PMS 2.0 1589 - LIVE From the NFL Flag Championships, LeBron Signs With the 76ers, Colts Owner/CBO Kalen Jackson, Bills GM Brandon Beane, Tedy Bruschi, & AJ Hawk

Summary of PMS 2.0 1589 - LIVE From the NFL Flag Championships, LeBron Signs With the 76ers, Colts Owner/CBO Kalen Jackson, Bills GM Brandon Beane, Tedy Bruschi, & AJ Hawk

by Pat McAfee, ESPN

2h 5mJuly 24, 2026

Overview of PMS 2.0 1589

Live from Westfield, Indiana at the NFL Flag Championships, this episode is a high-energy mix of sports talk, event coverage, interviews, and the show’s usual chaotic humor. The central theme is the rapid growth of flag football—especially its international reach, scholarship opportunities, and Olympic future—while the crew also reacts to a surreal “breaking news” bit about LeBron James signing with the Philadelphia 76ers. The show features extended conversations with Colts owner/Chief Brand Officer Kalen Jackson, Bills GM Brandon Beane, and ESPN analyst Teddy Bruschi, plus the recurring “five things that aren’t ass” segment and a weekend sports preview.

NFL Flag Championships and the Growth of Flag Football

The show opens with a deep appreciation for the NFL Flag Championships in Westfield:

  • Pat and the crew are surprised by the scale of the event: 370 teams, a massive venue, and a strong turnout from the U.S. and abroad.
  • International teams from Spain, Germany, Ireland, and China are highlighted as proof that flag football is becoming a global sport.
  • The crew repeatedly emphasizes that flag football:
    • helps grow football worldwide,
    • gives kids of all genders more opportunities,
    • may create future professional pathways,
    • could become an Olympic sport,
    • and improves overall football skill development.

Why they think it matters

  • No pads, easier access, and simpler learning curve make it more approachable.
  • The competition level is already high, with impressive catches, route-running, and strategy from very young athletes.
  • The NFL is portrayed as heavily invested in making flag football a major part of the sport’s future.

The “LeBron James to the 76ers” Breaking News Bit

One of the biggest comedic moments is the mock breaking-news report that LeBron James has signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.

What the segment says

  • Shams Charania “reports” that LeBron signs a two-year, $8 million deal with Philly.
  • The crew reacts as if this is stunning but also makes sense given the Sixers’ roster and their championship chances.
  • The bit frames LeBron’s move as:
    • a championship decision,
    • not a money decision,
    • and a strategic move to the Eastern Conference.

Key talking points from the segment

  • Philly is discussed as a legitimate title destination alongside:
    • Cleveland,
    • Miami,
    • and the hypothetical Golden State superteam fantasy.
  • The crew jokes about:
    • Bronny possibly moving too,
    • where LeBron would live,
    • and how the move would be received in Philadelphia.
  • It’s presented with the usual mix of legit NBA analysis and absurd comedy that defines the show.

Interview: Kalen Jackson on Flag Football and the Colts

Kalen Jackson, Colts owner and Chief Brand Officer, joins to discuss the event and the broader football landscape.

Main points from Kalen Jackson

  • She says the event has been incredible and that Westfield/Indianapolis is well-suited to host major sporting events.
  • She notes that flag football in Indiana has grown quickly:
    • from 8 teams in 2023,
    • to 78 high school teams last year,
    • with continued growth expected.
  • She explains the Colts’ involvement in supporting flag football, including a Road to 100 campaign and a commitment to sanctioning the sport in Indiana.

Colts and stadium talk

  • She discusses the Lucas Oil Stadium turf situation and says:
    • player health and safety drove the grass/turf decisions,
    • the logistics of redoing the stadium for full natural grass would be extremely difficult,
    • and the Colts are always trying to prioritize player safety.

Family and leadership

  • She reflects on:
    • working through grief after losing her father, Jim Irsay,
    • the responsibility of carrying the Colts’ legacy,
    • and the emotional significance of her sister Carly being asked to induct Adam Vinatieri into the Hall of Fame.
  • She emphasizes that the family takes the role seriously and feels honored to steward the team.

Interview: Brandon Beane on the Bills, Grass Fields, and Camp

Bills GM Brandon Beane joins to talk football operations, the new stadium, and the team’s outlook.

Main takeaways

  • He was impressed by the flag football event and acknowledges how much the sport is growing.
  • He agrees that seven-on-seven and skill development have influenced the modern NFL.
  • He talks about the Bills’ new stadium and the decision to install grass, explaining:
    • sub-air systems,
    • grow lamps,
    • and how modern technology makes it more manageable in Buffalo.

Bills expectations

  • Beane is blunt about the standard in Buffalo:
    • with Josh Allen, the expectation is to win a Super Bowl.
  • He describes the team’s mindset going into camp:
    • embrace expectations,
    • stay healthy,
    • manage depth,
    • and build a team that can handle a tough AFC.

Josh Allen discussion

  • Beane praises Allen’s growth:
    • from a young quarterback focused on the offense,
    • to a mature leader who now influences the whole team.
  • The crew jokes about Allen’s golf habits and training clips, but Beane emphasizes Allen’s competitiveness and leadership.

Interview: Teddy Bruschi on Flag Football, Training Camp, and the Patriots

Teddy Bruschi provides a strong player’s perspective on football’s evolution.

What he says about flag football

  • Bruschi is impressed by the skill level of the girls’ and boys’ flag teams.
  • He says the game is more strategic than many people realize:
    • quick releases,
    • route concepts,
    • motion,
    • and specific flag-football rules create a high-IQ version of the sport.
  • He believes flag football will help grow the game and open doors for athletes.

Patriots and NFL history

  • He talks about:
    • Bill Parcells,
    • Pete Carroll,
    • Bill Belichick,
    • and the culture of the Patriots.
  • He shares stories about:
    • old training camps,
    • losing weight in brutal early practices,
    • and the intensity of old-school football.
  • He reflects on Bob Kraft’s ownership and the transition to the next generation.
  • He also says Belichick remains the greatest coach of all time, regardless of what happens in college.

Personal note

  • Bruschi gives the show’s wedding party member some advice:
    • relationships change over time,
    • and success in marriage means adapting and continuing to love each other through those changes.

“Five Things That Aren’t Ass” and Other Sports Highlights

The show’s recurring highlight segment features a mix of absurd and impressive plays:

  • a monster dunk from Cam Hazard,
  • a bounce-pass double play in baseball,
  • a 474-foot Fernando Tatis Jr. home run,
  • an Altuve triple play,
  • a nine-dart finish from Luke Littler in darts,
  • and a catapult-flying Dutchman stunt that goes hilariously wrong.

They also show off:

  • an arena football ref getting blasted into the wall,
  • golf chaos involving Charlie Woods and a bad pin placement,
  • and a bizarre golfer losing multiple water bottles during a race.

Other Notable Moments and Running Jokes

A lot of the episode is pure live-show banter:

  • The crew jokes with mascots and random people in the crowd.
  • There’s extended bit comedy around:
    • “Wolfie,”
    • “Big Dom,”
    • and various mascots and guests walking through the set.
  • They repeatedly celebrate the crowd, the production crew, and ESPN/NFL partnership support.
  • Boston Connor’s upcoming wedding is a side topic throughout the show.
  • The crew also touches on:
    • the WNBA All-Star weekend,
    • Sabrina Ionescu not being invited to the three-point contest,
    • and possible commissioner drama around Kathy Engelbert.

Weekend Sports Preview

Before wrapping up, the crew previews a busy sports weekend:

  • Golf: 3M Open featuring Scottie Scheffler
  • NASCAR: Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis
  • WNBA All-Star Weekend: Team Coop vs. Team Spoon and the growing attention around the league

Final Takeaway

This episode is really two shows in one: a live celebration of flag football’s future and a classic Pat McAfee-style sports circus. The throughline is that football is still growing—globally, culturally, and competitively—and the show uses the setting in Indiana to spotlight that momentum while mixing in interviews, jokes, and fake-breaking-news energy.