Way back in September, it didn't necessarily feel like we were going to end up here. The Chiefs may have enjoyed their status as the NFL's latest—and perhaps greatest—dynasty, but it was clear the Bills and Ravens would push them in the AFC. The Eagles, meanwhile, began the season 2-2, and saw their coach getting in shouting matches with fans at their own stadium. And yet, here we are, getting ready for Chiefs-Eagles in the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons. How did these teams make it here? What's at stake for them (beyond the obvious, of course)? Robert Mays sat down with Nate Taylor and Brooks Kubena, The Athletic's Chiefs and Eagles beat writers, respectively, to answer those questions on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen With: Nate Taylor and Brooks Kubena Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

The Chiefs hunt for a three-peat meets the Eagles march for redemption

Robert Mays and Dianna Russini kick off Super Bowl week with a crossover episode of The Athletic Football Show and Scoop City. The duo discusses Dianna's takeaways from the Senior Bowl, the behind-the-scenes elements of this year's head coach hiring cycle, the most interesting quarterbacks of the offseason, and more. Rundown Senior Bowl takeaways Coaching carousel roundup Brock Purdy/Niners negotiations The Matthew Stafford domino Sam Darnold's market Could Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll reunite in Vegas? Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen With: Dianna Russini Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior Bowl takeaways, coaching carousel roundup, and veteran quarterback intrigue with Dianna Russini

It's been far too long since we heard from you, our dear listeners. And so we're happy to say that the TAFS inbox is open! Not just for this episode, either. We're going to be doing this all offseason long. In the return edition of the mailbag, Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen discuss the point of fandom, the Bills best path to getting over the hump, if it's lame for neutral fans to root for the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, what they'd do this offseason if they were Sam Darnold, and a whole lot more. Rundown What can the Bills do to close the gap with the Chiefs in the playoffs? What is it to be a sports fan? Can Matt LaFleur get the Packers over the hump? Is it lame to root for the Chiefs in the Super Bowl? Assessing the staff around Ben Johnson in Chicago What biases influence Robert and Derrik? What would you do this offseason if you were Sam Darnold? Could Matthew Stafford be on the move this offseason? The role of elite tight ends in dynasties Why hasn't Steve Spagnuolo's staff been picked over for DC jobs? Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The TAFS mailbag is back!

No team advances to its Conference Championship Game by accident. They get there through a combination of players, coaches, scheme and the way they were built. So what lessons can we learn from the Chiefs, Eagles, Bills and Commanders—and the Lions, let's be real—this season that we can apply to finding winners in future years? Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and old friend Nate Tice dig into that question on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen With: Nate Tice Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social Follow Nate on Bluesky: @natetice.bsky.social Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Follow Nate on X: @Nate_Tice Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lessons learned from this season's final four teams (and the Lions)

One of the signature NFL franchises announced its head coach on a Friday night at 10 pm, and that was the second craziest development of the weekend in the coach hiring cycle. So, yeah, it was a wild weekend on the coaching carousel. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen discuss Pete Carroll to the Raiders, Brian Schottenheimer's ascension in Dallas, Liam Coen's on-again/off-again/on-again partnership with the Jaguars and more on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Rundown Pete Carroll to the Raiders Brian Schottenheimer takes over in Dallas Liam Coen goes to the Jaguars The Saints are getting shut out Coordinator moves, headlined by Bobby Slowik and Dennis Allen Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The wildest 48 hours on the 2025 NFL coaching carousel

A season that presented us with so many possible new Super Bowl teams—the Lions! the Bills! the Ravens! the 14-win Vikings!—ended in an awfully familiar place. How did the Chiefs and Eagles win their respective conferences to advance to Super Bowl LIX? Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen recap Championship Sunday on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conference Championship Sunday Recap: It's the Chiefs and Eagles for the Super Bowl...again

Chiefs-Bills for the AFC Championship? Yeah, sure, anyone could've seen that coming back in August. Commanders-Eagles for the NFC Championship Game? Ummmm, what? These matchups—two predictable heavyweights adding another chapter to their recent playoff rivalry on one side, one mini-surprise and one out-of-nowhere team playing for the third time this season on the other—illustrate one aspect of what makes this sport so great. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen preview Conference Championship Sunday on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Rundown NFC Championship Game preview The narrative aspects When the Commanders have the ball When the Eagles have the ball Supporting pieces to watch AFC Championship Game preview The narrative aspects When the Bills have the ball When the Chiefs have the ball Supporting pieces to watch Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conference Championship Sunday Preview: Can the Bills finally slay the Chiefs dragon?

One week ago, the Lions were one of the favorites to win Super Bowl LIX. Now, they are an eliminated team that has lost both of its coordinators. Zack Rosenblatt joins Robert Mays to discuss Aaron Glenn signing on as head coach of the Jets on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Then, Colton Pouncy jumps on to dig into where the Lions go from here now that Glenn and Ben Johnson have left for head coaching jobs. Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen With: Zack Rosenblatt and Colton Pouncy Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Glenn heads to the Jets as the brain drain in Detroit continues

The Lions letdown turned out to be the Bears opportunity, with the latter hiring Ben Johnson 48 hours after the former's playoff loss. On this episode of The Athletic Football Show, Robert Mays welcomes on Albert Breer of The MMQB and Sports Illustrated to cover the latest in this year's coaching cycle. Then, Kalyn Kahler from ESPN joins the show to discuss her story on the surprising amount of power agents hold in the head coach and GM hiring process. Host: Robert Mays With: Albert Breer and Kalyn Kahler Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Bears get their man, the Jets seemingly close in on theirs, and the league has a coaching search + agent conundrum

And then there were four. So how did we get to Bills-Chiefs on the AFC side of the bracket and Commanders-Eagles on the NFC side? Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen break it down on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Rundown Ravens-Bills recap Commanders-Lions recap Rams-Eagles recap Texans-Chiefs recap Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Divisional Round Recap: Chiefs, Bills, Eagles and Commanders advance to Championship Sunday

It seems as though this entire season in the AFC has been prelude to a three-team tournament among the Chiefs, Bills and Ravens. We've finally reached the beginning of that tournament, with what could ultimately be the game of the season wrapping up the Divisional Round. Will it be the Ravens or the Bills advancing to the Conference Championship Game. Will Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen put an exclamation point on what would be an deserving MVP season for either of them? We can't wait to find out. Rams-Eagles, meanwhile, is a worthy appetizer before the main dish that we're getting served on Sunday evening. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dive deep into both games on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Divisional Round Sunday Preview: Rams-Eagles and Ravens-Bills

The Divisional Round is the football junkie's round of the playoffs. It's the last week of the season with games on multiple days. Gone is the riff-raff that couldn't get past the Wild Card Round. Back are the 1-seeds, fresh off their well-earned bye. And those 1-seeds are both in action on Saturday, with the Chiefs hosting the Texans in a rematch of a game we just saw a month ago, and the Lions welcoming the surprising Commanders to Detroit. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dive deep into those two games on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Divisional Round Saturday Preview: Texans-Chiefs and Commanders-Lions

A lot has happened on the NFL coaching carousel in the last week. Mike Vrabel is now the coach of the Patriots. Mike McCarthy is not the coach of the Cowboys, and there are Deion Sanders rumblings in Dallas. Plus, the most sought-after coach in the cycle, Ben Johnson, met with the Raiders, and somehow that actually makes sense. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen get into all of that on this episode of The Athletic Football show. After that, The Athletic Giants beat writers Dan Duggan and Charlotte Carroll join Robert to discuss why Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen will be back in 2025, and what the team can hope to do to turn things around. Rundown Patriots hire Mike Vrabel Mike McCarthy out in Dallas McCarthy and the Bears Deion Sanders to the Cowboys? Why Ben Johnson could pick the Raiders Coordinator moves The state of the New York Giants Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some Mikes are in, some Mikes are out...it's an NFL coaching update; Plus, the state of the New York Giants

In a Wild Card Round characterized by one-sided victories, the Rams arguably saved the most impressive for last. They dominated from wire-to-wire in their 27-9 win over the Vikings, scoring on their first drive and taking a 24-3 lead into the locker room at halftime. Now, the Eagles await in the Divisional Round. The Vikings, meanwhile, saw their unlikely 14-win season end with a thud. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen recap the final game of Wild Card Weekend on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rams beat Vikings, advance to Divisional Round

Wild Card Weekend started with the Texans defense throwing a perfect game in a 32-12 win over the Chargers. It ended with the Commanders notching the franchise's first playoff win in nearly 20 years. In between, the Ravens, Bills and Eagles all continued their excellent seasons by advancing to the Divisional Round. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen recap Wild Card Weekend on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. Rundown Commanders-Buccaneers recap Packers-Eagles recap Broncos-Bills recap Steelers-Ravens recap Chargers-Texans recap Host: Robert Mays Co-Host: Derrik Klassen Executive Producer: Michael Beller Producer: Michael Beller Subscribe to The Athletic Football Show... Apple Spotify YouTube Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social Follow Robert on X: @robertmays Follow Derrik on X: @QBKlass Theme song: Haunted Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wild Card Weekend Recap

The Athletic’s flagship NFL podcast covers the league like only The Athletic can. Host Robert Mays and co-host Derrik Klassen dive into the biggest stories, break down the Xs and Os, tackle the ins and outs of roster building, follow the details of why we all love this sport, and have plenty of fun along the way, bringing the expertise necessary to cover the NFL at the highest level. Whether it’s happening on the field or behind the scenes, you’ll get an in-depth look at all things NFL on The Athletic Football Show, available wherever you get your podcasts.

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The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

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