The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

By The AthleticSports Football

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The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL episodes

October 14 Building the Beast: How Chris Cole & Drew Mestemaker are reaffirming their draft stock
Drew Mestemaker's latest outing has us ready to make some bold proclamations: he is QB1 in the 2027 NFL Draft. The week in college football was also highlighted by some of Georgia's best prospects - Chris Cole, KJ Bolden, and Gunner Stockton - impressing against Alabama. Plus, another trip to the QB corner and a look ahead to the prospects worth watching this weekend. Dave Helman and Dane Brugler dive into all of it on this episode of Building the Beast.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/theathleticfootballshow

Co-Hosts: Dave Helman & Dane Brugler
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Senior Producer: Katy Duffy
Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social
Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_
Follow Dane on X: @DPBrugler

Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 2 min
October 13 Week 5 Hangover: C.J. Stroud is "f***ing awesome"
Week 5 in the NFL had everything you could want: overtime, on-the-fly scheme changes, defensive beatdowns, and a mid-game trade. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen pick up the leftovers from Sunday and deep dive into young quarterbacks, Marvin Harrison Jr, and an impressive new play caller.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VJV7zyDw

Host: Robert Mays
Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Senior Producer: Katy Duffy
Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social
Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social
Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social
Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays
Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_

Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 12 min
October 13 Bills stun special teams-plagued Rams in 37-34 OT win
There are a few things we knew before the season even started: Josh Allen is good at football, Monday Night Football games are best when they feature good teams, and the Los Angeles Rams have a special teams problem. All those familiar themes were on display tonight. Robert Mays and Dave Helman recap Puka Nacua's big night, James Cook's gaffes, and everything else from the Buffalo Bills overtime win.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VJV7zyDw

Host: Robert Mays
Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Senior Producer: Katy Duffy
Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social
Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social
Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social
Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays
Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_

Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
33 min
October 12 Week 5 Recap: 49ers & Vikings stay undefeated, Drake Maye goes off, WTF Bears?!
Through five weeks of the 2026 NFL season, two teams sit at 5-0. One of those teams, the San Francisco 49ers, got there with one of the wins of the season thus far, a 32-29 triumph over the Seattle Seahawks on the road. The other, the Minnesota Vikings, keeps on winning ugly. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman discuss both of those games on the Week 5 recap episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also dive into Drake Maye's huge game, a wild finish between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders, some troubling performances from the Chicago Bears (in a loss) and Jacksonville Jaguars (in a win), and a whole lot more.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VJV7zyDw

Host: Robert Mays
Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Senior Producer: Katy Duffy
Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social
Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social
Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social
Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays
Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_

Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 48 min
October 09 Week 5 Preview: The first 49ers-Seahawks tilt of the season highlights the slate
The last time the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks played one another, home-field advantage on the NFC side of the bracket in last season's playoffs was on the line. It's not a stretch to say that their win in that game helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl. These teams get together on Sunday for the first time this season, and it's not a stretch to say that the winner will stake an early claim to being the NFC's best team. That's where Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman begin the Week 5 preview episode of The Athletic Football Show. The guys also discuss Bills-Rams, Raiders-Patriots and Ravens-Falcons, take a stroll down Sicko Street with Colts-Steelers, consider Sean Payton taking playcalling duties from Davis Webb and the end of this era of the Philadelphia Eagles, and a whole lot more.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VJV7zyDw

Host: Robert Mays
Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Senior Producer: Katy Duffy
Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social
Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social
Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social
Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays
Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_

Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 23 min
October 09 Buccaneers shock Cowboys in Dallas, 24-16
The NFL world spent much of this past week anointing the Dallas Cowboys as the clear favorite in the NFC East after rough couple of days for the Philadelphia Eagles. Welp, so much for that! The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waltzed into Jerry World and knocked off the Cowboys, 24-16, on Thursday Night Football. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman recap the game on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/bCyPFKAS

Host: Robert Mays
Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Senior Producer: Katy Duffy
Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social
Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social
Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social
Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays
Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_

Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
33 min
October 08 The most surprising developments in the season's first month
We know the first month of the NFL season is going to surprise us, but we can't be sure exactly what those surprises are going to be. After all, if we knew what they were in advance, they wouldn't be surprises. With the first month of the season now in the books, though, we can wade through the unexpected turns presented to us and highlight the ones that have us most surprised as we get ready for Week 5. From the end of this era of the Eagles, to the Jaguars picking up right where they left off, to the suddenly explosive Falcons offense, and everything in between, Robert Mays and Diante Lee from The Ringer dig into the biggest surprises in the NFL thus far on this episode of The Athletic Football Show.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VJV7zyDw

Host: Robert Mays
Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Senior Producer: Katy Duffy
Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social
Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social
Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social
Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays
Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_

Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 20 min
October 07 Building the Beast: Austin Simmons and C.J. Carr get their turn in the QB Corner
We've spent most of our time this season with the loaded quarterback class focused on Arch Manning or Dante Moore or Drew Mestemaker. Three quarterbacks does not a loaded class make, though, so Dane Brugler and Dave Helman turn their attention to Missouri's Austin Simmons and Notre Dame's C.J. Carr on this episode of The Athletic Football Show's Building the Beast. The guys also discuss edge rushers grabbing their attention and the biggest games of Week 6, and introduce The Green Room.

Accompanied reading: Dane’s early All-Rookie team https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7663423/2026/10/06/nfl-all-rookie-jeremiyah-love-arvell-reese/

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VJV7zyDw

Host: Robert Mays
Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Senior Producer: Katy Duffy
Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social
Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social
Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social
Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays
Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_

Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 hr 1 min
October 06 Week 4 Hangover: Bryce Young's big night, the Chargers season gets worse, and the Giants move into first place
Through four weeks, Bryce Young leads the NFL in passing yards and ranks seventh in EPA/dropback, sandwiched between Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes. Of course he does. Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen kick off the Week 4 Hangover by digging deep into the Carolina Panthers' 32-26 win over the Detroit Lions. After that, the guys move onto the Los Angeles Chargers' latest debacle, a 30-23 loss to the Seattle Seahawks that was nowhere near as close as that score suggests, and the New York Giants' rise to the top of the NFC East after a 36-24 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/bCyPFKAS

Host: Robert Mays
Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Senior Producer: Katy Duffy
Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social
Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social
Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social
Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays
Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_

Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
56 min
October 06 Falcons stomp Saints behind dominant run game, 45-24
A strong outing from Michael Penix, a suffocating run game from Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr, and a Jeff Ulbrich classic. Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman recap the Week 4 Atlanta Falcons MNF win over the New Orleans Saints.

Join The Athletic Football Show Discord Server: https://discord.gg/VJV7zyDw

Host: Robert Mays
Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman
Executive Producer: Michael Beller
Senior Producer: Katy Duffy
Social Producer: Scott Krinch

Follow Robert on Bluesky: @robertmays.bsky.social
Follow Derrik on Bluesky: @qbklass.bsky.social
Follow Dave on Bluesky: @davehelman.bsky.social
Follow Robert on X: @RobertMays
Follow Dave on X: @DaveHelman_

Theme song: Haunted
Written by Dylan Slocum, Trevor Dietrich, Ruben Duarte, Kyle McAulay, and Meredith VanWoert / Performed by Spanish Love Songs
Courtesy of Pure Noise / By arrangement with Bank Robber Music, LLC
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
29 min

About The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

From the publisher's feed

The Athletic’s flagship NFL podcast covers the league like only The Athletic can. Host Robert Mays and co-hosts Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman dive into the biggest stories, break down the Xs and Os,…