Club Shay Shay – “Deebo & Joe: Klint Kubiak to Raiders? NFL Salary Cap Increase, Does Justin Jefferson Want Out?”

Date: February 2, 2026
Hosts: James “Deebo” Harrison & Joe Haden

Episode Overview

In this episode, Deebo Harrison and Joe Haden dive deep into major NFL developments leading up to the Super Bowl. The discussion centers on the recent flurry of coaching hires—including Klint Kubiak’s rumored appointment with the Raiders, an analysis of the league’s rising salary cap, team-building philosophies, and candid debates about quarterback value and management decisions. The two also break down Justin Jefferson’s comments about the Vikings’ quarterback situation, reflect on issues of diversity in NFL coaching, and end with a lighthearted take on a viral boxing moment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Super Bowl Throwback and Record Reflections

Timestamps: 03:59 – 08:36

• Deebo reminisces about his legendary 100-yard Super Bowl interception return (the “immaculate interception”)—still a record. Joe congratulates him, highlighting the lasting value of such moments.
• Deebo admits he’s torn between wanting to witness history and wanting his record to stand:

  “Hey, I ain’t gonna lie to you. I kind of want to see it because I like seeing history.” (06:03, Deebo)

• Banter on team rivalries leads to friendly jabs about the Browns’ Super Bowl drought.

2. Head Coaching Hires and Changing NFL Leadership

Timestamps: 08:36 – 19:52

• Klint Kubiak to Raiders: Both hosts weigh in on Kubiak’s expected hiring. Joe is generally optimistic, citing Kubiak’s performance in Seattle but notes the Raiders’ frequent coaching changes hamper continuity:

  “They gave Pete Carroll a year and a half. They gave Josh McDaniel a year and a half … you gotta give a coach time.” (09:40, Joe)

• Discussion pivots to the importance of cap space and free agency flexibility:

  “If you can manipulate the cap, if you get you a good GM, you can move money around.” (10:24, Joe)

• Atlanta’s Stefanski hire is critiqued. Both are skeptical about firing Raheem Morris in favor of someone with less recent success, suggesting ownership’s desire for “their guy.”

  “That don’t make sense to me. Like, why would you let him go?” (10:45, Deebo)

• Conversation expands to the minimal job security for NFL head coaches, with many owners preferring quick changes over long “rebuilding” periods.

3. NFL Coaching Carousel: Team-by-Team Rundown

Timestamps: 16:55 – 25:31

• Overview of new coaching appointments and forecasts for their job security, hinging on immediate results.
• Notable mentions:
  • Joe Brady (Bills): “He got about... two years max.” (17:13, Deebo)
  • Jesse Menard (Ravens): “If we don’t win more games than we won last year ... [he’s] out.” (17:39, Joe)
  • Jeff Hafley (Dolphins): Both hosts express curiosity about cap space and GM relationships influencing his fate.
  • Robert Saleh (Titans): Jokes about the team’s lack of talent and thus, presumed cap space.

4. Salary Cap Manipulation & Coaching Philosophies

Timestamps: 25:32 – 29:08

• Deebo and Joe dig into the value of teaching players to understand the whole defense/offense, not just their specific assignments—a hallmark of great coaching staffs.

  “When you know the in and out of that defense from left to right… you can now do a better job of helping your partner.” (30:08, Deebo)

• Praise for Mike McCarthy’s hire, emphasizing his focus on receiver route flexibility, offensive play-calling, and preparation:

  “He said... the receivers knew what routes they would run in every area of that offense.” (26:24, Deebo)

5. Coaching Trees & Black Coaches in the NFL

Timestamps: 34:24 – 39:57

• Impressed by Sean McVay’s coaching tree, as yet another former assistant (LaFleur) lands a head coach role.
• The hosts directly address the lack of Black head coaches in this cycle:

  “People are talking about is zero black head coaches. What do you. What do you think about that, man?” (38:32, Deebo)

• Both men recognize structural and cultural barriers:

  “You telling me what I gotta do as a billionaire… that kind of makes me want to push back...” (41:20, Deebo)

• Deebo recounts Mike Tomlin’s hiring and “Rooney Rule” effectiveness, admitting it gets Black candidates through the door but may tilt the interview “against you” if owners feel forced.
• Joe voices hope that ultimately, candidates will be selected on merit, not race, but admits systemic obstacles persist.

6. Quarterback Market, Justin Jefferson's Comments, and Vikings’ QB Drama

Timestamps: 51:21 – 57:57

• Deebo and Joe scrutinize Justin Jefferson’s comment that the Vikings would have done better with Sam Darnold at QB:

  “Having a quarterback… knows the playbook, knows the players, of course… I definitely feel like we would have done better. But it is what it is.” (52:15, quoting Jefferson)

• Both sympathize with Jefferson’s honesty, pointing out how the media chases controversy in Pro Bowl interviews.
• The conversation morphs into contract philosophy:

  “Do you pay a mid-range veteran $33 million, or draft a rookie for the low?” (55:13, Deebo)

• They critique teams that overpay or let solid starters go, referencing deals like Tua’s and how cap management affects roster-building.

7. Cap Space and Insurance: The Kirk Cousins & QB Backs Debate

Timestamps: 57:57 – 61:33

• Deebo proposes the hypothetical of bringing Kirk Cousins in as insurance for C.J. Stroud, sparking a debate over the risks and benefits of paying for backup security.
• They agree that QB value tiers are out of whack, and backup plans are critical for deeper playoff runs.

8. Viral Moment: Boxer Loses His Hairpiece During Fight

Timestamps: 61:35 – 67:29

• A comic break as the duo react to a boxer’s toupee coming off mid-match:

  “He was hitting him right in his hairline and that joint popped up … that joint was flapping.” (62:46, Joe)

• Deebo jokes about maybe getting hairpieces himself, with both mocking the logic behind wearing one into a fight and laughing at the social media memes.

9. Super Bowl Media Plans & Closing

Timestamps: 67:45 – End

• Announcements: No episode tomorrow; both are traveling to San Francisco for Super Bowl coverage.
• The show will broadcast live from the media center with guests on Wednesday and Thursday (11 - 12:45 Eastern).
• Hopes for fans to join them on location and tease a potential appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s "Nightcap".

  “We will be live from the media center, Wednesday and Thursday, 11 to 12:45.” (68:10, Deebo)

Notable Quotes

• “You have a 100-yard interception return in the Super Bowl. Never forgotten. Until somebody goes one on one…” (06:00, Joe Haden)
• “You gotta give a coach time. You can’t … look at Atlanta, right there.” (10:45, Deebo)
• “Ownership … maybe Raheem doesn’t do it the way Matt Ryan ... has the vision. Everybody’s out for their self.” (15:48, Joe)
• “If you can manipulate the cap, get you a good GM, you can move money around.” (10:24, Joe)
• “That’s football right there—when you know your job and what everyone else is doing. That’s what separates good from great.” (30:08, Deebo)
• “The only person that’s worse … is the person that believes they’re the smartest one in the room, and they’re not. But they have the power to quiet all those other voices. That’s the most dangerous person in the room.” (49:23, Deebo, re: Jerry Jones)
• “Do you pay the best one $60 million? … or Sam Darnold at $33? … They should have given him the 3 for 100.” (56:12, Joe/Deebo)
• “Beat off, man—had the inside of his tooth... Oh, did that.” (65:17, Joe, describing the boxer’s toupee loss)

Key Timestamps for Segments

• Super Bowl record reminiscence: 03:59 – 08:36
• Kubiak/Raiders & coaching hires: 08:36 – 16:55
• Coach carousel rundown: 16:55 – 25:31
• McCarthy, offensive systems, coaching trees: 25:32 – 34:24
• Diversity in head coaching: 34:24 – 44:51
• Quarterbacks and Vikings/Jefferson: 51:21 – 57:57
• QB insurance & salary cap debates: 57:57 – 61:33
• Boxer’s toupee story: 61:35 – 67:29
• Super Bowl travel & plans: 67:45 – End

Conclusion

This episode of Club Shay Shay is a raw, insightful, and unfiltered look at the changing landscape of the NFL. Deebo and Joe offer expert player perspectives, dissecting everything from Super Bowl nostalgia to the practical realities of modern coaching, cap management, and diversity. The banter is lively, with plenty of locker-room humor balanced by sharp football analysis, making it a must-listen for diehard and casual fans alike.