Game Over with Max Kellerman & Rich Paul

Episode: Giants Get John Harbaugh and Full NFL Divisional Round Preview
Date: January 16, 2026
Host: The Ringer

Episode Overview

Max Kellerman and Rich Paul dig into one of the most significant coaching hires of the NFL offseason—John Harbaugh joining the New York Giants—while offering an in-depth preview of the NFL Divisional Playoff round. They also touch on the dynamics of building a winning culture in both football and basketball, break down player development conundrums like Jonathan Kuminga’s fit with the Warriors, and riff on what separates contenders from pretenders in sports and even life.

1. Harbaugh Hired by the Giants: Meaning and Impact

[09:49–14:14]

Key Points & Insights

• Max is "thrilled" about the hire and sees Harbaugh as an organizational game-changer.
  • “What it means is that team will compete every week. It will compete. You will be competitive every single week, every single year.” (Max, 10:12)
• The Giants organization has been mired in unsuccessful gambles on young, unproven coaches. Harbaugh signals “culture, respect, and accountability.”
• Rich acknowledges that even if Harbaugh doesn't win a Super Bowl, the Giants' floor is now a perennial playoff threat.
• Max highlights the improved Giants’ O-line and draft capital, and singles out Jackson Dart (QB) as hugely talented:
  • “He has great arm talent, he improvises great… He has everything you want in a quarterback.” (Max, 10:04)
• The cohosts playfully debate Max’s tendency to hype QBs, referencing RG3 as a parallel, and Rich keeps Max accountable.

Notable Quotes

• On John Mara and Giants Ownership:
  • “As much as I criticize when I think it’s deserved, I tip my cap to Mara... they got it right here.” (Max, 14:08)
• On Harbaugh’s Value:
  • “He’s bringing experience, he’s bringing culture, he’s bringing respect from the players... it’s a good day for the Giants.” (Rich, 12:48)

2. AFC Divisional Playoff Preview

Bills @ Broncos
[14:57–16:54]

Discussion

• Josh Allen carries the most pressure in the playoffs: “He wins the Super Bowl, he’s one of the greatest of all time. He loses... okay, one of these days, you gotta advance.” (Max, 15:14)
• For Broncos, Max names Bo Nix as pivotal, while Rich points to Sean Payton, arguing QB/coach tandem is central.
• Broncos’ defense and home-field advantage acknowledged, but Nix’s poise is the potential swing factor.

Patriots @ Texans
[17:08–20:25]

Key Insights

• Max believes Texans' generational defense is on the clock (“you get three years with a defense like that before it ages out” – 18:14) so QB performance is under the microscope.
• CJ Stroud freezing up (as versus the Steelers) is a make-or-break indicator; pressure is mounting despite his youth.
• For the Patriots, Rich singles out Stephon Diggs for chain-moving plays against the formidable Texans D.

Notable Quote

• “If you lose this game, you have a problem at quarterback. You’ve wasted an all-time great defense with a quarterback who froze in the playoffs.” (Max, 18:32)

3. NFC Divisional Playoff Preview

Seahawks @ 49ers & Bears @ Rams
[22:10–25:27]

Takeaways

• Seahawks: Darnold is “boom or bust.” On the Niners, it's Shanahan’s adaptability amid injuries.
• Bears/Rams: Weather is the X-factor—Chicago’s brutal cold could decide outcomes more than players do.
  • “This game Bears and Rams… it should be called ‘fuck around and find out’” (Max, 23:36)
• Chicago’s home-field elements and fourth-quarter heroics are especially dangerous if the Rams “play with their food.”

Notable Quotes

• On Chicago Weather:
  • “I’m not even in this state… I live in LA. You think I’m gonna play in that?” (Rich, 23:23)

4. Building Winners: Athleticism vs IQ; Youth vs. Experience

[29:28–33:36]

College Football Reflection

• Indiana’s dominance is attributed to roster experience, not just age but “character, habits, willingness, and coachability” cultivated by coach Signetti (Rich, 31:22).
• The lesson: Football and basketball dynasties require both mature talent and high character—a theme revisited in the NBA segment.

5. (Bonus) NBA Deep Dive: Jonathan Kuminga’s Situation

[35:08–52:09]

Key Discussion Points

• Max asks Podcast Paul (i.e., “not Agent Rich Paul” for legal reasons) for insights into Jonathan Kuminga’s playing time controversy.
• Rich explains team fit, player style vs. system, and the difficulty of switching roles when competing for minutes with stars:
  • “When you’re on a specific team now, you have to kind of dive into that team’s style of play and how it fits.” (Rich, 36:34)
• Debates development paths between Kuminga, Draymond Green, and OG Anunoby—athletic players can lean too much on gifts; IQ, floor game, and willingness to adapt are critical.

Notable Quotes

• “The hardest part about our league… every guy in the NBA was once the best player on their high school team… Once you get to the NBA, you become one of 450.” (Rich, 42:46)
• On excuses vs. growth: “At a certain point, the explanations become excuses. If he’s on a team where he needs to do certain things differently in order to get playing time, that’s what he’s got to do—unless he’s incapable of doing it.” (Max, 51:22)

6. The “Best Player” Debate: Can a Two-Way Wing Still Be NBA’s Top Dog?

[53:39–66:33]

Main Themes

• Max wonders if the NBA is moving away from the era of the American two-way wing (Jordan, Kobe, LeBron) as #1 player—a role now often filled by international bigs/sharps like Jokic, Giannis, Wemby, Luka.
• Ant Edwards is discussed as a possible heir, but the cohosts agree supporting cast, coaching, and buy-in from talented role-players are absolutely needed.
• Rich argues team context and culture are critical: “I think we put too much on the individual player because they can only bring to the table what they bring.” (Rich, 57:09)
• The Aaron Gordon example: Former stars becoming champions by adapting—“It's more important for me to be a champion than for me to hog the ball.” (Max, 65:11)

Notable Quotes

• “If you get those (Jordan/Pippen-type) wings, I don’t—those are like, you can’t find those wings. Extra crispy, hot sauce, everything.” (Rich, 54:47)
• “There can be an American player that’s a two-way player that could be the best champ… But it takes a lot.” (Rich, 65:33)

7. Team-Building in Sports & Life: Dodgers, Yankees, Moneyball, and "Buy Nice or Buy Twice"

[68:46–78:57]

Takeaways

• Dodgers’ win-at-all-costs approach with blue-chip signings is lauded; Rich and Max argue this is not “ruining baseball” but setting a blueprint.
  • Lesson: Don’t penny-pinch where it matters—"If you can afford it, buy at the highest level... otherwise, you’ll spend three times as much replacing it.” (Rich, 75:00)
• Comparison to Yankees’ recent habit of bargain hunting and settling.
• The Moneyball parallel: “The richest owner in baseball just hired the smartest GM in the game… they’re playing moneyball with money.” (Max, 78:00)

8. Closing Segments: Hate Mail, "Happy Place," and NFL Picks

[79:05–85:30]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• The cohosts read and riff on lukewarm “hate mail.”
  • “Rich Paul is a hilariously bad podcaster… and then he mentions that he listens back to every episode. Unreal.” (Max, 80:05)
  • "Used to respect Max Kellerman before this ish… has to be the worst podcast… in history." (Rich, 81:18)
• Rich counsels youth coaches to teach IQ to athletic kids:
  • “If they’re super athletic… start teaching the IQ part of the game, because athletic is like being very pretty. And pretty is what pretty does.” (Rich, 80:35)
• They lightly debate who they are (“I’m not an agent on this hour… just a front-facing media executive”), describe their show as their "happy place," and banter about work-life balance.
• Final Divisional Round picks:
  • Rich: Bears, Seahawks, Texans, Bills
  • Max: Rams, Seahawks, Texans, Bills (only disagrees on Bears/Rams)

Most Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “What it means is that team will compete every week. It will compete. You will be competitive.” — Max, [10:12]
• “He’s bringing experience, he’s bringing culture, he’s bringing respect from the players... it’s a good day for the Giants.” — Rich, [12:48]
• “If you lose this game, you have a problem at quarterback. You’ve wasted an all-time great defense with a quarterback who froze in the playoffs.” — Max, [18:32]
• “At a certain point, the explanations become excuses. If he’s on a team where he needs to do certain things differently in order to get playing time, that’s what he’s got to do—unless he’s incapable of doing it.” — Max, [51:22]
• “There can be an American player that’s a two-way player that could be the best champ, that could be the best player on a championship team, considered the best player in the league. Yes. But you ask me what does it take for them to get there and I’m telling you, it takes a lot.” — Rich, [65:33]

Recommended Listening Timestamps

• Harbaugh/Giants Analysis: [09:49–14:14]
• AFC Playoff Breakdown: [14:57–20:25]
• Kuminga/Player Development in NBA: [35:08–52:09]
• Two-Way Wing Debate (Ant Edwards, etc.): [53:39–66:33]
• Team-Building & Moneyball/“Buy Nice or Buy Twice”: [68:46–78:57]
• Hate Mail and Closing Picks: [79:05–85:30]

Tone and Chemistry

Both hosts blend sports-insider savvy with barbershop banter, ribbing each other about past takes, career paths, and the “happy place” this podcast represents for them. There’s authentic mutual respect and a willingness to challenge ideas—especially when Rich calls out Max’s wild sports predictions, and Max pushes Rich to clarify life-lessons learned from sports for both pros and regular listeners.

Summary prepared for fans and newcomers alike—perfect if you missed the episode and want all the insights, key discussions, and memorable lines in one place.