The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL
The Athletic
The Athletic’s flagship NFL podcast covers the league like only The Athletic can. Host Robert Mays and co-hosts Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman dive into the biggest stories, break down the Xs and Os, and tackle the ins and outs of roster building. They meticulously 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. You want year-round draft coverage? You'll get that here, too, with draft expert Dane Brugler. 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
43 snips
Feb 24, 2026 • 1h 8min
The Chargers, Commanders and Steelers kick off the annual TAFS Most Interesting Teams of the Offseason Series
Mike DeFabo, Steelers writer analyzing Pittsburgh’s coaching hire and roster strategy. Nicki Jhabvala, Commanders reporter on roster turnover and cap decisions. Daniel Popper, Chargers beat writer on cap flexibility and scheming changes. They debate coaching fits, quarterback plans, cap moves, draft positioning, and which roster areas demand urgent attention this offseason.
Feb 23, 2026 • 1h 6min
What matters and what doesn't at the combine
A deep dive into which combine components actually move draft boards. They unpack medical exams, interviews, and measurement quirks that reveal hidden concerns. On-field testing and which drills matter by position get ranked. Prospect spotlights include quarterbacks, receivers, tight ends, linemen, edge rushers, and defensive backs to watch.
49 snips
Feb 19, 2026 • 1h 24min
From the Vikings to the Jets, assessing the open QB situations
Dan Pizzuta, football writer and NFL roster analyst, breaks down open quarterback situations across the league. He ranks team fits by coaching, scheme, weapons and cap. Topics include why Minnesota tops the list, Arizona and Las Vegas as intriguing fits, Miami’s risk-reward, and why the Jets and Browns look the weakest. He also surveys conditional QB needs for Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Atlanta.
17 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 1h 1min
The TAFS mailbag is back!
The team answers offseason mailbag questions about which struggling squads could pull off sudden turnarounds. They debate which clubs are ready for big-nickel packages and which additions matter most. Tactical talk covers how to attack Mike Macdonald’s scheme and mistakes teams copy from the Seahawks. They also explain prep routines, coaching hires that could lift units, and scheme-driven offensive fixes.
43 snips
Feb 13, 2026 • 1h 11min
Biggest questions of the 2026 NFL offseason
They debate the quarterback carousel and which teams could chase Kyler Murray, JJ McCarthy or cheap stopgaps. Big-name trade candidates like Max Crosby, AJ Brown and DJ Moore get weighed for fit and price. Philly’s staff shakeup and roster questions take center stage. Dallas’ push-now versus wait debate and Cincinnati’s defensive pivot are explored. Teams with extra first-round picks factor into draft-plan talk.
21 snips
Feb 12, 2026 • 1h 10min
One last ride on this year's coaching carousel
A final roundup of the wild coaching carousel, from Klint Kubiak landing in Las Vegas to Mike LaFleur’s move to Arizona. They dig into staffing shifts, coordinator churn, and surprising firings. The conversation spotlights hiring trends, diversity shortfalls with zero Black head coaches, and which coordinator choices might reshape teams.
17 snips
Feb 11, 2026 • 1h 2min
Building the Beast: Dane Brugler's updated Top 100
Dane Brugler, draft analyst known for his prospect big boards, walks through his updated Top 100. He breaks down the top five and Sonny Styles' rise. They debate linebacker value, offensive tackle comparisons, receiver tiering, and under-the-radar prospects. The pair previews combine implications and names near-misses heading into draft season.
86 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 46min
Super Bowl LX Recap: Seahawks ride dominant defense to 29-13 win over Patriots, franchise's second title
A live Super Bowl recap from Levi's Stadium that highlights Seattle's dominant defense and game-changing pressure packages. The conversation spotlights depth contributors, key momentum-swinging plays, and Sam Darnold's resilient outing. They also dig into roster building, draft hits, veteran additions, and what New England must fix this offseason.
96 snips
Feb 6, 2026 • 58min
Super Bowl LX Preview
A deep Super Bowl LX preview focused on how the Patriots rose from 4-13 to a title contender and how the Seahawks completed their ascent. Tight Xs-and-Os discussion of Patriots offense vs. Seattle defense and vice versa. Quarterback narratives, Drake May's MVP buzz, run-pass balance, pass-rush matchups, blitz plans and key special teams factors are all highlighted.
41 snips
Feb 5, 2026 • 49min
From XLIX to LX: How the league has changed since the last Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl
A lively look back at the 2014 Patriots-Seahawks clash and how the NFL morphed in the following decade. Topics include younger quarterback demographics and the rise of mobile passers. They discuss schematic shifts like nickel defenses, declining man coverage, and analytics driving fourth-down aggression. Coaching hires and team evolution, including changes to Seattle’s defense, round out the conversation.
