Peter King on serendipity, change, and a life spent covering the NFL
Summary
Peter King discusses his new book, *The Game*, reflecting on four decades of NFL coverage and the evolution of sports journalism. He shares anecdotes from his early days at Sports Illustrated, including covering the 1984 Bengals and the 1987 player strike, while contrasting the open access of that era with today's closed-off media environment. King also highlights the impact of modern analytics and the changing nature of free agency, using Reggie White’s 1993 decision as a key example. Finally, he addresses current league controversies, expressing concern over the health risks of an expande…
Topics discussed
Show intro and Gab phone sponsorship
Introduction to Peter King and his new book
Recalling their past collaboration at SI
1984 Bengals draft: Sam Weish's secret plan
The golden era of NFL media access
Picking up Boomer Esiason and Pete Koch
Researching the book: Notebooks and old stories
The 1987 strike and the Ditka era
Sponsorship breaks: US Bank, Quince, Gusto
Sam Weish: The counterculture coach
Evolution of NFL strategy and analytics
The 'Wasp' play: Mahomes and Reid's chemistry
Sponsorship breaks: Onnit, FAIR, Navy Federal
Reggie White's first free agency experience
Jerome Bettis: Smart decisions over money
Hiring young talent at MMQB
Changes in media access and reporting
Advice for the next generation of reporters
Critique of NFL expansion and schedule changes
Closing remarks and final sponsorships
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