The Schrager Hour

Football is back. Finally. Peter welcomes the start of the 2026 season with the realization that this year is as wide open as any he can remember. New coaches. Players with chips on their shoulders. Several ascending teams. A quick whip around the league shows just how up in the air this year's season will be. Then, 34-year-old Christian Parker, the youngest DC in Dallas Cowboys history, joins to discuss his career path, his mentors, his former players, and current players in the 2026 Dallas Cowboys defense.

Timecodes:

00:00 Welcome To The Schrager Hour!

00:50 2026 NFL Season is Wide Open

09:25 Christian Parker Joins The Schrager Hour

10:35 Christian Parker's Journey to Coaching in the NFL

19:25 Lessons from Coaches and Developing a Leadership Style

20:40 Coaching with Sean Payton and the Broncos

23:10 Interacting with Aaron Rodgers During His MVP Seasons

24:25 Working with Vic Fangio and the Eagles

26:30 Coaching C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Darius Slay

29:15 Preparing for Super Bowl LIX

31:21 Cooper DeJean's Development

33:03 Becoming the Youngest Defensive Coordinator in Cowboys History

35:25 Coaching Caleb Downs

36:35 Relationships with Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark

37:15 Coaching Quinnen Williams

38:10 Christian Parker Joins The Schrager Hour

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Peter starts the show with a recap of the ESPY's, his time at Fanatics Fest, and a poignant moment shared with Ed Sheeran in great appreciation for Lionel Messi. He, then, welcomes in Jaguars HC Liam Coen to discuss the 2026 Jaguars, Trevor Lawrence's upcoming campaign, the team's rising stars, saying farewell to beloved veterans, and who he turns to for life and leadership advice. Coen's an open book and the conversation resonates as training camps open next week.  

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Peter starts the pod with more on Aaron Donald's potential return to the Rams, a little back story on the Seahawks new owners, some Taylor Swift - Travis Kelce wedding color, and thoughts on Lamar Jackson's ranking on the NFL.com Top 100 players list. Longtime sports radio personality Adam Schein joins Peter to discuss an all-time summer in New York. The good vibes from the Knicks run continue with the World Cup and bubbling optimism for both the Giants and the Jets heading into the Fall. They discuss what makes a good sports radio show, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, the glory years of the Jets SNY postgame show, and advice for younger broadcasters.

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Peter starts the podcast with some thoughts on the US Men's Soccer team blowout loss in Seattle and the Kelce-Swift nuptials, and then brings on his former "Good Morning Football" host Jason McCourty to go around the horn on a variety of NFL topics. Filling in the blank, they discuss their breakout player predictions, their "sneaky good teams" picks, the AJ Brown trade, the coach they're most fascinated with, and their thoughts on New England and Seattle as repeat Super Bowl participants. Jason, then, shares some personal stories and memories of Chris Johnson, his teammate of 5 years.

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Peter discusses the emotional and almost religious experience of being in Madison Square Garden for Game 4, as well as the empty feeling of longing and wanting more of the rush after a fan base wins a long awaited championship. Brian Windhorst joins and helps Peter go through the emotions of the entire experience, as well as shed light on the construction of the New York Knicks' roster. "Windy", then, discusses the public image of Victor Wembanyama--a curious combination of coming up short on the court, and being a unique figure off of it. 

Max Siegelman, the founder of the stylish NYC brand "Siegelman Stable", then joins Peter to tell his brand's story and Jalen Brunson's connection to his gear. We learn that Jalen Brunson's mother was the face of an original Siegelman Stable launch and Jalen's been a loyal supporter for years. This episode is a celebration and appreciation for a city, a team, and a reminder why we love sports.

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Peter opens the show by breaking down Game 3 between the Knicks and Spurs, sharing his thoughts on the biggest storylines and how it captivated NYC. Peter is then joined by Cleveland Browns General Manager Andrew Berry for an in-depth conversation covering one of the NFL's most talked-about moves: the blockbuster trade that sent Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jared Verse and draft capital. Berry discusses the thought process behind the deal, how it fits into Cleveland's long-term vision, and how recent draft classes have helped position the franchise for the 2026 season and beyond. The two also dive into the Browns' quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, what the organization is looking for as the battle unfolds, and the challenges of building a winning roster in today's NFL. In addition, Berry reflects on his longstanding relationship with Pat McAfee dating back to their time with the Indianapolis Colts and shares insight into the daily grind, responsibilities, and demands that come with working as an NFL executive.

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Peter offers a full play-by-play and a deep dive around the Myles Garrett blockbuster trade that went down Monday. He is, then, joined by NFL Network's Mike Garafolo to go into deeper detail on how the trade came to be and for a discussion on whether or not the Browns got "enough" in exchange for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. They, then, go deep on the AJ Brown trade to the Patriots, how it came to be, and how things got to the point that one of the franchise's best players in the team's history was shipped out of town at the prime of his career. Lastly, the two do an impromptu draft of the ten most fascinating people in football heading into the 2026 season.

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Peter puts away the football and devotes the episode to

this unprecedented New York Knicks playoff run. The City Game. New

York City is absolutely alive and magical right now and it's all

because of the hometown team. Peter brings in Knicks die-hard and

fellow NYC resident Gary Vaynerchuk, the CEO of VaynerMedia and

Chairman of VaynerX. Gary is a pioneer in social media storytelling,

branding, and online retailing, and one of the first breakthrough

voices in the digital world. He also happens to be a real deal New

York Knicks fan. Peter and Gary Vee go through this team, what it

means, the teams of yesteryear, and why nostalgia is such a drug. They

end the pod with a deeper discussion on the future of alternative

sports, why he's bullish on collectibles, and why experience and

physical media are about to have a moment.

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Mike North is the VP of broadcast planning at the NFL and for 32 years has worked on the making of the NFL schedule. In this episode, Peter and Mike discuss all of the key stakeholders -- Netflix, Amazon, Fox, CBS, Disney, ESPN, YouTube, 32 different NFL teams, coaches, and fan bases-- as well as international partners, and how the schedule was made. This conversation evolves from a football, one to a media, Tech, and big business one. North is excellent and an open book, and the schedule is just the starting point of one that involves satisfying multiple important parties, utilizing AI, and fielding multiple requests from influential voices.

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Peter gets into the bonanza that has become the annual

schedule release week for the NFL and why it's grander than ever

before. Craig Kilborn joins to talk Vikings, Timberwolves, Pooh

Richardson, Vlade Divac, his career, his life in Hollywood, his

favorite movies, his best Robert Evans stories, and the broadcasters

and athletes he loves watching today. An absolute thrill ride with an

all-time legend of sports media.

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