The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

Who has the most at stake in 2026?

<p>Every single person in the NFL—players, head coaches, coordinators, position coaches, executives, you name it—has something at stake every season. But some people have more at stake in one individual season than most everyone else. So who has the most at stake in 2026? Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman answer that question on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>2:27 Zac Taylor</p><p>10:40 Todd Bowles</p><p>14:59 Baker Mayfield</p><p>21:48 Kyler Murray</p><p>28:46 Kevin O'Connell</p><p>34:53 Monti Ossenfort</p><p>44:23 Brian Daboll</p><p>49:13 Chris Ballard</p><p>54:00 Quentin Johnston</p><p>58:26 George Pickens</p><p>1:00:39 Jermaine Johnson</p><p>1:01:21 Tariq Woolen</p><p>1:03:05 Pick your Ram</p><p>1:03:22 2024 receivers</p><br><p>Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Our biggest questions heading into training camp

<p>*GENERIC TRUMPET BLASTS SOUNDING A CALL TO ARMS* That's right, training camp is here and the 2026 NFL season is basically underway. We have plenty of questions around the league as all 32 teams open camp across the next few days, so many that we can't possibly get into all of them. This episode of The Athletic Football Show is reserved for our biggest questions as training camp begins. Robert Mays and Dave Helman find themsleves wondering about topics such as the Texans offensive line, the Raiders' development plan for Fernando Mendoza, the new-look Bills defense, and plenty more.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>2:12 Patrick Mahomes</p><p>3:55 Chiefs offense</p><p>5:53 Jaguars skill positions</p><p>9:45 Seahawks running backs</p><p>14:45 Ravens offense &amp; Bills defense</p><p>21:27 Vikings QB competition</p><p>24:26 Vikings run game</p><p>26:24 Falcons QBs</p><p>30:44 Fernando Mendoza sitting</p><p>40:14Year 2 of Cam Ward</p><p>42:25 Eagles &amp; Commanders offenses</p><p>42:56 Texans offensive line</p><p>46:22 Nic Scourton injury</p><p>47:47 Eagles receiving core</p><p>49:50 Mike McDaniel transformation</p><p>51:43 Late camp signings</p><br><p>Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Host: Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

How Klayton Adams helped build one of the NFL's most exciting offenses

<p>The 2025 Cowboys offense ranked fifth in EPA/play and eighth in DVOA. The man at the head of that was first-year offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, who arrived in Dallas after a two-year run as the Cardinals offensive line coach. The Cardinals were a top-10 rushing offense by EPA/rush and DVOA in both of Adams' seasons there. In other words, he certainly appears to have a strong grip on how to put together a successful, multi-faceted offense in today's NFL. He dove into his process, and a whole lot more, with Robert Mays on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

The ideal way to build a WR room in 2026

<p>We have long understood wide receiver as a premium position in the NFL, but the natural evolution of offenses and schemes has influenced everything—including the way you want to build out and balance your wide receiver corps. So what's the ideal way to put the pieces together in today's NFL? Matt Harmon from Yahoo Sports joins Robert Mays to fit it all into place on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>4:09 What should your receiver group look like?</p><p>9:43 First piece of a receiver room</p><p>13:53 Building around a WR1</p><p>25:51 Impact on offense as a whole</p><p>32:31 What to surround a WR1 with</p><p>43:12 Impact of heavy personnel</p><p>48:35 Ideal skill sets for receivers in heavy personnel</p><p>56:09 Underrated skill sets for receivers</p><p>59:45 How to project a WR success in NFL</p><p>1:03:07 Changing landscape of slot receivers</p><p>1:07:43 Examples of properly-built receiver groups</p><p>1:11:42 Deploying pure speed</p><br><p>Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

The 2026 Scheme Change All-Stars

<p>Sometimes all a player needs to break through is a new coach or a change of scenery. A new scheme can unlock something can unlock something in any number of players, and those guys can go on to dramatically affect the landscape of the league. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman highlight potential Scheme Change All-Stars on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>0:29 Live show announcement</p><p>5:19 Ashton Jeanty &amp; Las Vegas Raiders</p><p>10:07 Jack Bech &amp; Raiders</p><p>15:59 Mike Evans &amp; San Francisco 49ers</p><p>23:44 Jalen Thompson &amp; Dallas Cowboys</p><p>31:23 Marvin Harrison Jr &amp; Arizona Cardinals</p><p>36:57 Chris Rodriguez &amp; Jacksonville Jaguars</p><p>43:57 Jalen Ramsey &amp; Pittsburgh Steelers</p><p>49:04 Logan Hall &amp; Houston Texans</p><p>54:09 A'Shawn Robinson &amp; Tampa Bay Buccaneers</p><br><p>Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Which team has the healthiest roster construction in 2026?

<p>Do you remember the chart your teacher used in health class to show that 50% of your food should be fruits and vegetables? Maybe you also remember that little tiny sliver showing fatty or sugary foods. Well, think of Jaxon Smith-Njigba's four-year, $168.6 million contract as a bowl of ice cream and Bo Nix's four-year, $18.6 million rookie contract as a plate of broccoli. The ice cream tastes great, but you'd feel pretty sluggish if you didn't have a whole bunch of broccoli to go with it. On this episode of The Athletic Football Show, Dave Helman and Derrik Klassen discuss which NFL teams are best balancing indulgent superstar extensions with vitamin-packed rookie contracts.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>5:05 Los Angeles Rams</p><p>10:51 Philadelphia Eagles</p><p>15:55 New England Patriots</p><p>21:15 Chicago Bears</p><p>26:55 Seattle Seahawks</p><p>31:25 Detroit Lions</p><p>35:22 Los Angeles Chargers</p><p>38:52 Cleveland Browns</p><p>42:10 Houston Texans</p><p>43:39 Green Bay Packers</p><p>47:20 Dallas Cowboys</p><p>48:35 Jacksonville Jaguars</p><p>50:37 Denver Broncos</p><p>55:16 Carolina Panthers</p><p>58:44 Tennessee Titans</p><p>1:03:18 Buffalo Bills</p><p>1:07:11 Washington Commanders</p><br><p>Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Aaron Donald's return could happen, but SHOULD it?

<p>Dear TAFS friends, we have reached the end of the line for the summer mailbag this year. You guys brought it week after week, and you certainly sent us off with a bang. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman answer questions on the influence of the Doug Pederson Eagles, the best way to be a bad team, the potential return of Aaron Donald, and a whole lot more on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>2:45 Eagles/Doug Pederson influence</p><p>12:46 Titans new offense</p><p>23:05 Ideal way to be a bad team</p><p>33:00 Evaluating cornerbacks</p><p>39:47 Aaron Donald return</p><p>48:24 Third-place game?</p><br><p>Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: http://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

The storylines we didn't talk enough about this offseason

<p>Believe it or not, we're just about at the end of the true NFL offseason. The two teams that play in the Hall of Fame Game—the Panthers and Cardinals—open training camp next week. We at The Athletic Football Show think we do a comprehensive job covering every team during this stretch on the calendar, but we have to admit that a few teams become a bit fainter on our radar. So why didn't we talk much about teams like the Falcons, Vikings, Bills and Eagles? Why did the Broncos, Patriots, Panthers and Ravens spend most of these last two months out of the TAFS studio? And, what should we have been talking about related to those eight teams during the offseason? Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman finally give those teams some attention on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>3:26 Falcons</p><p>10:36 Panthers</p><p>20:32 Vikings</p><p>28:47 Bills</p><p>36:08 Ravens</p><p>43:40 Eagles</p><p>50:10 Broncos</p><p>55:36 Patriots</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

The breakout players we're counting on for the 2026 season

<p>Breakout seasons from Azeez Al-Shaair, Byron Young and Tuli Tuipulotu helped define the 2025 season. Who might be those players this year? Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman introduce the Breakout Player Draft on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>2:14 The rules</p><p>6:30 Paris Johnson</p><p>12:04 Omarion Hampton</p><p>15:40 Walter Nolen</p><p>19:34 Luther Burden</p><p>25:12 Amarius Mims</p><p>27:43 Nohl Williams</p><p>32:25 Malaki Starks</p><p>35:12 Yaya Diaby</p><p>37:19 Josh Simmons</p><p>40:09 Dallas Turner</p><p>44:02 Jonas Sanker</p><p>45:49 Craig Woodson</p><p>48:58 Warren McClendon</p><p>53:05 Nic Scourton</p><p>56:18 Dylan Fairchild</p><p>59:10 Patrick Paul</p><p>1:02:31 Tykee Smith</p><p>1:03:57 Ricky Pearsall</p><p>1:09:23 Rome Odunze</p><p>1:13:06 Cedric Gray</p><p>1:18:40 Austin Booker</p><p>1:20:55 Upton Stout</p><p>1:21:54 Billy Bowman</p><p>1:24:05 Jalen Travis</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Nine lessons we learned from the NFL's best defenses

<p>Last season marked the third-straight year in which a team driven by its defense won the Super Bowl. What can the success of last year's Seahawks—not to mention the Texans, Eagles, Vikings and Broncos—teach us about the NFL in 2026? Cody Alexander from Match Quarters joins Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen to share the lessons learned from last season's best defenses on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>2:43 Run defense</p><p>4:00 Run defense on first down</p><p>19:44 Edge-linebacker hybrid</p><p>28:17 Base defense</p><p>30:00 Nickel defense</p><p>38:38 Zone coverage</p><p>45:35 Weaponizing dime</p><p>50:34 Blitz efficiency</p><p>58:52 Split-field coverages</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Which outlier stats are most likely to remain outliers?

<p>We're approaching the end of mailbag season but we aren't quite there yet, so Dave Helman and Derrik Klassen opened up the mail and found eight great questions in there. The guys tackle questions on linebacker tiers, outlier statistics, the Lions' 2023 draft, and a whole lot more on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>1:35 Linebacker tiers</p><p>18:47 Outlier stats for QBs</p><p>26:36 Favorite odd records</p><p>31:50 Teams that disappeared when stakes were high</p><p>43:30 Saving past RBs</p><p>49:22 Reversing Matthew Stafford’s career</p><p>57:05 Lions 2023 Draft: Witherspoon or Gibbs?</p><br><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

What really was Caleb Williams' 2025 season? & More lingering questions

<p>We've reached the end of our Lingering Questions series for the 2026 offseason, and we close it out with a trio of questions that loom large over the year to come. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman dive deep into critical questions about Caleb Williams, the Bengals offense, and the Steelers defense on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>1:58 What was Caleb Williams' 2025 season?</p><p>30:19 Is the Bengals offense really Super Bowl ready?</p><p>50:20 How should we feel about Patrick Graham&nbsp;(and the Steelers defense)?</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Is the era of quarterback-driven success in the NFL over?

<p>Name your favorite unicorn quarterback. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, you name it. They're all done. Done! The era of a mystical quarterback leading your NFL team to a Super Bowl is over...maybe. The era of Seahawks-adjacent defensive domination is here...maybe. Robert Mays, Dave Helman, and Derrik Klassen are diving into why the NFL has felt so different lately, what the defining factors of this new (kind of) era are, and how long it will last.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>2:58 Are we in a new era?</p><p>6:30 Well, what was the last era?</p><p>17:28 And why has the NFL felt so different recently?</p><p>28:24 What exactly has changed since the previous era?</p><p>41:12 And what do these changes mean for the future?</p><p>48:51 Okay, what are the answers?</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Eleven lessons we learned from last seasons best offenses

<p>Sure, you learn something new every day. But today? Today you're learning ELEVEN new things...straight from the NFL's best offenses from the 2025-26 season. What do we know now about tight end usage? What role does play action serve in an efficient offense? And what should you actually do on first downs? Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen, and old friend Nate Tice dig into all of the best lessons from last season on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>4:18 Twin tight ends</p><p>8:40 Adding layers to your offense</p><p>15:44 Creativity in motion players</p><p>23:34 “You can’t take penalties!”</p><p>28:18 Holding the quarterback’s hand</p><p>36:29 Play action is f***ing back, baby</p><p>38:39 Giving defense information pre-snap</p><p>47:00 Utilizing first downs</p><p>57:01 “Get back on track” situations</p><p>1:00:59 Respecting the deep throw</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Host: Derrik Klassen</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

The best short-term heaters in NFL history

<p>Thank you, TAFS fans, for once again bringing the goods for another mailbag episode. You all are truly on an all-time run. And speaking of that, what are the best Linsanity-style runs in NFL history? What sorts of trades from yesteryear—think Champ Bailey and a second-round pick for Clinton Portis—would you never see in today's NFL? Where do offensive line coaches develop? Robert Mays and Dave Helman answer those questions, and more, on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Host: Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Why the Houston Texans are a legitimate Super Bowl threat

<p>The FTN Football Almanac is as close as we have to religious text in the NFL analytics world. The 2026 version is set to drop shortly, so Robert Mays welcomed the founder of the Almanac, FTN's director of analytics Aaron Schatz, to this episode of The Athletic Football Show to highlight the most surprising nuggets from this year's edition.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>2:01 Texans Super Bowl threat</p><p>12:30 2026 Super Bowl was almost impossible</p><p>18:50 Gap between Bears offense and defense</p><p>25:38 Patriots ease of schedule</p><p>32:10 Bengals, Cowboys playoff chances</p><p>38:34 Rams 13 personnel</p><p>41:36 Best/worst overside coverage corners</p><p>46:20 Jets defensive improvement</p><p>49:35 Steelers offense oddity</p><p>54:03 Jordan Love with vs without pressure</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Are the Chiefs and Lions still who we think they are?

<p>Nine questions answered, six more to go. On this edition of our Lingering Questions series, Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman dig into the following: The Lions are the betting favorite to win the NFC North...should they be? Can the Colts' second-half woes be explained away by Daniel Jones' injuries? Do the Chiefs really<em> </em>still deserve the benefit of the doubt?</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>2:01 Lions release Terrion Arnold</p><p>3:55 Are the Lions deserving of the optimism they're getting?</p><p>26:46 Can the Colts' woes be blamed on Daniel Jones' injury?</p><p>44:05 Do the Chiefs deserve the benefit of the doubt?</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Canton Court: Are any of these six players Hall worthy?

<p>For the first time in three years, Canton Court is back in session. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman each picked two players and made Hall of Fame cases on their behalves. Who, if any, of them made it in? Find out on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>3:00 Reggie Wayne</p><p>12:07 Steve Smith Sr</p><p>24:26 Darren Woodson</p><p>34:29 Eric Berry</p><p>42:55 Marshal Yanda</p><p>51:33 Fred Taylor</p><p>1:01:19 Russell Wilson</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

What makes a good special teams coordinator?

<p>You read that right, TAFS listener, we’re talking special teams on today’s episode. Also, running back age vs wear and tear, what we would do as NFL Commissioner for a day, our favorite teams with losing records, the “Kyle Orton” tier of quarterbacks, and much more. Dave Helman and Derrik Klassen dive into the mailbag again on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

What does an NFL GM actually do?

<p>In the immortal words of John C. McGinley, “What would you say you do here?” We judge general managers and executives on free agency signings, contract negotiations, and draft classes…but what are they actually doing behind the scenes? Former Philadelphia Eagles executive Jake Rosenberg sits down with Robert Mays to discuss what a GM candidate should look like, the role of analytics in front offices, and what some NFL organizations are doing wrong with their executive structures.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>1:46 Jake Rosenberg joins</p><p>4:30 What GM candidates should look like</p><p>8:48 Role of ownership</p><p>13:41 What does a GM do?</p><p>18:32 Ideal NFL team structure&nbsp;</p><p>24:19 GM/owner involvement in game plans</p><p>26:11 Where should you find new GMs/execs?</p><p>30:13 How to figure out a candidate’s experience</p><p>34:50 What do you ask candidates?</p><p>40:50 Most important hires for a GM</p><p>46:50 Process of hiring coaches</p><p>50:54 Analytics vs scouting background</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

What happened to C.J. Stroud last season? 2026 Lingering Questions, episode 3

<p>The Giants have spent a ton of resources along the defensive line in recent years, and made a splash this offseason by bringing in head coach John Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. So, what exactly is this defense? The Texans had a Super Bowl caliber defense last season, but were ultimately let down by their previously up-and-coming quarterback. So, what happened to C.J. Stroud in 2025? The Jaguars had one of the best offenses in the NFL in the second half of last season. Was that real? Can they carry that over to 2026? Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman dive deep on those three questions on this Lingering Questions episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>7:09 What is the New York Giants defense?</p><p>25:32 Wtf happened to CJ Stroud?</p><p>54:19 Was the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive ascension for real?</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Hall of Very Good, Class of 2026

<p>We're firmly in the Remember Some Guys period of the NFL calendar, and what better way to do so than with the Hall of Very Good? You kinda-sorta know a Hall of Very Good player when you see one, but we followed two loose rules when putting this episode together. First, if a player ever advanced to the semifinalist stage in Hall of Fame voting, he was too good to be in the Hall of Very Good. Second, he had to immediately conjure memories of legitimate peaks. Check both those boxes, and you're a Hall of Very Good candidate. So who made the 2026 class? Allow Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman to walk you down memory lane on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>6:29 Ryan Kerrigan</p><p>11:39 Tamba Hali</p><p>16:02 Matt Forte</p><p>19:19 Warrick Dunn</p><p>24:43 Thomas Davis</p><p>29:38 Michael Bennett</p><p>35:16 Stephen Davis</p><p>40:28 Mike Iupati</p><p>43:27 Snacks Harrison</p><p>48:03 D'Brickashaw Ferguson</p><p>51:12 Sean Lee</p><p>57:35 Jordy Nelson</p><p>1:03:07 Reggie Nelson</p><p>1:04:49 Rapid fire additions</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Which NFL Team Has the Best WEAK LINK?

<p>Some topics are evergreen in the NFL. And some are so perfect for mid-June that it would be a crime not to discuss them. That’s where this week’s Mailbag Monday episode takes us…what are the best 3-year player peaks you’ve ever seen? What are the best single-season teams to never win a Super Bowl? What aspects of player performance still can’t be measured by stats? Robert Mays and Dave Helman discuss that and much more on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>2:56 Teams with the best weak link</p><p>7:58 Value of mythically elite kicker/punter</p><p>13:29 Defensive players that scheme relies on</p><p>19:45 Best 3-year player peaks</p><p>31:29 Best teams not to win a Super Bowl</p><p>36:42 Value of veteran qb vs churn of new ones</p><p>44:12 Myles Garrett vs Jared Verse</p><p>49:32 Statistics we still need</p><p>54:46 Choosing OC over head coach</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Host: Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Everything you need to know about Brendan Sorsby & the NFL Supplemental Draft

<p>The various sagas roiling college football typically fall outside our purview here on The Athletic Football Show, but nothing about the Brendan Sorsby saga is typical. Sorsby was one of the biggest prizes in the transfer portal this offseason. Instead of potentially leading Texas Tech back to the playoff this year, he'll make the NFL Supplemental Draft an actual event for the first time in seemingly forever. Robert Mays, Dave Helman and Dane Brugler detail what type of prospect Sorsby is, the value he'll have in the supplemental draft, and which teams might be interested in him on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p><br></p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Dave Helman and Dane Brugler</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><p>Follow Dane on X: @DPBrugler</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Walking in the shoes of a non-playcalling offensive coordinator with Bengals OC Dan Pitcher

<p>The success of coaches like Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay has created a group of coaches that, at one time in the recent past, were quite rare...non-playcalling offensive coordinators. Fully half the league will have offensive coordinators who don't call plays on gameday this season. So, what exactly do they do? Bengals OC Dan Pitcher, who works under head coach and playcaller Zac Taylor, takes us through it all on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>Rundown:</p><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>2:10 Background reporting on OCs</p><p>29:22 Dan Pitcher joins</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Host: Derrik Klassen</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

The under-26 non-QB player draft

<p>The NFL, as always, is in good hands going forward with all the young talent across the league. Just how good? Well, Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman help lay that out by selecting the 24 best players that are 25 years old or younger, not including QBs, on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>Rundown: 0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>1:35 We’re so back</p><p>5:50 Stacking the under-25 QBs</p><p>6:05 Jayden Daniels vs Caleb Williams</p><p>9:03 Will Anderson Jr</p><p>10:27 Anderson a top-5 NFL player?</p><p>11:13 Puka Nacua</p><p>16:00 Byron Murphy II</p><p>20:03 Jaxon Smith-Njigba</p><p>22:27 Kyle Hamilton</p><p>25:26 Jared Verse</p><p>29:40 Joe Alt</p><p>31:27 Derek Stingley Jr</p><p>34:06 Darnell Wright</p><p>37:23 Abdul Carter</p><p>40:20 Brock Bowers</p><p>43:57 Drake London</p><p>46:44 Bijan Robinson</p><p>48:00 Robert has mind control powers</p><p>49:28 Jahmyr Gibbs</p><p>52:36 Jalen Carter</p><p>56:45 Quinyon Mitchell</p><p>58:27 Tyler Smith</p><p>1:00:30 Christian Gonzalez</p><p>1:00:45 “Why do you hate Christian Gonzalez?”</p><p>1:02:07 Malik Nabers</p><p>1:04:44 Carson Schwesinger</p><p>1:07:25 Devon Witherspoon</p><p>1:08:31 Colston Loveland (who is surprised?)</p><p>1:10:51 Armand Membou</p><p>1:12:55 Jeremiyah Love</p><p>1:14:15 George Pickens</p><p>1:16:38 Travis Hunter</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><p>Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Can you actually find success chasing a trend in today’s NFL?

<p>This week’s mailbag yielded one of the best hypotheticals we have ever received…and a bunch of other very good questions too. Who are the NFL’s best pass blocking RBs? What are some current NFL trends that may seem archaic in the near future? And are defense-first Super Bowl champions here to stay? Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen answer that and more.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>1:51 Finishing piece to a Super Bowl-losing team</p><p>5:19 Best pass blocking RBs</p><p>10:57 NFL trends that will seem archaic soon</p><p>19:17 Creating vs chasing a trend</p><p>27:59 Position groups with most potential lost to injury</p><p>30:15 Drafting QBs if all other picks were voided</p><p>42:32 Are defenses getting smaller?</p><p>45:34 Historical trend of defense-first champions</p><p>49:42 Bryce Young’s contract extension</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Host: Derrik Klassen</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Nine players who quietly defined the 2025 season

<p>For every Will Anderson Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, there's a Robert Spillane and Parker Washington. In other words, for every superstar who clearly left his mark on a given season, there's a role player who also helped define what the league was, and were it could be going. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen highlight the players who quietly defined the 2025 season on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>Rundown:</p><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>3:14 Parker Washington</p><p>11:36 Byron Murphy II</p><p>19:00 AJ Barner</p><p>20:20 Colby Parkinson</p><p>28:15 Reed Blankenship &amp; Evan Williams</p><p>34:49 Devon Witherspoon</p><p>41:45 Robert Spillane</p><p>46:30 Kamari Lassiter</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Host: Derrik Klassen</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Was Jayden Daniels' injury really behind the Commanders 2025 collapse? That, and more lingering questions

<p>In the first installment of Lingering Questions this offseason, we cheated by asking the same question about four then-rookie quarterbacks. Now, we're kicking this thing off for real. We still have questions about the Cowboys, Commanders, and 49ers. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen ask - and try to answer - those lingering questions in today's episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>Rundown:</p><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>3:08 Cowboys offense</p><p>23:46 Jayden Daniels &amp; Commanders collapse</p><p>39:42 49ers young defenders</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Host: Derrik Klassen</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>

Which NFC team has the best supporting cast around its quarterback?

<p>In the second and final edition of our annual Supporting Casts miniseries, we flip our attention over to the NFC where, frankly, things are a whole lot more loaded. Is it as obvious as it might seem at the top? Who was the breakthrough team from last season? How many different times will Derrik Klassen shock Robert Mays? The guys rank the 16 NFC supporting casts on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.</p><br><p>0:00 Welcome to the show</p><p>3:17 Commanders</p><p>5:08 Giants</p><p>9:10 Panthers</p><p>12:27 Saints</p><p>18:27 Cardinals</p><p>23:09 Falcons</p><p>29:24 Buccaneers</p><p>34:17 Packers</p><p>42:37 Seahawks</p><p>51:06 Lions</p><p>57:00 Eagles</p><p>1:01:16 Vikings</p><p>1:05:50 Cowboys</p><p>1:09:10 49ers</p><p>1:15:57 Bears</p><p>1:19:34 Rams</p><br><p>Host: Robert Mays</p><p>Co-Host: Derrik Klassen</p><p>Executive Producer: Michael Beller</p><p>Senior Producer: Katy Duffy</p><p>Social Producer: Scott Krinch</p><br><p>Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social</p><p>Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays</p><br><p>Theme song: Haunted</p><p>Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs</p><p>Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>