The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL
Episodes
We're going camping! Panthers, Rams, Chargers and Cowboys
Host Robert Mays kicks off training camp coverage with beat writers Joe Person, Nate Atkins, Daniel Popper, and John Machoda.
2026 versions of 2025 things
Which second-year player will become an x factor in 2026?
The Athletic Football Show hosts Robert Mays, Dave, and Derek discuss second-year NFL players who could be X-factors, including Jared Wilson, Will Campbell, Demetrius Knight, and Anthony Belton.
Who has the most at stake in 2026?
The Athletic Football Show hosts discuss who has the most at stake in the 2026 NFL season, focusing on coaches and quarterbacks facing critical career junctures.
Our biggest questions heading into training camp
Hosts Robert Mays and Dave Richard discuss top training camp questions, focusing on Patrick Mahomes’ rapid recovery and the Chiefs’ offensive identity.
How Klayton Adams built one of the NFL's most exciting offenses
Robert Mays interviews Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Clayton Adams about designing modern NFL run games.
The ideal way to build a WR room in 2026
Robert Mays and Matt Harmon challenge the traditional "basketball team" approach to building NFL receiving corps for the 2026 season.
Can the Cardinals new scheme unlock Marvin Harrison Jr.?
The Athletic Football Show hosts Robert Mays, Dave, and Derek discuss NFL players poised for breakout seasons in 2026 due to scheme changes or new coaching staffs.
Which team has the healthiest roster construction in 2026?
Dave Hellman and Derek Klassen rank the NFL’s healthiest young roster cores, focusing strictly on players still on rookie contracts.
Aaron Donald's return could happen, but SHOULD it?
The hosts conclude their summer mailbag series by analyzing how the 2017 Eagles and 2019 Ravens influenced the league’s aggressive fourth-down trends.
The storylines we didn't talk enough about this offseason
The Athletic Football Show examines eight NFL teams that received little offseason coverage, including the Falcons, Panthers, Vikings, and Bills.
The breakout players we're counting on for the 2026 season
The Athletic Football Show hosts Robert Mays, Dave Richard, and Derek Shaplin conduct an eight-round mock draft to identify NFL breakout candidates.
Nine lessons we learned from the NFL's best defenses
Robert Mayes and Derek Carr join Cody Alexander from Match Quarters to analyze lessons from the NFL’s top 2025 defenses.
Which outlier stats are most likely to remain outliers?
Dave Hellman and Derek Klassen host a Mailbag Monday episode, spending nearly 20 minutes ranking NFL linebackers into six tiers, with Fred Warner standing alone at the top.
What really was Caleb Williams' 2025 season? & More lingering questions
In this final Lingering Questions episode, hosts Robert Mays, Derek, and Dave analyze Caleb Williams’ 2025 season, debating his elite talent against…
Is the era of quarterback-driven success in the NFL over?
Hosts Robert Mays, Dave Helman, and Derek Klassen debate whether the NFL’s quarterback-centric era has ended, citing recent Super Bowl wins by defense-first teams like the Seahawks and Eagles.
Eleven lessons we learned from last seasons best offenses
Hosts Robert Mays and Derek Klassen, joined by guest Nate Tice, analyze lessons from the NFL’s top 2025 offenses.
The best short-term heaters in NFL history
Robert Mays and Dave Richard, joined by Michael Beller, tackle listener questions on Mailbag Monday.
Why the Houston Texans are a legitimate Super Bowl threat
Robert Mays and FTN’s Aaron Schatz preview the 2026 NFL season using insights from the FTN Almanac.
Are the Chiefs and Lions still who we think they are?
The Athletic Football Show tackles lingering questions about the Lions, Chiefs, and Colts.
Canton Court: Are any of these six players Hall worthy?
Hosts Robert Mays, Derek, and Dave debate Hall of Fame cases for borderline players.
What makes a good special teams coordinator?
Dave Hellman and Derek Klassen host a mailbag episode without Robert Mays, discussing favorite losing teams like the 2017 Jets and 2018 Bills.
What does an NFL GM actually do?
Robert Mays interviews former Eagles executive Jake Rosenberg about the evolving role of NFL general managers.
What happened to C.J. Stroud last season? 2026 Lingering Questions, episode 3
The Athletic Football Show discusses the NFL’s decision to cancel the supplemental draft, specifically addressing Brendan Soresby’s situation.
Hall of Very Good, Class of 2026
The Athletic Football Show returns with its "Hall of Very Good" segment, inducting underrated NFL players who never reached Hall of Fame finalist status.
Which NFL Team Has the Best WEAK LINK?
Hosts Robert Mays and Dave Beller tackle listener questions in this Mailbag Monday episode.
Everything you need to know about Brendan Sorsby & the NFL Supplemental Draft
Robert Mayes and Dane Brugler analyze the unprecedented supplemental draft entry of quarterback Brendan Soresby, who entered after a gambling addiction led to his suspension from Texas Tech.
Walking in the shoes of a non-playcalling offensive coordinator with Bengals OC Dan Pitcher
The Athletic Football Show explores the evolving role of non-play-calling offensive coordinators in the NFL, where head coaches increasingly call plays.
The under-26 non-QB player draft
Hosts Robert Mays, Derek, and Dave conduct a mock draft of the top 24 NFL players under 25, excluding quarterbacks.
Can you actually find success chasing a trend in today’s NFL?
Hosts Robert Mays, Michael Beller, and Derek Klassen tackle fan hypotheticals, including which non-QB players could have reversed recent Super Bowl…
Nine players who quietly defined the 2025 season
Hosts Robert Mays and Derek Bach identify eight to ten underappreciated players who defined the 2025 NFL season.
Was Jayden Daniels' injury really behind the Commanders 2025 collapse? And more lingering questions
The Athletic Football Show explores lingering questions from the previous NFL season, focusing on three NFC teams.
Which NFC team has the best supporting cast around its quarterback?
Robert Mayes and Derek Klassen rank the NFC’s supporting casts, evaluating offensive lines, skill players, and coaching ecosystems.
How "all in" is too far all in?
Hosts Robert Mays and Derek, joined by producer Michael Bell, tackle Mailbag Monday questions about NFL team-building strategies.
Inside the TE revolution — from someone living it
The Athletic Football Show analyzes the NFL’s "tight end revolution," driven by a league-wide shift toward heavy personnel packages like 12 and 13.
Which second-year QB showed the most promise entering 2026?
Robert Mays and Derek Bateman kick off their "Lingering Questions" series by analyzing the 2025 rookie quarterbacks who played at least 250 snaps.
Which AFC team has the best supporting cast around its quarterback?
Robert Mays and Derek rank the AFC’s offensive supporting casts, evaluating talent, depth, and play-calling infrastructure.
BREAKING NEWS: Myles Garrett traded to Rams
The Athletic Football Show breaks down the blockbuster trade sending Myles Garrett to the Rams for Jared Verse and multiple future draft picks.
Who is the best true utility player in the NFL?
Robert Mays and Derek Shouten tackle listener questions in this Mailbag Monday episode, discussing potential NFL trades like A.
Offseason beliefs we won't live to regret (unless we do)
Host Derek Klassen and guest Dan Paisuda discuss takes they might be wrong about for the 2026 NFL season.
Dart throws from the 2026 NFL Draft that will actually make a difference
Dave Hellman and Derek Klassen analyze late-round NFL Draft picks with clear paths to playing time.
Which current NFL quarterbacks are worth acquiring for the #1 pick?
Robert Mays and Derek Bell tackle Mailbag Monday questions, debating which current quarterbacks justify trading for the No.
Buy or Sell Their Offseasons: The Contenders
Hosts Robert Mays and Derek Haas evaluate NFL contenders' 2026 offseasons, buying the 49ers, Chiefs, Chargers, and Patriots.
Our surprisingly intrusive NFL thoughts
Robert Mays and Derek Carrier discuss surprising offseason thoughts, including the Steelers' offensive potential with Aaron Rodgers and the rapid evolution of NFL schemes favoring tight ends.
Are coaches more valuable than non-QB players in today's NFL?
Hosts Robert Mays, Dave Richard, and Derek Shapka analyze listener questions in this Mailbag Monday episode.
Buy or Sell Their Offseasons: Playoff Hopefuls
The Athletic Football Show evaluates the off-seasons of "Playoff Hopefuls," focusing on teams with limited resources.
The sneaky offseason additions shaping the 2026 NFL season
The Athletic Football Show hosts Robert Mays, Derek, and Dave analyze "sneaky" NFL offseason additions, focusing on veteran players signed to modest contracts under $10 million.