Michael Robinson and Brian Billick welcome former NFL head coach Rex Ryan to the podcast. Coach Billick and Rex go way back and the former Ravens defensive coordinator starts off by telling how much of an influence Billick had on his career (2:06). How much did Rex steal from Brian? Everything. Rex pulls out a locker room story from the Chicago Bears (3:12), and you’ll find out why “Sweetness” was the perfect nickname for Walter Payton even when he wasn’t being so sweet. Next, Billick asks Rex if he remembers the first time they met (5:12), and tells us what impressed him most about his future assistant coach. MRob expresses his love for Rex’s larger-than-life personality, but asks if he’d change his ways in the current NFL environment (10:04). Coach Billick asks Rex the burning question, “Who’s more arrogant, you or me?” (12:00), and Rex let’s us know just how good Rex thought he was. After Rex praises Brian for his ability to adapt the offense to his players’ strengths (12:42), he goes on to tell us about the first time he cried on a football field... after Peyton Manning sent the Ravens home in the 2006 playoffs (14:23). Speaking of the Mannings, Brian tells us about when he kindly asked Rex to not kill Eli Manning (15:57). MRob can see Rex still has the passion and asks why he’s not coaching (18:04), and while Rex sounds open to it, he’s getting his football fix in other ways. Billick asks Rex about the younger head coaches coming into the league (20:43), and Rex has thoughts, “he’s already on third base and he thinks he hit a triple.” Being a head coach is tough, but coaching in New York City is tougher… Billick asks about the unique pressure of coaching the Jets (23:02), Rex thrived in NYC with his no BS style. Any tips for Robert Saleh as he starts his head coaching career with the J-E-T-S? (25:01), “embrace the situation you have.” Billick brings up the GM/Head Coach relationship and Rex tells us how to do it right (26:44).

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Michael Robinson and Brian Billick kick of every episode asking our guests for their best locker room story. Today we’ve compiled the best of the best. Enjoy! Coach Billick “kicks” the show off with the story of a punter just hanging around… by his foot… from a net… (:59), and MRob recalls the time two of his teammates were at each other’s throats right before the Super Bowl (2:26). Next we turn to our guests who are more than willing to spill the tea on locker room hijinks. Jared Allen talks turkey (6:37), and Adrian Peterson dodges flying chairs (8:27). LaDainian Tomlinson recalls a teammate’s love life leading to a hairy situation (10:37). “Tickets for Crickets” & “DB-ville”… Chris Long stakes his claim to the throne of the prankster king (13:21), but Gerald McCoy just might take the crown when he charges a rookie rent (16:28). Steve Smith Sr. did not enjoy his first day in Baltimore (19:43). Vernon Davis on how no one was safe inside the San Francisco locker room (21:48), and former 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci on the time a guy fell through the ceiling into their locker room (23:01). Finally, Brian Baldinger tops the show off with a toupee tussle (24:32).

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Michael Robinson and Brian Billick welcome Super Bowl 50 winning Head Coach Gary Kubiak to the podcast. Coach Kubiak starts things off with a locker room story from his days backing up John Elway (1:53), Mike Shanahan didn’t think it was that funny, but you will. How Kubiak went from player to coach and who convinced him to make the jump (3:30), plus why making the move back to Texas A&M put him on track to excel as an NFL head coach. What it was like to land in Denver as a head coach working with Elway again (7:15), and then what it was like to walk away… that is until Mike Zimmer pulled him back into the Vikings locker room (9:25). MRob gets Kubiak to dive into the evolution of the wide zone run scheme (10:20), and Coach Billick follows up asking how he found the right backs to run the scheme (12:26). Gary Kubiak treasures teaching and one of his students was just named NFL Coach of the Year, Kubiak talks about the time he spent with Kevin Stefanski in Minnesota (13:45). Head coaching can take its toll, Billick asks how he addressed work life balance following health concerns (15:58), and the coaching legacy he’s passed on to his sons (17:20). MRob asks how we can get more opportunities for minority head coaches (19:50). Coach Billick brings up the “I got the job, what do I do now?” moment every head coach faces (21:36), leading Coach Kubiak to tell a very cool story of when he first met Robert Saleh as well as some coaching advice that’s followed him ever since. Kubiak weighs in on the state of offenses during the time of Covid and tells us what we can expect when the fans return (23:27). Finally, we couldn’t let Coach go without asking about Peyton Manning (24:54), what it was like to coach the future Hall of Famer.

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Michael Robinson and Brian Billick welcome 5-time Pro Bowl and Super Bowl Champion cornerback Aqib Talib to the podcast. MRob dives right in asking about that Super Bowl 50 squad (1:50), and Aqib says the secret to the Broncos 2015 success was extreme camaraderie in the locker room. How does Aqib approach his transition to the broadcast booth (3:50)? He attacks it the same way he attacked the game when he played and watches plenty of tape. Talib’s answer to dealing with negative feedback? Pay attention to the positive feedback…because there’s more of it (5:02). Coach asks Aqib about his podcast but before he answers, MRob has to know what’s up with that name, “Catchin’ Fades” (5:35). Who were the players that inspired Talib as a kid (7:15)? He tells MRob and Coach and doesn’t stop at being a kid… there were contemporaries inspiring him when he was a top shutdown corner in the League (8:10). Speaking of shutdown corners, Coach asks if they still exist (8:55), and Aqib’s answer enlightens all on the changing position and he lays down his top list of current corners. Do corners ever regret telling a coach they want to follow the top receiver? Yes (11:50), and Talib’s admission of anxiety on the field blows MRob’s mind (12:40). Aqib’s opinion on what went down for Jared Goff in LA might surprise you (13:40). Free Agency advice, Talib sounds off on players making the right and wrong decisions (18:24), and speculates about the potential free agent comings and goings with the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (20:45). Hint: Talk to Tom Brady if you want to go to Tampa.

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Michael Robinson and Brian Billick welcome former Colts Wide Receiver Rep. Anthony Gonzalez to the show to talk about his life in the NFL, his career in Congress and where the two overlap. Before things get serious, Gonzalez breaks the ice with a tale of the night he and his Colts teammates “may have” parked an unnamed coach’s car on the 50-yard line… loaded with packing peanuts (2:40). The podcast matures when MRob asks Anthony to outline his journey from football to the U.S. House of Representatives (4:22), and Gonzalez explains “the call to serve” that led him to the halls of Congress. How do the lessons learned in a diverse NFL locker room inform his role as a U.S. Representative? Coach Billick wants to know and asks just that (6:51), and finds out what it takes for Republicans, Democrats and Independents to work together without the assistance of game tape. Got a problem? Anthony explains how the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus gets things done (11:28). MRob asks Anthony about his decision to vote to impeach President Trump, a decision unpopular with his “team” (12:36), and Gonzalez explains that “you have to be willing to lose your job in this job” when you take an oath to uphold the Constitution. In a first for this podcast, Coach Billick tackles pork barrel spending (14:53). Then Rep, Gonzalez gives an honest account of his experience being in The Capitol Building under siege on January 6th (17:09), and how there just might be a silver lining to the event. Things lighten up when Coach reveals that Anthony once dated his daughter (19:25), and Gonzalez reveals he was just hoping it wouldn’t affect his draft position. Things wrap up with talk about Anthony’s old QB, Peyton Manning, and his entrance into the Hall of Fame… and what he hated to hear on 3rd downs (20:28).

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Former GM and Executive of the Year Scott Pioli stops by to tell Michael Robinson and Brian Billick about being a part of a group that convinced former Ravens owner Art Modell to draft Jonathan Ogden over what would have been a draft bust (1:30). Coach Billick and Pioli then share what they learned working alongside Ozzie Newsome (5:20), and the importance of being truthful to owners during sometimes uncomfortable conversations (6:30). Scott then explains why he didn't need to be on the practice field in order to do his job evaluating players (9:25), instead he took a page out of Bill Parcells' book to get to know players in the weight room (15:15). Then Pioli reflects on how he dealt with outside noise and criticism throughout the years when things weren't going well (16:30). Finally, Billick and Pioli examine the shifting power structure in the NFL and bridging the gap between the on the field and the business side of team operations (20:10). This prompts Billick to tell a story about Bill Walsh firing and then rehiring most of the staff to teach them a lesson of who's in charge (23:10).

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Michael Robinson and Brian Billick welcome 2-time Pro Bowl tight end, and former MRob teammate, Vernon Davis to the show. Vernon pulled some pranks in his day, but beware the reptilian payback (2:17). MRob asks about the current state of the TE position (3:40) before Coach Billick reminds us that tight ends don’t live on catches alone, they have to master blocking (4:35). And who taught Vernon how to be a blocking force (6:11)?. Hint: It was not Michael Robinson. “Can’t win with them!” - How Mike Singletary changed Davis’ career and made a lifelong impact (8:59). What’s Vernon’s legacy at the tight end position? Speed (12:07). Then it’s lights, camera, action when Vernon takes us through the details of his new career in acting (17:44), John Malkovich anybody? Finally, Coach Billick asks him the burning question… What’s up with the Cha Cha (20:13)?

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Michael Robinson and Brian Billick welcome Wade Phillips back to the show. Coaches Wade and Billick tell stories about the marital stresses placed upon those in the coaching profession (1:47), before digging into some gridiron talk. Coach Billick recounts the first time he met Wade, it involves a keg of beer at midnight (3:35). Who came up with 11 and 12 personnel terminology? It was Coach Wade (5:03), which isn’t surprising when you discover the techniques his father came up with (7:06). Techniques that MRob claims are the foundation of everything he knows about football. Coach Wade reveals the secret of greatness: the great ones always believed they could be better (10:47). Speaking of great ones, find out why Reggie White’s 21-sack season in ’87 is even more impressive than you think (11:21). Coach Billick gives Wade something to consider with a question. What’s the best defense he ever had (12:35)? And just how hard is it for defenses to be great today (15:35)? MRob asks Coach Wade if he’s ready to retire from retirement (19:59).

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Michael Robinson and Brian Billick welcome The Son of Bum himself, Wade Phillips, to the show. First things first, call him Coach Wade (1:55). When it comes to any town in Texas, what do the doctor, the reverend and the high school football coach have in common? Wade Phillips answers that as he recounts growing up the son of legendary coach Bum Phillips (4:30). MRob wonders what makes Dallas so different (12:47), and Brian Billick asks Coach Wade how he relates to the players of today (14:12). Let’s just say his answer was unexpected. Plus, Coach Wade, Coach Billick and MRob remember the late great Marty Schottenheimer (19:02).

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Michael Robinson and Brian Billick welcome 2-time Super Bowl champion defensive end Chris Long to the show. Chris kicks things off by raising the bar on locker room pranks not once, but twice (2:18). What was it like to grow up in a football family with Howie Long as a dad (5:55), and then follow in his footsteps (12:01)? How a phone call kept Chris from becoming a Cowboy and instead lead him to a Lombardi Trophy in New England (14:45). Coach Billick wonders what the move from New England to Philly was like (18:15). Then it’s Super Bowl story time: from an incredible comeback win in Super Bowl 51 (19:55), to the inside scoop on the Philly Special (28:35). Speaking of Philly, did Doug Pederson get a raw deal (31:00)? Plus, what it felt like for Chris to become a Walter Payton Man of the Year (32:27).

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