
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

Oct 7, 2024 • 1h 34min
Week 5 recap: Ravens-Bengals shootout, Texans outlast Bills, Caleb Williams' big day, and more
Ravens 41, Bengals 38 in overtime. Texans 23, Bills 20. The Jaguars and Colts combining for 41 points in the fourth quarter. And that was all in the early window on Sunday. Yeah, Week 5 was the craziest week to date of this NFL season. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen break it all down on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.RundownRavens beat Bengals in OT thrillerYou Have My Attention: Texans get huge win over BillsYou Have My Attention: Caleb Williams stars in Bears' win over PanthersNFC West...WTF?!?Raiders...WTF?!?Did You See That?!?...Jayden Daniels shines, but in a different wayDid You See That?!?...Jaguars-Colts fourth quarter fireworksDid You See That?!?...Andrew Van Ginkel making big playsDid You See That?!?...Xavier McKinney is ballingWhat 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 4, 2024 • 1h 36min
Week 5 preview: Ravens-Bengals, Bills-Texans, digging into the Steelers' and 49ers' offenses, and more
Four weeks into the season, the 49ers' offense has been predictably great...but in unpredictable fashion. Four weeks into the season, the Steelers' offense has been unpredictably effective. Ravens-Bengals and Bills-Texans as the Week 5 Games of the Week? Well, yeah, not everything can be unpredictable. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen preview Week 5 across the NFL on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.RundownBuccaneers-Falcons recapRavens-Bengals previewBills-Texans previewWhat's on my Fourth Screen?Under the Hood: Steelers offenseFavorite realistic Davante Adams trade destinationsTake Tribunal: The Jets won't improve on last year's win totalThe bizarro version of an elite 49ers offenseJayden Daniels gets a much tougher testWhat I Wanna KnowHost: 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 1, 2024 • 1h 20min
Lions and Seahawks put on a show, our first 2025 NFL Draft check-in of the season, and more with Dane Brugler
Dane Brugler makes his triumphant return to The Athletic Football Show to start laying groundwork for the 2025 NFL Draft. He and Robert Mays take a big-picture look at the class, and dig deeper into prospects who have caught Dane's eye, including Travis Hunter and Ashton Jeanty. The guys start the show by recapping Seahawks-Lions and Titans-Dolphins, and wrap it up by discussing Malik Nabers, the rookies in the Rams' defensive front and the top-two quarterbacks from the 2024 NFL Draft.RundownTitans-Dolphins recapSeahawks-Lions recapMovers on Dane Brugler's 2025 NFL Draft big boardUpon Further Review: Jalen MilroeUpon Further Review: Chargers defense and Chiefs offense check-insThe Ball Knower: Malik Nabers is already a top-10 WRThe Ball Knower: Jared Verse and Braden Fiske are doing workThe Ball Knower: Is Ryan Poles sweating yet?Host: Robert MaysWith: Dane BruglerExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Dane on X: @dpbruglerTheme 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.

Sep 30, 2024 • 1h 21min
Week 4 recap: Ravens upend Bills, Washington's surge continues, the Vikings keep rolling, and more
Ravens-Bills wasn't quite the close contest we were hoping for, but it still gave us plenty to discuss about two teams that are likely among the best in the league. That's where Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen begin the Week 4 recap episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss the surging Washington football team, the 4-0 Vikings, troubles for the Jets and Eagles, a silly little game between the Falcons and Saints, and a whole lot more.RundownRavens trounce BillsWashington Football Team...You Have My Attention4-0 Vikings...You Still Have My AttentionEagles...WTF?!?Jets offense...WTF?!?Falcons, Saints and the NFC South...WTF?!?Chiefs and Texans...you guys are almost hereDid You See That? Jaylon JohnsonDid You See That? Darnell Washington hurdle + Steelers-Colts wrapDid You See That? Ja'Marr Chase's ridiculous catch-and-runWhat 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.

Sep 27, 2024 • 1h 40min
Week 4 preview: Vikings-Packers, Bills-Ravens, Seahawks-Lions, Jayden Daniels under the QB spotlight, and more
Vikings-Packers, Bills-Ravens and Seahawks-Lions highlight the 16-game Week 4 slate and, helpfully, they're all in different game windows. Now that's how you schedule helpfully for the football fan, NFL. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dig into those three games, plus Jayden Daniels, the Broncos front, Todd Bowles as Jalen Hurts' kryptonite, and a whole lot more on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.RundownGiants-Cowboys recapVikings-PackersBills-RavensSeahawks-LionsQB Spotlight: Jayden DanielsThis Might Only Interest Me, But...Broncos front vs. Jets offensive lineJalen Hurts vs. Todd BowlesThe Athletic's front office surveyWhat Do You Wanna Know by the end of Week 4?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.

Sep 24, 2024 • 1h 33min
Jayden Daniels coming-out party, another big night for Josh Allen, concerns for the Bengals defense, and the reasons why offenses have fallen behind with Mitch Schwartz
Look, NFL, you can give us as many two-game Monday nights as you want, so long as we get to watch quarterback performances like we saw from Jayden Daniels, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow in Week 3. Mitch Schwartz joins Robert Mays to break down Commanders-Bengals and Jaguars-Bills on this episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also add their answers to the question about leaguewide offensive struggles and play a round of The Ball Knower.RundownCommanders-Bengals recapJaguars-Bills recapWhy are offenses struggling?The Ball KnowerWhat Mitch Knows He Knows: Josh Allen is the league's second-best quarterbackWhat Mitch Thinks He Knows: The Vikings are for realWhat Mitch Wants to Know: If the run game is back, where are the superstar running backs?Host: Robert MaysWith: Mitch SchwartzExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Mitch on X: @MitchSchwartz71Theme 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.

Sep 23, 2024 • 1h 31min
Week 3 recap: Chaos reigns, the Vikings do it again, Matt LaFleur is a wizard, the Cowboys are in trouble, and more
Four teams are 3-0 as we head into the final week of September. One is the Chiefs. The other three are the Vikings, Steelers and Seahawks. It's safe to say chaos remains the only constant in the NFL. Well, chaos and the Chiefs. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen wrap up a wild Week 3 on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.RundownChaos reigns supremeMore likely to win their division...Steelers or Seahawks?Minnesota Vikings...You Have My AttentionMatt LaFleur...You Have My AttentionSaquon Barkley and Dallas Goedert...You Have My AttentionTampa Bay Buccaneers...WTF?!?Raiders defense...WTF?!?Shane Waldron...WTF?!?Justin Fields attacking the middleMalik Nabers giving off Ja'Marr Chase vibesJauan Jennings has a big dayThe Cowboys defense just might be badIt's So Over for the DolphinsWhat 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: @QBKlassFollow Mike on X: @SandoNFLTheme 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.

Sep 20, 2024 • 1h 30min
Week 3 preview: Texans-Vikings, Lions-Cardinals, Ravens-Cowboys Desperation Bowl, breaking down the Colts offense, and more
As recently as two weeks ago, we might not have thought that Texans-Vikings and Lions-Cardinals would be the games we'd most be looking forward to in Week 3. Therein lies much of the beauty of the NFL. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen dig deep into those matchups on the Week 3 preview episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss who's more desperate for a win in the Ravens-Cowboys game, which of the 2-0 Steelers and 2-0 Chargers is more for real, the relative struggles of the Colts offense through two weeks, and a whole lot more.RundownPatriots-Jets recapTexans-VikingsLions-CardinalsWhat's on My Fourth Screen?Desperation Bowl: Ravens-CowboysChargers-Steelers...Which 2-0 team is more for real?Under the Hood: Colts offenseAiring of GrievancesWhat 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: @QBKlassFollow Mike on X: @SandoNFLTheme 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.

Sep 17, 2024 • 1h 23min
The state of NFL stats and a Falcons-Eagles recap with Amazon's Sam Schwartzstein; QB Counseling for Bryce Young and the Panthers with Steven Ruiz
There is a permanent statistical revolution going on in the NFL, and there is no end in sight. Amazon Thursday Night Football's analytics expert Sam Schwartzstein joins Robert Mays on this episode of The Athletic Football Show to detail what you're seeing on the Prime TNF broadcasts, and why you're seeing what you're seeing. After that, noted Panthers fan Steven Ruiz from The Ringer joins Robert to go through some QB Counseling for Bryce Young.RundownFalcons-Eagles recapThe state of stats in the NFLQB Counseling for Bryce Young and the PanthersHost: Robert MaysWith: Sam Schwartzstein and Steven RuizExecutive Producer: Michael BellerProducer: Michael BellerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTubeFollow Robert on X: @robertmaysFollow Sam on X: @schwartzsteinsFollow Steven on X: @theStevenRuizTheme 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.

Sep 16, 2024 • 1h 29min
Week 2 recap: Chiefs trip up Bengals, the Saints go off again, the Buccaneers and Vikings are 2-0, the Ravens let us down, and more
The Chiefs and Bengals gave us another classic, this one with the Chiefs escaping with a 26-25 win. The Saints offense went off for the second week in a row. The Buccaneers went into Detroit and beat the Lions. The Vikings upset the 49ers, while the Raiders tripped up the Ravens. Yup, it was a crazy Week 2. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen wrap it all up on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.RundownQuick Bears-Texans thoughtsChiefs get past BengalsYou Have My Attention: Saints offenseYou Have My Attention: Tampa Bay BuccaneersYou Have My Attention: Minnesota VikingsWTF?!?...The Rams season feels over?The Cardinals might have somethingWTF?!?...The Colts run defenseWTF?!?...The Ravens lost another game they should've wonGeno Smith is ballingKeion White shines againAidan Hutchinson wrecked the Buccaneers offenseQuentin Johnston caught two touchdowns!It's So Over for the JaguarsWhat Derrik Learned Today: It's gonna take some time for Mike Zimmer in DallasWhat Robert Learned Today: We don't know anything about what will work and what won'tHost: 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.