Game Over with Max Kellerman & Rich Paul

Episode: The Pats and Seahawks Are Super Bowl Bound, Boxing and UFC Weekend, Plus Media Mayhem

Date: January 26, 2026
Host: The Ringer

Episode Overview

In this dynamic episode of "Game Over," Max Kellerman and Rich Paul deliver thoughtful analysis and sharp commentary on the latest sports headlines. They tackle the surprising Super Bowl berth of the Patriots and Seahawks, dissect pivotal NFL playoff moments, reflect on Derrick Rose’s legacy, deep-dive into the evolving nature of sports media, and share firsthand experiences from the Zuffa Boxing and UFC weekend in Vegas. The discussion blends big-picture industry insights with storytelling and some candid, humorous rapport.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Derrick Rose’s Jersey Retirement & Legacy (03:01–07:05)

• Derrick Rose as an Authentic Chicago Icon:
  • Rich Paul praises Rose as "the rose that grew in the concrete in the entire city of Chicago.” (03:11)
  • The conversation reflects on Rose’s impact beyond basketball, noting his perseverance through adversity.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Max: “That’s the twitchiest, fastest basketball player I’ve ever seen...like putting a Mack truck engine in a Ferrari frame.” (04:12)
  • Both reflect on Rose’s early MVP ascent and his resilience reinventing himself after injuries.
• Personal Touch:
  • Rich shares: “I pay for a lot of funerals, bro. Yeah, a lot. And these are, you know, these are kids in a lot of ways.” (05:46)
  • Memorable moment: The co-hosts tie Rose’s journey to broader social realities faced by young athletes from tough backgrounds.

NFL Playoffs & Super Bowl Analysis

Max’s "Super Bowl was Last Night" Take (07:36–09:00)

• Max boldly tweeted congrats to the Seahawks for "winning Super Bowl 60" after their victory over the Rams, suggesting that was the actual championship matchup (07:32).
• Rich Paul objects: “You cannot look past a football game or any game for that matter. I don’t like that.” (07:48)
• Fun banter about tempting fate in sports, with Rich referencing past upsets like Tyson-Douglas (16:26).

Seahawks vs. Rams: The Real Championship? (08:49–15:15)

• Max calls the Rams-Seahawks NFC Championship the true Super Bowl due to both teams' consistent excellence.
• The conversation pivots to Sam Darnold’s redemption arc (09:29):
  • Rich: “Sam Darnold has made his way into the top 10 quarterbacks...He’s persevered.”
  • Max: “You have to root for the guy...He’s been boom or bust all year.”
• Key Play Highlight (10:36–13:14):
  • Max dissects a pivotal 3rd & 10 where Darnold throws the ball away: “Game manager is a dirty word, but to a lot of people...that was the key moment of the game.” (11:25)
  • The hosts discuss the value of “boring” winning plays and game management, comparing it across football and basketball.

Game Management & Quarterback Comparisons (13:14–14:59)

• Rich and Max weigh in on how elite QBs like Brady and Montana won by avoiding mistakes—"They weren't going to do the stupid thing. They were going to make fewer mistakes than the other guy." (11:46)
• Rich: “What I’m saying is, when ... most people say, ‘oh, he’s a game manager’ they say it with a very negative connotation...But if you are a coach, you want someone in that position to manage the game properly.” (13:09)

AFC Playoffs & Patriots’ Drake May (15:22–20:45)

• Max critiques Sean Payton’s fourth-down decision-making but praises Patriots QB Drake May:
  • “Throughout these playoffs, when it matters most, [May] is playing clutch football and smart...clutch with a K football...and he’s making the smart play too.” (19:08)
  • Rich compares consistent execution in sports to fundamental basketball: "That stuff just wears you down...it really messes with your mindset." (20:45)
• They draw parallels between Tom Brady, Joe Montana, and even Floyd Mayweather: "The reason Floyd always won ... he made fewer mistakes than the other guy." (21:52, Max)

Sports Media Mayhem (24:02–36:15)

Anatomy of Sports Media (24:02–29:36)

• Types of Media Personalities:
  • Analysts: played & not played, take-artists (e.g., Skip, Stephen A.), and insiders (e.g., Woj, Shams, Shefty).
  • Rich: “Those people ... care most about their credibility more than anything.” (24:45)
  • Max: “There’s the kind of take artist ... and then the athlete ... take informed by experience ... And then you have the insider who’s going to be accurate.” (25:02–26:14)
• Media Aggregation & Misinformation:
  • Rich explains the ‘telephone’ effect: “By the time it gets aggregated, it’s a totally different story.” (28:36)
  • Both advocate for league-verified platforms/individuals to solve the misinformation crisis.
  • Max: “What Elon was doing was completely taking away the idea of verification ... and just turned it into a status symbol.” (30:11)
• Proposal for League-Verified Reporters:
  • Rich: “NBA, NFL, MLB ... should carve out verifying certain platforms, so the viewer or the reader ... knows ... it’s credible.” (29:20)
  • Max: “It gives the league better control of the media, which they like, even if the consumer might not love that part. But ... you’re getting responsible journalism.” (31:33)

Purpose-Driven Media (36:15–37:26)

• Rich: “I’m doing this show because I felt like there was a white space ... to really give insight and education on things that happen in my environment.”
• Max appreciates Rich’s credibility as a source: “I never got burnt. What you told me was always true.” (34:15)
• Both agree on prioritizing elevated, educational content—while keeping the door open to engaging guests and viral moments.

Zuffa Boxing & UFC Weekend (37:27–45:16)

• Inside Zuffa Boxing’s Launch:
  • Max attended “Zuffa Boxing One” at the Meta Apex in Vegas:
    • “First fight of the night was one of the best prelim fights I’ve ever seen ... adjustments and high speed chess and action.” (38:34)
    • Officiating praised as above board and fair—contrasted with boxing status quo.
  • The vision: “This is where Zuffa Boxing is heading. It’s heading toward selling out the T-Mobile ... being perceived as the major leagues of boxing.” (42:04)
• Boxing’s Big Problem, UFC’s Big Appeal:
  • Rich: “This is the stagnation within the boxing business ... [With Zuffa Boxing] we’re going to address all those things.” (42:27)
  • Max highlights upsets in both UFC and Zuffa Boxing as the core appeal: “The underdog could win and the underdog win. That’s the biggest thing in sports...” (44:29)
• Humorous Moment:
  • Rich, on luxury arena food: “I just want to be able to get that Bronzino from Milos Cage side ... I have to eat light and healthy.” (45:16)

Other Noteworthy Topics

Dabo Swinney’s NIL “Bar” (46:48–48:05)

• Max and Rich briefly discuss Dabo Swinney’s viral comment:
  • “Taking another offer ... while already on campus ... is like having an affair on your honeymoon.” (47:23)
  • Rich previews a coming deep dive on the state of agent business and NIL dynamics.

NBA All-Star Game Voting (48:05–55:35)

• Player Voting Issues:
  • “Bronny got votes.” (48:16)
  • Rich warns: “Every chance you get in our business to show ... you are actually engaged and you care ... the more equity you can actually gain.” (48:41)
• Wembanyama’s Leadership:
  • Max celebrates Wemby’s commitment: “If the number one signature guy in your sport ... is already playing ... this ought to shame the rest of the league.” (52:40)
  • Rich: “He does it at 7’4” ... I don’t think there’s some people ... who’d say it because it’s a good soundbite. He really believes that.” (53:22)
• Call for Higher Standards:
  • Max: “If this dude fixes the All-Star game, there’s no excuse. The NBA All-Star game should be the best All-Star game. And it’s not.” (55:35)
  • Rich uses Jaylen Brown as another example: “He wants to win. He cares. And we need more of that.” (54:34)

Basketball Position Talk (57:01–59:07)

• Max and Rich discuss the importance of high-IQ play from centers in the NBA, referencing Draymond Green, Giannis, Jokic, Embiid, and others.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 03:11 | “He is the rose that grew in the concrete in the entire city of Chicago.” | Rich Paul | | 04:12 | “That’s the twitchiest, fastest basketball player I’ve ever seen...like putting a Mack truck engine in a Ferrari frame.” | Max Kellerman | | 05:46 | “...when you come from that, like I did, it’s not even about the basketball anymore ... just making it to 16 is like being 50.” | Rich Paul | | 09:29 | “Sam Darnold has made his way into the top 10 quarterbacks...He’s persevered.” | Rich Paul | | 11:25 | “Game manager is a dirty word, but to a lot of people...that was the key moment of the game.” | Max Kellerman | | 21:52 | “The reason Floyd always won is very simple. If you want to boil it down to one thing, is he made fewer mistakes than the other guy.” | Max Kellerman | | 25:34 | “It’s just my thoughts, man. It’s, you know, Jay Z. Just my thoughts.” | Max Kellerman | | 28:36 | “By the time it gets aggregated, it’s a totally different story.” | Rich Paul | | 31:33 | “It gives the league better control of the media, which they like, even if the consumer might not love that part. But ... you’re getting responsible journalism.” | Max Kellerman | | 42:04 | “This is where Zuffa Boxing is heading. It’s heading toward selling out the T-Mobile ... being perceived as the major leagues of boxing.” | Max Kellerman | | 48:41 | “Every chance you get in our business to show ... you are actually engaged and you care ... the more equity you can actually gain.” | Rich Paul | | 52:40 | “If the number one signature guy in your sport ... is already playing ... this ought to shame the rest of the league.” | Max Kellerman | | 54:34 | “He wants to win. He cares. And we need more of that.” | Rich Paul |

Timestamps—Important Segments

• 03:01–07:05: Derrick Rose retirement & legacy
• 07:36–09:00: Max’s bold Seahawks "championship" take & Rich’s pushback
• 10:36–13:14: Sam Darnold, ‘game manager’ value (key play breakdown)
• 19:08–21:51: Patriots’ Drake May, game management, and the ‘boring wins’ philosophy
• 24:02–29:36: Dissecting the modern sports media landscape
• 30:11–31:33: Twitter, verification, and media credibility
• 37:27–45:16: Zuffa Boxing and UFC weekend—airing new approaches in fight sports
• 48:05–55:35: NBA All-Star game voting, Wemby’s leadership, player responsibility
• 57:01–59:07: Modern NBA center IQ talk

Tone & Style

• Conversational, candid, and packed with real-world anecdotes.
• Balances professional insight with accessible and often humorous banter.
• Each co-host brings distinct perspectives: Max as the media vet/analyst, Rich as the behind-the-scenes power player.
• Well-attributed, energetic, respectful of differing views.

Summary

This episode of "Game Over" is a tour de force through the weekend’s biggest sports stories—anchored by the unlikely Super Bowl matchup, deep playoff insights, meaningful discussions on authenticity and adversity, the mechanics (and mayhem) of sports media, and the evolving future of combat sports. Rich Paul and Max Kellerman weave through big ideas and small details with intelligence, humility, and a sharp wit—making it both an insightful and entertaining listen for any sports fan.