute honor. Um but Pat. just mentioned it. The Patriots, you can. see the helmet. I know you are a diehard. Pats fan as well. How do you feel about.

Mike Vrael, Drake May, nine days to the. Super Bowl and uh do you feel good about. the team? And also, you know, I I assume. you also needed some te's and peas for. Bill Bich not being a first ballot hall. of famer that affected us all. individually. that that to me is. probably one of the most embarrassing. sporting moments I've ever been around. And I I follow sports quite a bit and uh. obviously being in being in Boston and. the Patriots and the Celtics and you. when I was a kid, the Celtics were. winning championships after. championships. And back in the 70s, 80s.

rather, uh I used to travel with the. team when Raymond Barry was the coach. Steve Grogan, Steve Nelson, Tim Fox, all. those guys. I I I was at the Super Bowl. when they got beat up by the Bears, but. I I was on the sidelines during a lot of. NFL games when when those guys were. playing. So, I got a great love for for. the New England Patriots, obviously, in. sports. And I I think you can't get a. better collection right now with Mike. Greybel and uh and uh and and May. Uh I. think they're perfect marriage together. I I love the way Greyel coaches. He.

seems like the guy I want I'd want to. play for him and and Drake May at 22. years old or whatever. and he looks like. he's 12. Uh, you know, what he's doing. is pretty exciting. So, obviously in New. England, we're we're we're happy again. that the Patriots are back in the. limelight, but uh I think it's going to. be a hard game. I think Seattle's off. awfully good, but the Patriots all year, nobody's given them credit. They say. they have the easiest schedule, all this. and all that, but hey, they're still. professional football players. I don't. care how easy the schedule is, they're. still pretty talented players that. they're playing against. And uh they're.

playing extremely well right now. And. I'm excited about the opportunity for. them. and hopefully uh hopefully good. things can happen. You're speaking. literally from Conor's. >> I mean I just knew Rizzo knew ball like. there's never a question about it but. even hearing it and I mean you talk. about all the time too like people in. New England Massachusetts they just know. football better than the layman. Granted. gold medalist superstar legendary. Michael Rousion of course he knows. football but I mean that was yeah that. was music to my ears Rizzo. Thank you. >> All right Pison obviously we're going to.

have to gas up your [ __ ] city for the. next 20 [laughter] years it sounds like. Okay, Riz, yeah, we're all pumped about. it, but it it does feel like VBO and. Drake are the perfect combo and they. could do this for another 20 years if. they really wanted to. So, good for you. guys up there and your fans. Now, let's. talk about uh hockey becoming very very. relevant to the entire world very soon. with this Olympics. Go ahead, Tone. >> Yeah, Mike, with this Olympics, obviously your team was was all amateurs. uh for that Olympics and now. professionals are playing in the. Olympics. Do you like that the NHL.

players are playing in the Olympics or. did you prefer like it was back in the. day when it was all amateurs uh with. you? >> No, I I Well, it was never all amateurs. because the the Soviets and the Swedes. and the Finns and the Checkexs were were. professional players playing. professional hockey over in their. country. >> That's why it's a miracle. >> The amateurs were usually just the. United States and Canada. Um I was at. the beginning curious how they would. play against each other. you know, if if. I'm playing for the Penguins and I'm on. the US Olympic team and I'm playing. against one of my Penguin teammates. who's playing for Canada, am I going to.

hit him? Am I going to go after him? And. when I talked to the players, they said. absolutely. Uh, you know, you separate. your differences after the games are. over and you go back to being on the. team that you're playing on. So, when I. knew that and I saw that, it was like, yeah, let the best players in the world. play. And they are so good. They are so. talented. uh at that Four Nations. tournament, if you saw any of it, you. saw the Kachchuk brothers drop the. gloves at the beginning. >> immediately. They're playing for their country and. Sydney Crosby said the same things. I. heard Sydney said, "When you put the. crest on, it's a whole different.

ballgame." And when you see that and. you're going to see it in the Olympic. Games, uh they're going to go after each. other. They're going to compete. I wish. the Soviets were playing in it because I. still like to see the best teams in the. world play. The Soviets aren't there and. that's because their country's all. messed up. But unfortunately, the. athletes are suffering because of that. But. >> agreed. >> Having said that, this is the best US. team we've ever put on the ice. Uh this. is the most talented, the deepest. Um I. thought they were going to win the the. the in the foreign nations tournament. the but you see how important a.

goalender can be. Bennington was. spectacular. And Canada's loaded. You. you know, you got Macar, you got maybe. the best player I've seen ever, uh close. to ever. I I can't take Mr. Lemieux and. Mr. Gretzky out of the equation, but uh. Conor McDavid's pretty damn good. So I. think Canada's loaded. I think our. goalending might be a little better, but. clearly I think this is the best team. that we've put on the ice for the. Olympic Games. And when I was at the. Four Nations, I had the pleasure of. being the honorary captain. And I told. the players, he says, "Do me a favor and.

win a gold medal." So people will leave. us alone and it's and it's over and they. they can carry the torch. My my. grandkids need their heroes and. hopefully it'll be this team. And I'm. I'll be in Milan and I'm excited about. this team and what they can do. >> Happy you'll be there. you should be at. everything uh going forward for. everybody uh at all times. But Tai had a. question about that last statement you. made there actually. >> Yeah, Mike, I did want to ask you about. that because I think it was kind of. tongue and cheek, you know, about hey, stop bothering us, you know, like we.

need the the new blood to kind of create. some new heroes. Do you think in this. day and age when these guys, you know, and granted they're not making the kind. of money that, you know, NBA players, NFL, MLB players are, but do you think. that that is still like if we were to. win a gold medal, do you think that that. that kind of does I don't want to say. it's not going to diminish what you guys. did, but do you think that will kind of. put you guys in your place in history. and then people will kind of start to. talk about this new iteration of US.

hockey and it won't be so much, hey, it's unbeliev like we're never going to. see another miracle on ice, but we'll. kind of have our our new regime, I. guess, of uh hockey in the United. States. >> Well, I I think it'll be a testament to. how far the game has gone, how far it's. come, how good our players are today. And and I'm just going to add one a. little side note, too. You should see. how good our women are, and how talented. the ladies are, and how much better. women's hockey is today than it was. But. the men's hockey program and where they. go, if they win a gold medal, it'll be a.

showcase of how far US hockey has come. I think in 1980 we might have opened the. door. Today's players have knocked it. down. And if they win a gold medal, it's. not going to change one damn thing that. we did. What we did is what we did. What. we did will never be it'll never happen. again because you'll never see a bunch. of college kids play against NHL players. or pros and win. So let's take that out. of the equation right there. And the. state of the country at the time, maybe. maybe a little similar to now, but but. you know, at that time in 1980, you. remember who's going to be the. president? There were gas lines,

inflation, the the the the hostages had. been taken, the threat of a cold war, Soviets invaded Afghanistan. There was. so many things around politically. Um, and and we were playing the Soviets, you. know, we're not playing the Soviets in. this Olympic Games. So, yeah, >> I think that whole side of end of of. what we did in 80, you'll never ever see. again. >> And this is their moment. This is their. team to do what they need to do. It's. not going to change, you know, our team. and our history and our story cuz what. we did, you'll never see again. But for.

hockey, it would be a great tribute to. the American players that are playing. the game and and they're, you know, my. grandkids are going to look up to these. players. So, they'll have their heroes. and, you know, want to play in the NHL. because of what they're seeing out there. and what this country is doing. So, we're going to rally around it and and. hopefully they can win. But if it if it. uh if it does happen and they do win, good for them. >> Let them have their day. We do that. >> Hell yeah. Riz, I love that speech you. just gave for the boys. You know, it's.

like, hey, a lot of things happen in the. world. You know, sports have the. ability, you know, America winning would. be great right now, especially with what. we have. And Kachuk Kaching last night, you know, he's all the way back. Feels. like the boys are ready to go. I did not. know Kano, Patrick Kano was not on the. team. That is a surprise me learning. that in real time while I'm talking to. him. That was obviously a uh a mistake. by me. But I like our team. I like what. we're doing and I like the idea of you. potentially giving us a speech as we. send into the greatest weekend of all.

time. Can you do that with us? Can we. always end the show with a team on me, team on three type thing. Would you mind. being a part of that with us, Cap? >> Yep. I'm ready. >> Okay. So, we will be off Monday and. Tuesday. We will be uh be back on. Wednesday live from Radio Row in San. Francisco with guests through the roof. A hilarious situation will occur uh. probably two, three times an hour. A. ridiculous situation will occur probably. four or five times an hour. Radio row is.

insane. We'll be celebrating the year. that was for ball. And we hope you have. the greatest weekend of all time cuz. next week and you know the future is an. amazing thing. Be a friend. Tell a. friend something nice. might change your. life. We're in this thing together. Team. on me. Anything to say to the uh to the. team here, RZ? >> Thanks for having me on team. And if you. believe in something and you're willing. to work hard, you will accomplish it. And that's what our hockey team is going. to do in Milan. >> Hell yeah, Reys. >> Yeah. >> Hell yeah. Team on three, HAVE AN.

INCREDIBLE WEEKEND. ONE, TWO, THREE, GOODBYE.