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Vanessa Perdomo
Day or night. VRBoCare is here 247 to help make.
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Capital One Representative
Every part of your stay seamless.
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Vanessa Perdomo
If anything comes up or you simply need a little guidance, support is ready whenever you reach out. From the moment you book to the.
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Capital One Representative
Moment you head home, we're here to.
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Vanessa Perdomo
Help things run smoothly because a great trip starts with the right support. And hey, a good playlist doesn't hurt either. This sports spotlight is brought to you.
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Capital One Representative
By Capital One Saver Card, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports. Did you know that the Houston Comets won the first four WNBA championships from 1997 to 2000?
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Vanessa Perdomo
The team was led by a big.
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Capital One Representative
Three of Cynthia Cooper, Cheryl Swoops and Tina Thompson, and in 98 they finished 27. 3, their.900 winning percentage a WNBA record that still stands. Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining.
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Vanessa Perdomo
Entertainment and at grocery stores with the.
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Capital One Representative
Saver card from Capital One. What's in your wallet? Term supply. See capitalone.com for details.
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Podcast/Ad Announcer
Binge Listen this and all your artist stations, plus any song from our library of millions of songs. All ad free. Get your free 30 day trial of iHeartRadio All Access. You'll love it. Don't be basic, be extra. Start your free 30 day trial of iHeartRadio All Access now.
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Capital One Representative
Bloomberg Audio Studios Podcasts Radio News this is the business of sports.
- [01:25]
Christian McCaffrey
The business of sports can be intimidating or hard for a starter to break into.
- [01:29]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
We really appreciate when our owners are actually there, you know, with us through the journey.
- [01:34]
Capital One Representative
Teams, ours especially, have been very intentional to diversify at all levels of the company.
- [01:38]
Christian McCaffrey
I think we're in the golden years.
- [01:40]
Podcast/Ad Announcer
For the NFL and college football.
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Christian McCaffrey
Our demographic reach has continued to expand.
- [01:45]
Vanessa Perdomo
This is going to be really unlocking the streaming platform for sports fans.
- [01:49]
Randall Williams
Sports valuations are rising. We'll see when they peak.
- [01:52]
Christian McCaffrey
You don't have to be the best in your sport to make a whole ton of money.
- [01:58]
Capital One Representative
Bloomberg Business of Sports From Bloomberg Radio.
- [02:02]
Vanessa Perdomo
Welcome to the Bloomberg Business of Sports, where we explore the big money issues in the world of sports. I'm Vanessa Perdomo. Joining me this week is our usual friend of the show, US Sports business reporter Randall Williams.
- [02:14]
Randall Williams
We're on the ground in Radio Row here in San Francisco during the lead up to Super Bowl 60. In this special edition of the podcast, we are speaking to current and former NFL players about the big game plus their ventures on and off the field.
- [02:28]
Vanessa Perdomo
First up, I speak with former NFL quarterback and Amazon prime analyst Brian Ryan Fitzpatrick and he gives us his insight on how the game will shake out on Super Bowl Sunday. So, Ryan, thanks so much for joining the Bloomberg Business Esports. It's great to have you here.
- [02:41]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Yeah, thank you for having me.
- [02:43]
Vanessa Perdomo
So we're here super bowl week. So I got to get a couple of, you know, picks from you right now. Today is NFL honors. Tell me who you think is going to win mvp.
- [02:53]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Matthew Stafford is going to win the mvp. He was incredible all year long. I think the problem that we have when we start talking about these guys, just because I love what Matthew Stafford did this year, doesn't diminish anything that Drake May did and the guys that want Drake May to win, it doesn't diminish anything that Matthew Stafford did. They both had amazing seasons. But Matthew Stafford, I think his performance against Seattle and what he did, even though it was in a losing effort, the games that he's put together, he's had an incredible year.
- [03:22]
Vanessa Perdomo
Yeah. Tell me a little bit more about the quarterback market right now. You obviously mentioned Matthew Stafford and Drake May there obviously. Sam Darnold has an amazing story similar isn't to yourself that he played for so many different teams, teams and now he's found this, you know, amazing place right now with, with the Seahawks.
- [03:38]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Yeah. It's such a difficult position to get right, you know, and everybody. There's so many different shapes and sizes that people come and I think the things that you realize and what make these great quarterbacks, a lot of it is the intangibles. A lot of them have the physical skills to do it, but how they interact with their teammates, their work ethic, how they perform in high pressure situations, those are things that are hard to measure until you actually get your hands on them and get to see him in those situations. But a guy like Sam Darnold, I'm so happy for and so proud of because of the ups and downs that he's been through. And there's a lot more downs and ups earlier in his career, you know, his time with the jets you would say was a failure, but he didn't look at it like that. He looked at it as a learning experience to keep going, to pick himself up off the mat and continue to get better. And so it's great to see a guy like that who even last year in Minnesota was doubted, didn't get resigned there to be in Seattle, to be in this game and to come out the other side has been very fun to watch.
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Vanessa Perdomo
Yeah. So are there either one of them that you are rooting for more for the big game?
- [04:41]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
So this is. This is a hard One for me, because I love Sam and I would love to see Sam win. I also love Mike Rabel and would love to see Mike win. As a coach, I love Matt Collins. So you get tied to so many of these guys with the relationships that you have that it becomes difficult. But in the end, I have to put my analyst cap on and I have to break it down. And for me, Seattle is the better football team. But will they be the better football team on Sunday? That's the big question. I think New England sneaks away with a win in this game.
- [05:11]
Vanessa Perdomo
From what you've seen is is it. You think that Drake may is going to be able to come up bigger in these moments or who do you like? Why do you think?
- [05:20]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
I think. I think there's a lot of pressure on both teams, obviously. But the narrative all week has been almost that New England doesn't belong in this game. This is Seattle's game to lose. And so as the game goes on, if it stays close, the pressure is going to be on Seattle. They're going to be more tense and tight in those moments. And I think Josh McDaniels would be the big X factor offensive coordinator for the Patriots, who's been in a ton of these Super Bowls. I think he's going to be able to manage it the right way. And New England, all year long, people have just been waiting for them to lose and to fall down and they find a way to win these big games. I think that's a great quality that they have and a great quality that Mike Vrabel has brought to the Patriots.
- [05:59]
Vanessa Perdomo
Yeah, so you said just before that you had to put your analyst hat on. And I want to talk a little bit about that, about your career as an analyst and how you've kind of taken it to another level. Now you have a podcast that you host. Tell me why you've really decided to dive in on it.
- [06:13]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Well, I think I got really lucky because the year that I retired just so happened to be the year that Amazon was looking for four analysts to come and join their team. And for me to transition from 17 years in the NFL and being on nine different teams into this new team with Amazon. And I just am so lucky. From the people behind the scenes and the producers and everybody that it takes to put on a production to the on air talent to be able to do it with Tony Gonzalez, Richard Sherman and Andrew Whitworth. It's been fun to be part of that team, but it doesn't work without Karissa Thompson. Carissa has been Amazing. Three of us were brand new to tv, had no idea what we were doing, and she did such an amazing job and continues to do such an amazing job of keeping us, you know, herded and wrangled, letting our personality show, but also making sure that we're putting together a show. I don't think people appreciate Karissa Thompson as much as they should for what she has to do and go through to get a successful show. She's certainly the leader of our show. Yeah.
- [07:17]
Vanessa Perdomo
For you, what was it like trying to bring your own personality to yourself as a media personality, but at the same time, like trying to make sure that you still had that media hat on?
- [07:27]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
I always try to remind myself that I'm in this position because of my personality and who I am, and there's an authenticity that you have to show, because the great thing about tv, and it's the same thing in a locker room, is if you're not authentic, people see through it right away. And so I just want to be myself, and hopefully people enjoy that. But I also got to the point where It's. I have 17 years of knowledge in the NFL and being through a bunch of different systems and a very unique experience that not many people have had. So how do I share that with the viewer? Viewer, and how do I allow them to have fun on a broadcast, but also to learn a little bit about some of the experiences and perspectives that we've been through?
- [08:06]
Vanessa Perdomo
Is that why you started the podcast, because you felt like there was just so much more you had to say?
- [08:11]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
You know, I. The podcast thing, I'd been asked a couple different times, and it just really wasn't a great fit for me. And then when Andrew Whitworth and I started talking about it, it's a guy that I really enjoy having conversations with, so it's very cool just to be able to sit down with him for an hour. We've had a ton of awesome guests, whether it's GMs or coaches or players. Even CEO of Amazon, Andy Jassy, came on Roger Goodell, to be able to sit down and have some of these interesting conversations and get some personality out of these guys that maybe some other people haven't seen before. That part of it's been really enjoyable for me.
- [08:45]
Vanessa Perdomo
Yeah, so, I mean, we're at the Super Bowl. It's the last game of the year. After the last game of the year, you know, people or, I mean, before, you know, the joke's always, oh, looks like they're headed to vacation.
- [08:55]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Yeah, yeah.
- [08:56]
Vanessa Perdomo
You know, you have on this tropical shirt. Tell me about where you go on vacation.
- [09:00]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
So my wife and I never really get to go away by ourselves. We have seven kids. It's just been busy. We've been married for almost 20 years, and we had the opportunity to go to Aruba, somewhere we had never been before. And we had such a great time. It had a great blend for us of, like, the white sandy beaches and the beautiful hotels. But then it was the adventure. Being able to get away, being able to go on hikes, being able to go in this natural swimming pool, snorkeling. All the things that you would love to do on a vacation like that. But it also. They call it one happy island for a reason. You go, you just feel refreshed and rejuvenated even after returning home. There's just a lightness to us from being able to go and have that time together in a special place. So it was very fun for us, and we certainly recommend it to anybody that wants to get away and just refresh for a little bit.
- [09:49]
Vanessa Perdomo
Yeah, absolutely. But also, you know, with Aruba, they. They talk about being a responsible tourist. Tell me a little bit about that. And making sure.
- [09:57]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
No, there's a lot of stuff they do. They're very proud of their island. And so that was. Walking away from it, that was something that really touched us, was how kind all the locals were and how proud they were to share their island with everybody else. Tourism is a big part of what they do, and so they certainly appreciate people being there. And when you go to places you haven't been before, concerns for me, one of them is just safety. And we felt right at home and safe the whole time and had a lot of fun with the locals.
- [10:27]
Vanessa Perdomo
Yeah, absolutely. So as we're talking about travel, I want to get your perspective on what the NFL has done to have football go to a global audience. And, I mean, done such a great job going a bunch of different places. Just announced Paris. When you're thinking about that, like, tell me more about how they've been able to grow the game and how you've seen it change as almost a global sport to this point.
- [10:48]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Yeah, I think so. One thing Roger Goodell has done is he wanted to make it international. He wanted to increase the fan base. He wanted to share our great game with everybody. And initially, players were a little bit hesitant. You know, didn't really look forward to the games and having to go overseas and the travel and taking you out of your routine. But as time has gone on, players have really embraced it. I think players enjoy it. You can use it as a time for your team to get closer together, have three or four days together in a foreign place without the familiar around you. So that makes your bond a little bit tighter. And then it's just been a great response globally as well. My favorite last year was the game being played in Dublin, Ireland. That was really special. I had been over there that summer to meet some of the people of that great island, and it was. It was wonderful. But growing, the game continuing to expand, I think players have really embraced it and hopefully people enjoy the game of American football around the world. Yeah.
- [11:47]
Vanessa Perdomo
So one of the things that they've talked about is potentially putting a team somewhere else, expanding in that way. Do you think that would be a feasible thing?
- [11:56]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
I think that is very far away. The logistics. I think they've thought about it, They've tried to work through it. You know, one of the things I heard a few years ago was what if you have a team home base in Florida? Say you spend a month in Florida, then you do a month in London and back and forth. But I. I think the logistics are very difficult on that. And so we're still a very long way away from that being a possibility.
- [12:19]
Vanessa Perdomo
Yeah. If you had to pick a place to put a team, where would you put it?
- [12:23]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
If I had to pick a place to put a team, Dublin, Ireland, baby. Only because I would love to go and visit. Maybe I would try to be part of the management of that team so I could live in Dublin.
- [12:33]
Vanessa Perdomo
All right, we're gonna see you in investment, I think, maybe potentially.
- [12:35]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
I love it.
- [12:36]
Podcast/Ad Announcer
I love it.
- [12:36]
Randall Williams
That was former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Don't go away. More Bloomberg business of sports From Super Bowl 60 when we come back.
- [12:49]
Vanessa Perdomo
Brought to you by Capital One as a founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports, Capital One is here to bring you.
- [12:56]
Capital One Representative
Closer to the athletes and teams you care about. And with checking accounts that have no.
- [13:01]
Vanessa Perdomo
Fees or minimums, Capital One is here to handle your banking needs, too. Just ask the Capital One bank guy.
- [13:07]
Capital One Representative
It's pretty much all he talks about.
- [13:09]
Vanessa Perdomo
In a good way.
- [13:10]
Capital One Representative
Capital One, what's in your wallet terms apply. See capitalone.combank for details.
- [13:15]
Vanessa Perdomo
Capital One NA member FDIC binge.
- [13:18]
Podcast/Ad Announcer
Listen this and all your artist stations, plus any song from our library of millions of songs. All ad free. Get your free 30 day trial of iHeartRadio All Access. You'll love it. Don't be basic, be extra. Start your free 30 day trial of iHeartRadio All Access now.
- [13:33]
Vanessa Perdomo
You need to make a huge presentation in an hour. Luckily, Adobe Acrobat Studio uses AI to take all your documents and generate a presentation with a single click, building slides faster than ever before. So if you need a last minute pitch deck, do that with Acrobat. Need to level up your presentation design? Do that with acrobat. You have 30 plus documents that need to be simplified into a proposal. Do that with Acrobat. Learn more@adobe.com do that with Acrobat.
- [14:04]
Capital One Representative
This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio.
- [14:09]
Vanessa Perdomo
Welcome to the Bloomberg Business of Sports. I'm Vanessa Perdomo with Randall Williams live from Radio Row in San Francisco for Super Bowl 60. Now we will speak with New Orleans Saints defensive captain Demario Davis about being nominated for Walter Payton man of the Year again and the Saints upcoming game in Paris. Demario, welcome to the welcome to the Bloomberg Business Esports. It is so great to have you here.
- [14:31]
Podcast/Ad Announcer
Oh, thank you for having me. I'm excited about this.
- [14:33]
Vanessa Perdomo
So it's super bowl week, we're here. There's some big things coming up. Big night for you tonight. NFL honors Nationwide. Walter Payton, man of the Year. Tell me what it means, you know, to be nominated for this and not the first time, right?
- [14:45]
Jerry Rice
Yeah.
- [14:46]
Podcast/Ad Announcer
To be nominated again is a tremendous honor. This award doesn't, isn't just about me. It's, it's, it's, it's a war for, for New Orleans, representing a city that has really poured into my family and we've been able to just pour into it back. It's just been incredible. When you think about this award and what it means for the NFL. The NFL is one of, if not the biggest platform in our country and one of the biggest in the world. And for it to be the greatest award or the highest honor inside of our game, it just talks about a great game. Not just what we do on the field, but off the field. That's what the NFL really represents and how we show up in community and show up for people. I got to give a shout out to the NFL. I gotta give a shout out to the Peyton family, a shout out to Nationwide for really having elevated this award to the level that it is, that it really elevates the work that these guys are doing in the community. So, so many guys are doing great work. But to be one of 32 community champions, what Nationwide has really been able to do in partnership, pouring $4 million into player organization, it just helps scale the work. And so you can work at a local level, but to really take it nationwide, you have to have resources.
- [16:00]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
You.
- [16:00]
Podcast/Ad Announcer
Have to have connections, you have to have resources, you have to have networks. And elevating it to this level allows that. And so it's a tremendous honor. I don't take it lightly. Grateful to be one of the 32 guys and even the guys we're working here in San Francisco, coming together and collaborating on ways that we can take it even further. You know, our work.
- [16:23]
Vanessa Perdomo
Together.
- [16:23]
Podcast/Ad Announcer
Yeah. Together. Yeah, yeah. So the collaboration is everything, and we really want to set that precedence that it takes everybody and we get a chance to do that. So Even when all 32 of us being on this stage together is one thing, but. But we're also going to Old School Cafe, which is a restaurant here. You know, kind of bought out the entire venue. It's a restaurant here in San Francisco that does work, mentorship and workforce development for at risk youth. And so being able to support them and all of us just being in a gathering place to just being able to break bread together and talk just in a private, intimate way about work that each guy is doing. But how can we collaborate and support each other? How can we partner with the NFL and continue to take it forward? So the NFL has created space for us to be able to do that, and those things are happening, and it wouldn't be able to happen without the platform that we have today.
- [17:15]
Vanessa Perdomo
How deep do those conversations get? I mean, that's like, pretty amazing that you get to have that time with other players and really get to see why they care about a certain topic. And I'm assuming you don't get to have those conversations all the time, or do you?
- [17:28]
Podcast/Ad Announcer
Yeah, you don't get a chance to have them all the time, especially not at that level with guys who are having scalable impact in their communities and with a heart to really reach the community country. And when you think when 10 guys come together, 15 guys come together, 20 guys come together with the level of influence and the level of credibility that we have, that's a tremendous signal that we can send into the community. Like, that cuts through a lot of noise. It's like, man, people are going to galvanize around that. And so we're able to move in a way. And so it's a tremendous responsibility. So getting a chance to talk through, like, different things that guys care about and find, you know, two or three central ideas to really kind of get behind. If you look at the partnerships that we have with the NFL, with my cause, my cleats, if you look at the social justice initiatives that are happening all those are player led things. Those are things that have come from player conversations and then haven't gone to the league. And so it's like, okay, so what's our next thing? How do we do this at an even greater capacity? How do we do this at an international level? Those are the things that we're talking about is how do we use our platform for good and how do we do it in a way that the end goal is the amazing fan base are watching what we do and it ignites them to go and have causes of their own and pour out and say, you know what? These guys are doing this. I can do something. That's what we really. That's stewarding the platform.
- [18:47]
Christian McCaffrey
Right.
- [18:48]
Vanessa Perdomo
And talk a little bit more about that. The platform that you guys have and the influence that you guys have. And why was it important for you to use your voice in that way? And when did you decide to do that in your career?
- [18:56]
Podcast/Ad Announcer
Yeah. To whom much is given, much is required. I've always been a person that was going to give back. I mean, that was instilled in me when I was very young. My grandmother used to be making plates and we would take them around the neighborhood to people who couldn't get around, you know, and I saw that, you know, as early as first and second grade. But when I got to college, I noticed a gap in the education system because many of my peers who I grew up with, they had struggles in the classroom. And I didn't know why, but I realized it was things like reading comprehension and math literacy skills and things like that. And so one size fit all model doesn't work. And so we started to work around education and mentorship. But as I started to get later in my career, I realized other guys had initiatives that they cared about and wanted to pour into. And it was like, okay, well, this is a common ground between athletes. How do we collaborate and come together? But we have so many millions of people who are watching our game. And the thing that we have is we have influence, but we also have their trust, we have their credibility. That's why they look at us and feel like they can relate to us. That's why they wear our jerseys, and that's why they want to know our backstory. They feel like they can connect with it. It's like, okay, well, we have this, we have their attention. What can we do with that? We can inspire them not to just want to mimic us or wear our jersey, but mimic what we're doing in the community. Mimic look at us as like we're using our resources and what we have to go and give back. And it's like no matter what scale it is, everybody can play a part, everybody can do something. It's like, man, just look at somebody around you and try to figure out a way to put a smile on their face, figure out a way to lift them up, figure out a problem that's going on and somebody that's kind of struggling and what can you do to help them. It may be a one day thing, it may be once a week thing, it may be once a year thing, but everybody can do something.
- [20:38]
Vanessa Perdomo
You talked about how, you know, just the fact that the Walter Payton man of the Year award is so highly sought after and you know, highly sought of, you know, thinking of in the NFL what it says about the league, but what do you think it says about the players? I mean, like, did you. Was it a thing that when. Right when you come into the league, everyone knows, hey, this is what we care about. We care about, you know, making a difference. Or was it something you learned over time?
- [21:00]
Podcast/Ad Announcer
Yeah, I think this award has really been elevated by the NFL, by Nationwide and the Walter Payton family to it has really grown exponentially. I mean, Nationwide is pouring over $4 million into players causes. So like, that attention of all those partners kind of coming together and say, hey, we want to, we really want to elevate this award has really just moved into a space of like, most players are going to resonate with that. Like, it's about being more than a player. Like, okay, if this is the highest honor in the league, if I'm coming in, I want to be best I can be. I want to strive towards being that. And so it's like, okay, what do I got to do? Okay, well, I got to do more in the community. I need to figure out what are the things that I care about. And that ignites and elevates the locker room to, yeah, we want you to be the best players you can be, but we also want you to figure out how you can use this to pour into the community. Like, this is what the model looks like. And when you do that, that's also being modeled in society. NFL has tremendous influence. It's an entertainment business and so many millions are watching what's happening. Well, it's also elevating society. Society is looking at that and saying, okay, well, I can have my career, I can have the thing that I'm focused on, but how am I helping people? How am I using what I'm experiencing? I'm getting fulfillment in. To bring fulfillment to somebody else. That's what is being modeled in society. And that's what we want. We want that ripple effect because for our country to move forward, it takes everybody. And it's really about raising this belief that when we live on these principles, when we all kind of come together, there's no problem that we can't solve. And it's like we look around and it's like, yes, it feels like it's problems all around us, but, yeah, but we can be. We can be the answer to those problems. We don't need, you know, government to kind of come in and take care of everything. It's like we as people can come together and help the people who are beside us. And it's just everybody having that belief. And it's really just. If you really believe that, you'll move like that. And that's what we want to ignite is that belief in people.
- [23:00]
Capital One Representative
Right.
- [23:01]
Vanessa Perdomo
I mean, I feel ignited right now. If you don't, then you're not listening. Right. For real. So the last thing I want to talk to you about is, you know, the New Orleans Saints. I know you're, you know, trying to figure out your contract, but the New Orleans Saints was just announced as a game in Paris. Come on, tell me, you know, how exciting would it be to play in Paris?
- [23:16]
Podcast/Ad Announcer
Reed, man, that is. That is unreal. New Orleans has really just changed the game. Shout out to the NFL with its. With its international expansion, and I feel like Roger Goodell has been instrumental in that and really taking and elevating this game to a place that has never been. And New Orleans just positioned itself at the forefront of that. Paris is the most toured city in the world. And, you know, shout out to Ms. Benson for her forward thinking, getting in front of that, you know, locking in exclusive marketing rights. And so it's an extension of Saints nation that's going into Paris. That game is going to be like no other game that has happened internationally. It's on the Olympic stage, it's on the World cup stage stage at Stade de France. That stadium is going to be played at. So you think about just the excitement level. I was over there this past summer and, man, those people. Those people love football over there. It's such a. A rich hunger. And I know who that nation is going to travel. It's. It's going to be unreal. And the New Orleans Saints are relatively smaller market in the NFL really just positioned itself as number one in the international market and just excited for that.
- [24:28]
Vanessa Perdomo
That was New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis. Don't go away. More Bloomberg business and sports From Super Bowl 60 in San Francisco when we come back.
- [24:40]
Capital One Representative
This sports spotlight is brought to you by Capital One. Capital One offers no fees or minimums on checking accounts. Did you know that 1998 was the.
- [24:48]
Vanessa Perdomo
First year that the Olympics featured a.
- [24:50]
Capital One Representative
Women'S ice hockey competition? Team USA, led by captain Cammie Granado won a perfect 600 and took home the very first women's hockey gold, defeating.
- [24:59]
Vanessa Perdomo
Canada 31 in Nagano, Japan.
- [25:01]
Capital One Representative
Capital One, what's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capitalone.com bank for details. Capital One NA member FDIC Binge Listen.
- [25:11]
Podcast/Ad Announcer
This and all your artist stations, plus any song from our library of millions of songs. All ad free. Get your free 30 day trial of iHeartRadio All Access. You'll love it. Don't be basic, be extra. Start your free 30 day trial of iHeartRadio All Access now.
- [25:25]
Vanessa Perdomo
You need to make a huge presentation in an hour. Luckily, Adobe Acrobat Studio uses AI to take all your documents and generate a presentation with a single click, building slides faster than ever before. So if you need a last minute pitch deck, do that with Acrobat. Need to level up your presentation design. Do that with acrobat. You have 30 plus documents that need to be simplified into a proposal. Do that with Acrobat. Learn more@adobe.com do that with Acrobat.
- [25:55]
Capital One Representative
This is Bloomberg Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio.
- [26:01]
Vanessa Perdomo
Welcome to the Bloomberg Business of Sports. I'm Vanessa Perdomo with Randall Williams live from Radio Row in San Francisco for Super Bowl 60. Next is a legend of the game, arguably the greatest wide receiver of all time. Three time Super bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers, Jerry Rice. He joined us alongside the NetApp Chief Marketing Officer, Gaby Boko.
- [26:21]
Randall Williams
We are here with Jerry Rice. And Gaby, how are you all today?
- [26:25]
Jerry Rice
I'm doing fantastic.
- [26:27]
Vanessa Perdomo
Very good.
- [26:28]
Randall Williams
Okay, Jerry, this is like your 100th Super bowl week at this point, right? How are you feeling?
- [26:34]
Jerry Rice
No, man, you know every super bowl is special. Super Bowl 60, you got to think about that. And I would have loved for my San Francisco 49ers to be participating right now, but you got two great teams with the Patriots and also the Seahawks.
- [26:49]
Randall Williams
Gaby, you're here with NetApp.
- [26:50]
Vanessa Perdomo
Of course.
- [26:50]
Randall Williams
I want you to tell me what you're doing that's special with Jerry with the NFL. What makes you and your company brilliant.
- [27:00]
Capital One Representative
Oh, I love that. You know, NetApp is a data company. We believe that data is. It powers everything. And especially when you think about what it does for the NFL and what it does for the 49ers and especially as it comes to life for Super Bowl 60, data is behind everything. Right. This is the most intensive data sports moment for data in sporting. And what NetApp does is it basically creates this layer of, we call an intelligent data infrastructure. It's basically what moves that data and allows the players and the coach and fans ultimately to experience the game at a, at a high magnitude. I think what's really important though, when we partner with Jerry is it's when you think about players like Jerry on the field at like a Levi's Stadium, you're taking a stellar. I'm going to, I'm going to love on you a little bit.
- [27:52]
Jerry Rice
Okay. I appreciate that.
- [27:54]
Randall Williams
There's a lot of people that do so get in love with.
- [27:56]
Capital One Representative
I'm going to love on you a little bit. This is a guy who has so many stats that have broken records. That kind of data combined with a field like Levi's Stadium, you've got kinds of data that, that really tells our story really well. So that's why we partner with Jerry. That's what we're excited about with super bowl and that's why we're here.
- [28:16]
Randall Williams
Listen, I think you're going to be partnering with Jerry forever because some of his records are just not going to be.
- [28:20]
Capital One Representative
I agree with you. We agree.
- [28:22]
Randall Williams
22,000 receiving yards, it's just not going to be touched. No one's going to play as long as you did at the level you did. As long as you did.
- [28:29]
Jerry Rice
I played for such a long time because I actually love playing football.
- [28:34]
Podcast/Ad Announcer
Sure.
- [28:34]
Jerry Rice
You know, I didn't play for the money. I didn't, you know, I didn't play for the stats and all of that, but I felt like I owed the fans something that was unique. You know, anytime you paid your hard earned money to come to a football game, I wanted you to witness something that was going to be real special. I wanted you to leave that stadium and say, oh my God, did you see him make that catch or score that touchdown or whatever?
- [28:57]
Randall Williams
Now for you, Jerry, with NetApp, a lot of data. If you had, if I had this.
- [29:03]
Jerry Rice
If I had, If I had NetApp back in the day and, and to have all that information right in front of me and be able to get that information so quickly and stuff like that, maybe I would have been able to double all my stats.
- [29:18]
Randall Williams
You think you would have had 40,000 receiving yards?
- [29:20]
Jerry Rice
Oh, yeah. From the 22,895 yards, the 1549 reception, the 208 touchdown, down to 37 records or more, I would double.
- [29:30]
Randall Williams
So now tell me the ways that NetApp and data are impacting athletes in ways that they don't know. Because we see a lot of teams hire data officers and bring in people from analytics.
- [29:41]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
How are that.
- [29:42]
Randall Williams
How is that impacting athletes from behind the scenes?
- [29:45]
Capital One Representative
You know, I think it's really how the coach takes what their strategy is and is using what the sensors are that are players. Now, what's happening inside the stadium and pulling all that together. And I would say the big driver for how to use data is AI right now. So when you think about how to bring AI into a, let's say the Super Bowl, Levi's Stadium data center, you're looking at it not just 3K, 4K, you're looking at in 4D. And that's going to help players change how they throw, how they run, how they catch, how they partner with their teammates on the field. And that's going to help coaches define the plays even better. We've. We'd like to say that's in the invisible layer, and that's truly the case. It allows players like Jerry to shine.
- [30:30]
Podcast/Ad Announcer
All right.
- [30:30]
Jerry Rice
Yeah.
- [30:31]
Randall Williams
So why are you partnered with the NFL? Let's. Let's ask. I want to ask that because the hard question.
- [30:36]
Jerry Rice
It's the NFL experience.
- [30:38]
Vanessa Perdomo
Amen.
- [30:38]
Podcast/Ad Announcer
That's it.
- [30:39]
Jerry Rice
It's the NFL experience.
- [30:41]
Randall Williams
You can speak to this.
- [30:42]
Jerry Rice
Yeah, yeah.
- [30:42]
Capital One Representative
Because you're thinking global.
- [30:44]
Jerry Rice
Yeah. You're taking it global. I don't care. You know, it could be Silicon Valley, it could be any continents. It's just making it so accessible, you know, for the fans, which I feel like it plays a very important role.
- [30:58]
Capital One Representative
That is absolutely the truth. Right. When we look at how we tell our story, we want to make it approachable for everybody. And there's no greater base of customers, fans, than the NFL.
- [31:09]
Randall Williams
Jerry, you talked about globally. We're seeing more games played internationally than ever before. Talk to me a little bit about where would you like to see an NFL game? Or where would you have liked to play?
- [31:20]
Jerry Rice
To be honest with you, I was talking this over with my manager this morning. I want to go to Australia.
- [31:25]
Randall Williams
You want to go to Australia?
- [31:26]
Jerry Rice
And I think they just announced something about the San Francisco 49ers that they going to be playing there. And I heard the fan base.
- [31:34]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Did they announce that?
- [31:34]
Randall Williams
Yeah, it might be breaking news.
- [31:36]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
I think they did.
- [31:37]
Jerry Rice
I think they announced that I'm not sure. You know, you might want to check that, but I'm thinking that Australia and we have a fan base over there like crazy with the 49ers, just like in London, it's the same way. So I would love to go there.
- [31:55]
Randall Williams
Roger Goodells mentioned 16 international games. Is that good for players? Do you think players actually want to travel? And not every single week, but to be going to Spain and to Paris and potentially Italy and Australia and so many other places. Do you think that's good for players?
- [32:13]
Jerry Rice
No, I can't really speak on that for everyone, but if I was playing, I wouldn't have a problem with it.
- [32:20]
Randall Williams
You wouldn't have a problem?
- [32:21]
Jerry Rice
No, because I. I love playing football. I was. I was one of those guys that actually went to training camp with the rookies, and I was veteran, so I was always ready to go. But, you know, that's going to have to be decided. But, yeah, if it was me, I would do it.
- [32:38]
Randall Williams
Gaby, tell me a little bit about what NetApp is doing in terms of the international growth and the presence that you all have, not just domestically, but overseas.
- [32:46]
Capital One Representative
Well, we definitely partner with the NFL as the presenting sponsor and partner of most of their, if not all, their international games, including their experience expansion games, which are being announced against his. Against his wish list. But we do it because we thought it was an important move because the NFL is spreading this fandom globally. And there are, as Jerry said, fans in countries that, you know, at the US Sometimes we kind of think of ourselves. You know, we do one thing. The NFL has fans everywhere. And we want to be part of a team and a company that takes that and expands it because data sits, has bound, has no boundaries.
- [33:26]
Vanessa Perdomo
Right.
- [33:26]
Capital One Representative
And nothing says that better than. Than a sport that has fans around the world. So I think it's a great opportunity for the NFL. It's a great opportunity for the players. And who doesn't want more fans?
- [33:38]
Randall Williams
I can't find anybody that doesn't want more fans.
- [33:40]
Jerry Rice
And I think it's so cool, too, man, because when you go to, you know, different countries and stuff like that, to actually see someone wearing your jersey. Yeah, I. I mean, the connection there. And I'm like, oh, my God. You know, this.
- [33:54]
Randall Williams
Are you.
- [33:54]
Jerry Rice
Is this for real now? Are you serious? You know, like, it could be London, it could be any other country and stuff like that. You have really loyal fans and. And they love American football.
- [34:06]
Randall Williams
All right, let's do some fun ones before we get out of here. Last year, the super bowl was watched by 127 million people, driven by the storylines of jalen hurts, Chiefs 3. Pete, how many people do you all think are going to tune in this year?
- [34:18]
Jerry Rice
I think much more because of Sam Donald. Because Sam Donald, he was with us, then he went to the Vikings, then he went to the Panthers, then he went back to Seattle. So he been, you know, sort of like a journeyman. Yeah, a little bit. So I think a lot of people going to be pulling for the Seattle Seahawks.
- [34:37]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Davey.
- [34:38]
Vanessa Perdomo
I don't know.
- [34:38]
Capital One Representative
I think we're going to be a little up. I think all the Patriots will want to come back. Say, I haven't been here in a while. I got to watch.
- [34:44]
Randall Williams
I got only been 10 years or so. There are some franchises that have never been there.
- [34:49]
Capital One Representative
And then the Seahawks. Right. Definitely. They've got to be there. They've got to rep. So I think people are going to tune in in mass.
- [34:54]
Randall Williams
All right, pick your winner. Seattle play for the Seahawks. We ain't forget. We haven't forgot. There's some people who don't know that.
- [35:03]
Jerry Rice
But yeah, yeah, Seattle.
- [35:05]
Capital One Representative
No, I'm not going to. I'm going to pick the Pats.
- [35:07]
Vanessa Perdomo
Okay.
- [35:08]
Randall Williams
Beautiful.
- [35:08]
Jerry Rice
Drake May. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, rookie, this is his opportunity. One thing about the super bowl, you get one shot, that's it. The best team is going to win on that given day. And I just feel like with Seattle, the offense and the defense, and you win championship with defense, we'll see what happens.
- [35:28]
Vanessa Perdomo
That was super bowl champion and NFL hall of Famer Jerry Rice, alongside NetApp CMO Gaby Boko.
- [35:36]
Randall Williams
Sticking with the 49ers, fresh off his incredible season, MVP candidate, running back Christian McCaffrey.
- [35:42]
Vanessa Perdomo
So welcome to the Bloomberg business of sports. Christian, it's so nice to have you here. Thanks for. Thanks for coming by.
- [35:47]
Christian McCaffrey
Absolutely. Appreciate you having.
- [35:48]
Vanessa Perdomo
So you came by with something right there. Some. Some big hardware. Tell us about it.
- [35:53]
Christian McCaffrey
Yeah, I got the FedEx 2025 Aaron ground player of the Year. It's an unbelievable honor. You know, one, it's an award that's been around for 23 years. It's one of the longest standing NFL awards, and it's really cool because it's voted on by fans. And so anytime you get recognition like that, it means a lot. And then also FedEx is donating $15,000 to a feeding America food bank right here in San Francisco. So anytime you're getting an award, being able to give back a little bit means a lot.
- [36:20]
Jerry Rice
Yeah.
- [36:20]
Vanessa Perdomo
That's amazing. So tell us more about that fan Connection and fans, you know, like you said, being able to vote on this ward. And does it mean a little bit more that way?
- [36:28]
Capital One Representative
Do you feel like.
- [36:28]
Christian McCaffrey
Well, you know, it means a lot. You know, I feel like we have the best fans here in San Francisco in the world. You know, anytime we travel and go to away games, they're always. They always show out. They're really loud. They're. You know, sometimes we'll go to games and it feels like there's more of our fans than other teams fans. And so anytime you kind of get that recognition from them and fans that I respect and have so much love for means a lot.
- [36:51]
Vanessa Perdomo
So NFL honors is tonight. Tell us about, you know, the other people are going to see. The other people are going to be honored with this award that FedEx is honoring with you as well.
- [36:58]
Christian McCaffrey
Yeah. I think anytime you're in rooms around just greatness, you know, you got. It's really cool. You have guys from the past that I used to look up to and had posters of on my wall. You have current players that are, you know, playing at elite levels. It's always really cool to be around great players.
- [37:13]
Vanessa Perdomo
So we're here in San Francisco. It is a home. Super Bowl. You said you didn't have to go too far away. How. How is it to be here for you in this market in San Francisco?
- [37:24]
Christian McCaffrey
It's great, man. San Francisco is a city that has so much character, and so when. When it's always cool when as. As popular of a city as it is and as great of a city as it is, I feel like people still don't understand it. So seeing other people come from across the country here has been so cool. To just hear how much people love feels like a second home to me. Obviously, I'm here all the time, and I went to Stanford here and I have so many Bay Area, you know, connections. It is home and, you know, so for people to see what we love so much about it is really cool.
- [37:56]
Vanessa Perdomo
What do they don't understand? Do you think, like. Like, what do you think that people see when they come here that maybe is different for them, more unique?
- [38:03]
Christian McCaffrey
Yeah. Well, I think when you think of west coast cities, they're very new. A lot of times it's people from all over the place that live there. But San Francisco is not that way. You have so many locals. There's so much history and character to San Francisco that's very specific and unique to. To the city itself. And so I think that's the energy that people feel. Obviously, you have the iconic hills, the iconic houses, the Golden Gate Bridge. The food is unbelievable. Alcatraz, the beaches, you know, everything that has to do with the setting of it.
- [38:33]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
But.
- [38:33]
Christian McCaffrey
But I think the people is what make it really cool.
- [38:35]
Vanessa Perdomo
So one of the other things you're doing here this week is a partnership at Sport beach with Athletic Brewing. Tell me about that.
- [38:41]
Christian McCaffrey
Yeah, so we'll be at Sport beach with While on Earth, which I'm a co founder of the company. It's a brand started by a guy named Todd Mullaney, who's an unbelievable, unbelievable person, let alone businessman. And so partnering with him was super easy for me. I fell in love with the brand, I fell in love with the team. And, you know, it was really cool for me to step outside of football, to step outside of any kind of alternative investment areas and venture areas and go into the startup world a little bit and try to grow a business and see what that's all about. And it's been really fun, man. I've just had such a blast learning more than anything, and, you know, hopefully we can take this to where we think we can.
- [39:19]
Vanessa Perdomo
What have you learned in this seat that you have that's new for you in business, being in the startup?
- [39:24]
Christian McCaffrey
Yeah, well, I've learned a lot. I've learned patience is key. I've learned to have. Have big goals, but. But don't put timelines on things in the athleisure space and footwear apparel space. It's an unbelievably competitive area, and so you really need to have good quality. The shoes are fantastic. We're coming out with so many really, really cool projects that I can't wait for people to see. But overall, the. The company itself has just been really, really fun to work with in that sense.
- [39:52]
Vanessa Perdomo
And what made you decide to become a partner in it, not just, you know, be an ambassador, just kind of have that sort of partnership.
- [40:00]
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Yeah.
- [40:01]
Christian McCaffrey
You know, I think I wanted something that transcended football. And I think when athletes put, you know, myself, when I put my name on something, I want it to be something that I align with from. From a business standpoint, from an ethics standpoint. And while on Earth was the perfect fit, and I was really blessed, it kind of just fell into my lap. Todd came over to my house and presented me this opportunity to be a co founder. You know, we talked for longer and longer, and the more I thought about it, I was like, this is exactly what I need right now. And God kind of has a funny way of putting things in your lap when at the right times. And so, you know, you do a deal with a brand while you're playing, those end, you know, they'll give you some money. That's how the partnership works. And they wear their clothes, but that ends, you know, life after football is still life, and you still have to, you know, And I wanted to put my name on something and be a part of a team, be a part of something that's bigger than myself, which is what football is. And I felt like this was the perfect opportunity and I couldn't be happier to represent this brand.
- [40:57]
Vanessa Perdomo
Are you thinking more about that? Obviously, you're still well into your prime and your playing career, but are you thinking more about things like that outside of football, about what life is going to look like after, what businesses you want to get involved in?
- [41:08]
Christian McCaffrey
My first few years in the league, you're so wrapped up in football, you're kind of getting the feel of the routine of the off season, and it's all ball, all the time. But now that I kind of have that, have that down and you get older and wiser and more experienced, you do have to start thinking about those things. And so that's why this was such a cool opportunity for me, because, you know, I love being a part of teams. I love being a part of something bigger than myself. And football ends one day and a lot of guys struggle. And so this was an avenue that I was like, you know what? I know sportwear, I know apparel, I know how shoes are supposed to fit and feel. I feel like I can add value to this company. I work out for a living, and, man, I think what a great opportunity where I can give my 2 cents on everything from design to feel to fit, and let the guys who are much smarter than me handle a lot of the business stuff. So it's been really cool.
- [41:58]
Vanessa Perdomo
I was going to ask about how much you are taking part of InDesign and how much are you really interested in that part of it? You know, tell us more about what your vision is for what it was and how you're making Wild on Earth different.
- [42:11]
Christian McCaffrey
Yeah, you know this. I'm in every meeting. Every meeting. Yeah, I. That's been really cool, too, hearing from people who have been there and done that. Todd was the CMO at Noble and helped grow that brand to where it is now and came off and now is doing his own thing. So he has experience growing businesses and understanding how to do it and the correct way. He also has experience with how not to do it, how to do it, and that's there's so much value in that. Me personally, I love sitting in the meetings and listening. But but yeah, like I said, I work out for a living, I wear athletic clothes for a living and and I feel like I can provide a lot of value. So not only am I helping with design, but I'm testing the shoes myself. Walking around in different products that haven't come out yet, wearing different products that haven't come out yet, constantly taking notes, you know, examining. I think when you're in this world now, you have a, you have a different eye for wearing, different way to work out. 100%. Yeah. Yeah. And so, you know, it's been a lot of fun.
- [43:04]
Vanessa Perdomo
Christian, thanks so much for joining Bloomberg Business Sports. We super appreciate the time.
- [43:08]
Christian McCaffrey
Appreciate it.
- [43:08]
Jerry Rice
Thank you.
- [43:09]
Vanessa Perdomo
That was San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. And that does it for this special edition of the Bloomberg Business of Sports. Stay tuned for for more super bowl related content on our podcast.
- [43:33]
Jerry Rice
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Ryan Fitzpatrick
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Jerry Rice
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Christian McCaffrey
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Christian McCaffrey
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Christian McCaffrey
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