
The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL
The Athletic’s flagship NFL podcast covers the league like only The Athletic can. Host Robert Mays and co-host Derrik Klassen dive into the biggest stories, break down the Xs and Os, tackle the ins and outs of roster building, 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. 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.
Latest episodes

Nov 4, 2024 • 1h 27min
Week 9 recap: The best of the best—and the worst of the worst—are separating from the pack
We're halfway through the NFL season, and the best of the best are starting to separate. Two cases in point in Week 9...the Lions and Ravens. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dig into those results on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss the Chargers latest win, concerns for the Bears, highlight reel plays from the Eagles, the Rams win over the Seahawks, and a whole lot more.RundownRavens dominate BroncosLions handle PackersLos Angeles Chargers...You Have My Attention!Joe Burrow...You Have My Attention!Chicago Bears...WTF?!?Seattle Seahawks...WTF?!?Saquon Barkley and Devonta Smith carry the EaglesDrake Maye did something cool againTerry McLaurin is out of QB hellChris Olave's healthIt's So Over...the Miami DolphinsIt's So Over...the Dallas CowboysWhat Did We Learn Today?Host: Robert MaysCo-Host: Derrik KlassenExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 1, 2024 • 1h 26min
Week 9 preview: An NFC North heavyweight battle, an unlikely top-tier defense in Los Angeles, and a strength-on-strength matchup in Baltimore
Some Games of the Week sneak up on us. Others we can predict before the season even starts. Lions-Packers is one of the latter. We'll spend plenty of time between now and kickoff hoping Jordan Love is healthy enough to play and play well, but either way this is clearly the Game of the Week for Week 9. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen break that one down, dig into the Chargers defense, highlight the matchup between the Ravens offense and Broncos defense, and get into so much more about Week 9 on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.RundownJets beat Texans on Thursday Night FootballGame of the Week: Lions at PackersFourth Screen emailAnthony Richardson benchedUnder the Hood: Chargers defenseMatchup of the Week: Ravens offense vs. Broncos defenseCan the Cowboys pull a Falcons?...yes, this is a good thingCan the Cardinals offense keep it going against the Bears defense?What Do You Wanna Know?Host: Robert MaysCo-Host: Derrik KlassenExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 29, 2024 • 1h 34min
The highs and lows from this season's rookie quarterbacks with J.T. O'Sullivan; MNF recap and the state of the Giants with Dan Duggan
Each of this season's four first-round starting quarterbacks—Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Bo Nix—have shown off some highs and some lows, with the possible exception of lows from Daniels. How does all that shake out in the aggregate? Former NFL quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan, the brain behind The QB School, joins Robert Mays to break down what we've seen from the rookie quarterbacks so far this season. Before that, The Athletic's Giants beat writer Dan Duggan joins to recap the team's loss MNF loss to the Steelers and weigh in on the state of the franchise.RundownThe state of the GiantsCaleb WilliamsJayden DanielsDrake MayeBo NixUpon Further Review: Anthony Richardson benchedThe Ball KnowerRome Odunze needs to play moreMatt LaFleur is an elite playcallerRooting for Tua TagovailoaHost: Robert MaysWith: Dan Duggan and J.T. O'SullivanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Dan on X: @DDuggan21Follow J.T. on X: @theqbschoolTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 28, 2024 • 1h 26min
NFL Week 8 recap: Never underestimate an NFL Sunday
Alright, we'll admit it. We hand waved this week's slate back on our Week 8 preview episode. And then the league delivered one of the craziest days of the season. From the Browns upset of the Ravens, to Washington's walk-off Hail Mary against the Bears, Week 8 came through for us in a big way. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen recap the week on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.RundownBears-Commanders sillinessThe Philadelphia Eagles...You Have My AttentionTime for a Bengals post-mortem?The Buffalo Bills...You Have My AttentionThe Atlanta Falcons...You Have My AttentionThe first place Cardinals...You Have My AttentionAre the Dolphins done?The New York Jets...WTF?!?The Baltimore Ravens...WTF?!?Anthony Richardson...WTF?!?Did You See That?!?What Did We Learn Today?Host: Robert MaysCo-Host: Derrik KlassenExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 25, 2024 • 1h 34min
Week 8 preview: An unusual Game of the Week, a trio of confounding matchups, and a massive Rams return
We're just more than a week out from the trade deadline, and we've already seen a number of impact deals. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dream up a few more that we could realistically see on this Week 8 preview episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss Bills-Seahawks, the Bears defense, Eagles-Bengals and a whole lot more.RundownVikings-Rams recapBills-Seahawks previewDeAndre Hopkins to the ChiefsRealistic trades we'd like to seeUnder the Hood: The non-Caleb parts of the Bears 4-2 startBummed out by the Colts and Texans offensesThe Eagles and Bengals aren't playing serious football—especially the EaglesHuge game in the NFC SouthWhat Do We Wanna Know?Host: Robert MaysCo-Host: Derrik KlassenExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 22, 2024 • 52min
2024 QB tiers revisited: Who has the most at stake the rest of the season?
Back in August, 50 NFL coaches and executives told The Athletic's Mike Sando that Lamar Jackson is not a tier-one quarterback. Welp, so much for that. Lamar isn't the only QB playing outside his assigned tier this season. On this episode of The Athletic Football Show, Sando sits in for Robert Mays and discusses with Derrik Klassen four other quarterbacks who aren't lining up with where those coaches and execs placed them in Sando's 2024 QB tiers column. Then, the guys break down four more quarterbacks who have a ton at stake the rest of the season.RundownRavens-Buccaneers recapBaker MayfieldJared GoffGeno SmithAaron RodgersBrock PurdySam DarnoldKirk CousinsJalen HurtsHost: Mike SandoCo-Host: Derrik KlassenExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow Sando on X: @SandoNFLFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 21, 2024 • 1h 24min
Week 7 recap: Lions win thriller over Vikings, Packers squeak past Texans, Saquon gets his revenge, and more
The Chiefs are the lone unbeaten team in the NFL as Week 7 comes to an end. They stayed that way by stifling the 49ers in a 28-18 win. The league's other undefeated team at the start of Week 7, the Vikings, suffered their first loss at the hands of the Lions, who also moved into first place in the NFC North. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen discuss those two games, plus Saquon's revenge, disappointment in the Bengals, and a whole lot more on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.RundownLions win thriller over VikingsChiefs take down 49ersPackers defense shuts down TexansSeahawks get back on track with win over FalconsAnother disaster for the PanthersBengals offense...WTF?!?Saquon's revengeAmari Cooper had some moments in his Bills debutGood Jaguars offense or bad Patriots defense?Drake Maye impresses againWhat We Learned TodayHost: Robert MaysCo-Host: Derrik KlassenExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 18, 2024 • 1h 26min
Week 7 preview: Why doesn't Chiefs-49ers have the juice of a typical Super Bowl rematch?
On paper, Week 7 is the best week of the 2024 season to date. It's highlighted by the Super Bowl rematch, that doesn't quite feel like a Super Bowl rematch, between the Chiefs and 49ers, and it doesn't stop there. Vikings-Lions, Texans-Packers and Ravens-Buccaneers would all be worthy Game of the Week choices, as well. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dig into all those games on this episode of The Athletic Football Show, but it is, of course, Chiefs-49ers that gets the full Game of the Week treatment. The guys also discuss the Giants front, the Chargers friskiness, their approval of midseason trades like Amari Cooper to the Bills, and more.RundownBroncos-Saints recapGame of the Week: Chiefs-49ersLions-Vikings: Ben Johnson vs. Brian FloresTexans-Packers: Appreciating C.J. Stroud and Jordan LoveRavens-Buccaneers: Can the Bucs offense keep up?This Might Only Interest Me, But...Wins Pool updateWhat Do You Wanna Know in Week 7?Host: Robert MaysCo-Host: Derrik KlassenExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 15, 2024 • 1h 34min
From Super Bowl or Bust to Mock Draft Enthusiasts, breaking all 32 teams into six tiers; Plus, Davante Adams to the Jets and Amari Cooper to the Bills
Never a dull moment for the New York Jets, huh? The Athletic's Jets beat reporter Zack Rosenblatt joins Robert Mays on this episode of The Athletic Football Show to break down the tumultuous week in Jets land. Then, David Helman from Fox Sports hops on with Robert to separate all 32 teams into six tiers, from Super Bowl or Bust (think Chiefs, Ravens, Lions) to Mock Draft Enthusiasts (think Panthers, Browns, Patriots).RundownDavante Adams traded to JetsBehind the Robert Saleh firingSuper Bowl or BustLocked-In Playoff TeamsDeserving Wild CardsClinging to Playoff DreamsBREAKING: Amari Cooper to the Bills!Outside Looking InMock Draft EnthusiastsHost: Robert MaysWith: Zack Rosenblatt and David HelmanExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Zack on X: @ZackBlattFollow David on X: @davidhelman_Theme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 14, 2024 • 1h 18min
Week 6 recap: Ravens beat Commanders, the NFC North rises, the Cowboys hit rock bottom, and more
Ravens-Commanders was the best game on paper in Week 6, and it absolutely lived up to the billing. And hey, that 0-2 start to the season for the Ravens feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it? Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen kick off the Week 6 recap on The Athletic Football Show with an in-depth look at the Ravens' win over the Commanders. The guys also talk about the disaster in Dallas, the ascendant NFC North, the suddenly relevant Chargers, and a whole lot more.RundownRavens take down CommandersYou Have My Attention: Bucs-Saints sillinessYou Have My Attention: The suddenly relevant ChargersYou Have My Attention: The NFC NorthDallas Cowboys...WTF?!?Eagles and Browns...WTF?!?The Patriots offense shows some life with Drake MayeCalvin Ridley isn't happy about his 0-ferTyler Allgeier does cool stuff, and the Falcons run game gets goingWhat We Learned in Week 6Host: Robert MaysCo-Host: Derrik KlassenExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Derrik on X: @QBKlassTheme song: HauntedWritten by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love SongsCourtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.