When you think of NFL business, it’s easy to picture the Dallas Cowboys at the top — the $10B empire that won’t stop growing. But what about the other end of the spectrum? Who’s at the bottom of the valuation rankings, and what does it really mean to be the “least valuable” team in a league where even last place is worth over $5 billion?

In this episode, Zach Quinn digs into the numbers, the markets, and the hidden forces shaping why teams like the Bengals, Jaguars, or Bills often land near the bottom of the list. From local revenue struggles to stadium deals, market size, brand power, and media exposure, you’ll learn how valuation is about much more than wins and losses. Even when the gap between first and last is measured in billions, the differences tell a story about the future of the NFL.

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Former BYU and New Orleans Saints Linebacker Sae Tautu joins Zach on MoneyBallers to share his journey from the gridiron to entrepreneurship. After battling injuries himself, Sae now operates Ortho Athlete, a performance and orthopedic recovery organization built to give athletes access to top-tier care, rehab, and prevention services. He also founded The Pursuit Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to closing gaps in medical access for athletes who often fall through the cracks.

Ortho Athlete: https://ortho-athlete.com/ 

The Pursuit Foundation: https://thepf.org/ 

In this conversation, we dive into the business of recovery in football: how NFL teams really handle injured players, the financial realities of treatment and settlements, and why access to proper care can completely reshape an athlete’s career. Sae also talks about building community support, mentorship, and a new surgical center in the works, while offering his perspective on what future NFL labor negotiations should address around player health.

Whether you’re an NFL fan, a young athlete chasing a scholarship, or someone curious about the business side of sports medicine, this episode gives you a candid look at where athlete care is headed — and how Ortho Athlete and The Pursuit Foundation are changing the game. Remember to check us out on X, TikTok, and Instagram! And ratings and reviews are the most helpful for us to reach more fans. Lots of special guests are coming up, so stay tuned!

The NFL’s practice squads might not get Sunday night highlights, but they’re the backbone of every roster. From undrafted rookies grinding for a shot to seasoned vets keeping their careers alive, practice squads are where opportunity meets survival. This episode of Moneyballers pulls back the curtain on how these squads work, who qualifies, and why they’ve quietly become one of the league’s most important tools for building depth.

We dive into the financials: how much practice squad players actually make, the differences between rookies and veterans, how game-day elevations boost their paychecks, and why teams treat these rosters like living insurance policies. Along the way, we highlight how the league’s most overlooked players help shape playoff runs, protect superstars, and sometimes rise from anonymity to steal the spotlight on Sundays.

If you’re into the hidden economics of football, this one’s for you. Check us out on X, TikTok, and Instagram for more behind-the-scenes breakdowns, and don’t forget to leave a rating and review—it helps us grow the show and keep bringing you the money side of the NFL.

NFL referees might not be household names, but they’re making six-figure salaries and competing for the biggest payday of their careers: a Super Bowl assignment. In this episode of Moneyballers, we break down exactly how much referees make, how playoff and Super Bowl bonuses work, and what it really takes to get chosen for the biggest stage in football.

We also go inside the replay booth — the hidden operation that reviews every call, challenge, and crucial moment. From the technology costs to the replay officials themselves, we’ll explore why the league pours so much money into accuracy, how mistakes can ripple into millions of dollars in lost trust, and where the future of officiating might be headed.

If you enjoy this kind of deep dive into the business of football, make sure to follow us on X, TikTok, and Instagram for clips, charts, and behind-the-scenes extras. And the best way you can support the show is by leaving us a rating and review — it helps other fans discover Moneyballers and keeps us bringing you the stories behind the NFL’s money machine.

The NFL doesn’t just own Sundays—it owns holidays, too. In this episode of Moneyballers, we’re breaking down which holidays the league values most when it comes to scheduling, TV rights, and revenue. From Thanksgiving’s historic triple-headers to Christmas Day’s growing influence, we’ll pull back the curtain on why certain dates carry more weight in the NFL’s financial playbook.

We’ll compare how games on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and even Halloween stack up against one another when it comes to viewership, advertising rates, and the league’s long-term strategy. You’ll hear why Thanksgiving remains the king, why Christmas is rapidly climbing in value, and how the NFL thinks about slotting games to maximize attention and dollars during the busiest times of the year.

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For decades, the second round of the NFL Draft came with a catch: you’d get drafted high enough to be a priority player, but not high enough to demand the kinds of guarantees first-rounders received. That changed this year. For the first time in league history, second-round picks pushed for — and got — fully guaranteed contracts. And the ripple effects could change how teams value every draft slot moving forward.

In this episode, Zach Quinn takes you inside the money game: how the rookie wage scale was designed to keep teams in control, why guarantees matter more than ever, and what this year’s second-round “holdout wave” means for the next CBA fight. From Sam Bradford’s infamous $78M rookie deal to Shedeur Sanders’ $40M slide into the fifth round, this is the story of how financial leverage at the draft table decides careers before a single snap is played.

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The NFL is back — and Week 1 isn’t just football, it’s big business. In this episode of Moneyballers, Zach breaks down why opening weekend is one of the league’s most valuable assets. From billion-dollar TV rights and record ad rates, to sky-high ticket sales and luxury suite revenue, to the explosion of legal sports betting, Week 1 is a financial machine like no other. We’ll also dive into how player contracts and roster guarantees hinge on being active for kickoff, why preseason money doesn’t come close to regular season dollars, and what this all means for the future of the NFL schedule and international expansion.

If you’ve ever wondered why networks spend billions to air these games — or why owners are pushing for 18 regular season contests — this episode lays it all out. And if you’re enjoying the show, the best way to support it is by leaving us a rating and review on your podcast app. It helps more fans find Moneyballers and keeps us breaking down the business of the NFL all season long. You can find us on X, TikTok, and Instagram, so come check us out!

NFL agents are some of the most powerful — and misunderstood — players in the business of football. In this episode of Moneyballers, Zach Quinn pulls back the curtain on how agents actually operate, from structuring contracts and playing hardball with owners to working within the rules of the NFLPA. We dive deep into why agents are crucial in CBA negotiations, why they often clash with teams, and how their strategies compare to those in the NBA and MLB. Along the way, we spotlight recent blockbuster deals — like T.J. Watt’s record-setting contract — to show how the system really works and why guaranteed money is still the NFL’s biggest battleground.

Whether you’re a diehard fan, a numbers geek, or just curious about what happens behind closed doors, this episode is all about understanding the power brokers who shape the modern NFL.

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The next NFL collective bargaining agreement doesn’t expire until 2030 — but make no mistake, the battle lines are already being drawn. Every contract, every TV deal, every new stream of revenue is building toward a showdown that could reshape football for a generation. In this episode of Moneyballers, we break down how NFL contracts really work compared to the NBA and MLB, why the NFLPA has historically struggled to win big at the table, and what players will be pushing for in 2030: guaranteed money, revenue sharing, healthcare, retirement, and maybe even leverage over the NFL’s new private equity money.

We also compare the NFL’s structure to other leagues, explain why owners will never willingly give up their power, and explore whether player empowerment could ever look like it does in the NBA.Fans, owners, and players all have skin in this game — and the future of football depends on how this negotiation unfolds.

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Fans hate it, players hate it, and every August the debate heats up: why does the NFL still force us to sit through preseason football? In this episode of Moneyballers, Zach Quinn breaks down why the preseason isn’t going anywhere—and it all comes down to money. From Dallas pulling nearly $10 million in two exhibition games, to Jacksonville still clearing eight figures in a down market, preseason ticket bundling, parking, and concessions guarantee owners massive cash regardless of wins or losses.

But it doesn’t stop at team gates. Preseason also fuels league-wide revenue sharing, sports betting, sponsorships, and even serves as the owners’ bargaining chip for future CBA negotiations. Killing it would strip away hundreds of millions in revenue, weaken leverage at the negotiating table, and crack open the door to à la carte ticket pricing—something no billionaire is about to risk.So the next time someone says “just get rid of the preseason,” send them this episode. Because the truth is simple: preseason football isn’t about evaluating players. It’s about protecting the NFL’s most valuable asset—money.

Follow us on X, TikTok, and Instagram @lifeinthestands for more NFL coverage, live postgame reactions, and contract talk. If you enjoy the show, please rate and review — it really helps us grow!