Overview of PMS 2.0 1496 — Pat McAfee (ESPN)
This episode (Jan 20, 2026) centers on the Bill Belichick Hall of Fame controversy and the broad, emotional industry reaction. Pat McAfee and guests also cover coaching hires (AFC North & beyond), Brock Lesnar’s Royal Rumble return, Super Bowl trenches, the Pro Bowl/flag football discussion, college hoops highlights, and preview coverage plans for the Super Bowl and Olympics. Key guests: J.J. Watt, Jimmy Johnson, Mike Tirico, AQ Shipley, Darius Butler, A.J. Hawk.
Main topics covered
- Bill Belichick not elected a first‑ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer — immediate fan, player, coach and media backlash; debate about voting process, alleged bias, and Spygate/Deflategate context.
- Coaching carousel: Todd Monken (Browns), Mike McCarthy (Steelers), Jesse Minter (Ravens) and broader hiring/candidate landscape (Joe Brady, Brian Dayball, etc.).
- Brock Lesnar confirmed (via FaceTime) for the WWE Royal Rumble — Lesnar says he’ll win.
- Guest conversations: J.J. Watt, Jimmy Johnson, Mike Tirico, AQ Shipley, Darius Butler, A.J. Hawk weigh in on Belichick, coaching, NFL culture.
- Super Bowl preview: Patriots vs Seahawks; AQ Shipley breaks down trenches and why the interior D-line battle will decide the game.
- Olympics and broadcasting: Mike Tirico previews Super Bowl day and transition to Olympic primetime hosting (including Lindsey Vonn, Ilia Malinin).
- Other items: Pro Bowl/flag football debate, college basketball upsets and comebacks, Sunday Red (Tiger Woods brand) mention, a light Thunderdome bit about an Iowa Wrestling Club gift.
Key takeaways / main conclusions
- The Belichick first‑ballot omission is seen by many guests and callers as a major mistake that undermines the credibility of the Hall of Fame process; many expect Belichick to be inducted next year, but outrage and calls for accountability are widespread.
- The 2026 coaching cycle is reshaping the AFC North and many staffs — hiring decisions will hinge heavily on quarterback situations.
- Super Bowl 60 (Patriots vs Seahawks) likely turns on the trench play — interior defensive line performance and how teams handle drop‑knee, double teams and leverage will be decisive.
- The Pro Bowl/flag football experiment has potential but needs better integration, rule expertise and presentation if it’s to regain value.
- Major crossover sports media week ahead: Super Bowl coverage merges immediately into Olympic primetime for broadcasters like Mike Tirico — big scheduling and storytelling opportunity.
Notable insights & quotes
- Pat McAfee: “Bill Belichick would be a first‑ballot Hall of Famer as a coach, as a GM — his résumé speaks for itself.”
- J.J. Watt: “If Bill Belichick’s not first ballot, no person in the history of the NFL deserves to be.” (strong reaction to the omission)
- Jimmy Johnson (on Hall voters): “It tarnishes everything in the Hall of Fame… 10 or 11 ignorant, jealous assholes.” (very blunt — argues cheating/Spygate was common era practice and not disqualifying)
- Mike Tirico on Super Bowl → Olympics day: calling the game, then hosting Olympic primetime from the stadium, flying to Italy the same night — “I’m going to wake up in the middle of the night and watch Lindsey Vonn.”
- AQ Shipley (trenches analysis): Byron Murphy’s drop‑knee, ricochet technique and New England’s interior D-line discipline are matchup keys; “who wins the defensive line will win this game.”
Guests & main contributions
- J.J. Watt — emotional, unequivocal defense of Belichick; on team-building and coaching hires; contrasted media voter behavior.
- Jimmy Johnson — blunt Hall of Fame critique; historical context on sideline signal‑stealing practices; argued Belichick’s omission hurts Hall credibility.
- Mike Tirico — previewed his Super Bowl and Olympics schedule, discussed preparation across sports, and reflected on broadcasting craft.
- AQ Shipley — detailed Super Bowl trench breakdown (plays/clips described), highlighted interior linemen differences and why trenches will decide outcome.
- Darius Butler, A.J. Hawk, D‑Butch (Darius J. Butler) — players’ perspectives on Belichick’s coaching, coaching hires, and Hall process; Hawk emphasized Belichick as a no‑brainer Hall pick.
- Others (Ty Schmidt, Tom/“Hammer” Don, Pat’s crew) contributed fan perspective, coaching-hire reactions, and lighter banter.
Super Bowl trenches: what to watch (concise)
- Patriots interior defense: Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, rotational heavy front; strong at two‑hand posts and extension — can stalemate/penetrate and make run fits.
- Seahawks interior: Leonard Williams & Byron Murphy — Murphy’s drop‑knee + ricochet technique creates backside disruption; Kenneth Walker (RB) explosiveness on cutbacks critical.
- Tactical cues: double-team handling, hip/low leverage to move DTs, ability of O-line centers/guards to maintain blocks in poor footing (weather), and QB‑run packages (Patriots) vs. RB vision/patience (Seahawks).
- Prediction hinge: interior D‑line performance — the side that controls gaps and tackles in space likely decides the game.
Other notable segments
- Brock Lesnar FaceTime: confirmed he’s in the Royal Rumble; promises to win — pat’s reaction and speculation about matchups.
- Pro Bowl (flag football) skepticism: discussion about optics, safety, player opt‑outs and whether flag format can be legit or needs better execution and consultation with flag‑football experts.
- College basketball: unusually many comebacks; Jeremy Fears (Michigan State) comeback story highlighted; Miami (OH) hot start noted.
- Broadcast & Olympics: Mike Tirico previewed Olympic athletes to watch (Lindsey Vonn, Ilia Malinin “quad god”) and the logistical sprint of Super Bowl → Olympic primetime → travel.
Recommended follow‑ups (for listeners)
- Watch for Jesse Minter on Pat’s show (expected guest) for Baltimore updates.
- Tune Saturday 2 PM ET for WWE Royal Rumble (Brock Lesnar appearance).
- Follow Radio Row coverage leading into Super Bowl week — Pat & crew will continue interviews and trench updates.
- Watch AQ Shipley’s full trenches breakdown clips if you want the play‑by‑play film study (great for bettors / deep viewers).
- Expect continued Hall of Fame fallout: official inductees announced next Thursday; watch for statements from the Hall and from veteran voters.
Quick episode timeline / highlights
- Opening: AFC North coaching changes (Monken, McCarthy, Minter) and emotional McCarthy press conference.
- Major block: Belichick Hall controversy — extensive caller/guest reactions (Polian confusion mentioned).
- Brock Lesnar FaceTime cameo.
- Guest block: J.J. Watt, then extended Jimmy Johnson interview.
- Mike Tirico segment: Super Bowl day → Olympic primetime logistics & favorites.
- AQ Shipley trenches film study for Patriots vs Seahawks.
- College hoops & Pro Bowl/flag football talk; light Thunderdome banter and reading of fan calls.
If you want a one‑line summary: this episode is the Belichick Hall of Fame firestorm unpacked by players, coaches and broadcasters, with practical Super Bowl film work (trenches) and major sports media moments (Royal Rumble, Olympics) rounding out the coverage.