NFL Cover Zero: Hard Knocks Revealed & 49ers LB Eric Kendricks!

Podcast: KSR
Hosts: Drew Franklin & Billy Rutledge (Matt Jones is away)
Release Date: April 1, 2026
Main Guest: Eric Kendricks, LB, San Francisco 49ers

Episode Overview

This episode dives into NFL news centered around offseason storylines—particularly, the announcement of this season’s "Hard Knocks" teams and the enduring injury conspiracies around the San Francisco 49ers. The highlight is an in-depth interview with 49ers linebacker Eric Kendricks, who recaps his remarkable late-season impact and shares personal reflections on life, cars, and his unconventional route back to the field.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

San Francisco Trip & Matt’s Absence

• The hosts continue sharing content and interviews from their recent Super Bowl trip to San Francisco (01:48).
• Drew Franklin assures listeners Matt Jones will return soon and jokes, “I have not Wally pipped Matt on this podcast yet.” (02:03)

Eric Kendricks’ Big Season & Playoff Moment

• Kendricks, new to the 49ers, stood out by breaking up a critical 4th-down pass against the Eagles—helping the 49ers advance despite their injury-plagued season (02:16).
• Kendricks’ career uncertainty before joining the team and his reinvention as a 49er (02:16-02:52).

Car Guys or Nah?

• Light banter about being "car guys"—Drew claims confidence with YouTube tutorials and flat tires; Billy opts for professional help, joking about forgetting the “Johnson rod” (02:52-03:36).
• A recurring theme connecting to Kendricks’ own car interests.

49ers Injury Conspiracy: The Electrical Substation

• The show discusses new official comments from 49ers GM John Lynch about the electric substation next to Levi’s Stadium—a topic previously chatted about with Kendricks. Lynch denies any adverse effects, calling the conspiracy a “nothing burger.” (03:43-04:35)
  • Drew Franklin: “Do you believe him, or is that him just trying to push things away?” (04:16)
  • Billy Rutledge: “Maybe he’s covering for the training staff, Drew...” (04:16)

NFL “Hard Knocks” Announcement

• Breaking news: for the first time since the original season, "Hard Knocks" will feature the defending Super Bowl champions—Seattle Seahawks this year, and New England Patriots next year (06:29).
• Banter about past Hard Knocks seasons and the power of NFL documentaries to charm audiences.
  • Drew Franklin: “For some reason, Hard Knocks convinces me... and I want the best for them and that they're going to be good.” (06:04)
  • Billy Rutledge: Speculates on who could be drama-rich subjects (06:04-06:29)

NFL Coaches Photo at league meetings

• Detailed, comical analysis of the traditional “awkward” annual coaches group photo from the league meetings in Arizona (09:32-12:35).
  • Wardrobe critiques: Saleh in a hoodie, Andy Reid in a Hawaiian shirt, Jim & John Harbaugh front and center.
  • Musings on the personalities and confidence levels reflected in the photo.

Other Quick NFL Tidbits

• Patriots’ rookie Drake May’s new buzz cut sparks Tom Brady comparisons (13:15-13:29)
• Hype for upcoming interviews: Justin Reed and Orlando Brown to come.

The Eric Kendricks Interview

(Begins at 14:27)

Journey to the 49ers—Late-Blooming Impact

• Matt Jones: “Looked like you weren’t going to play. You joined the 49ers at the end of the year and then made a big play in the playoffs. That had to be awesome…” (14:27)

• Eric Kendricks: Reveals he wasn’t as worried as family/friends about his career stalling. He focused on waiting for the right opportunity post-injury. (14:51)

  • “Once this… season started and things didn’t work out how I thought… after the last season with Dallas, I kind of was like, let me just wait and maybe someone… will open up where they need me and I could fill in.” (15:20)

• Family strongly pushed him to get back on the field, believing in his ability to bounce back. (15:50-16:59)

  • “They were just more… they just wanted it for me, you know...” (16:44)

The Game-Sealing Play vs. Eagles

• Drew Franklin: “Explain to me the feeling on that fourth down stop in the playoffs to clinch that game…” (17:07)
• Eric Kendricks: Downplays glory, focused on missing the interception—wanted to add “a Jalen Hurts ball” to previous playoff picks.
  • “I should have picked it off… I got Stafford, I got Tom Brady, I got Russell Wilson… I had to get a Jalen Hurts ball. I’m kind of pissed about that still.” (17:20)
  • Still, he relishes helping a new team at a crucial moment: “To be in a position to… help the team I joined late succeed… it was just pretty surreal.” (17:44)

Minnesota Years & Weather Adjustment

• Lived the “dream” of NFL stardom but had to acclimate to Minneapolis’ climate, never owning a real jacket until then (20:03).
• Discovered the city exceeded expectations and fit him as a linebacker (20:03).
• Fun off-field activities: Vikings players riding Bird scooters along the Mississippi River together in the offseasons (21:13-21:33).
  • “We were all just rolling down and people would recognize us… but we would… just ride down the river together… eat dinner… it was really a good time.” (21:33)

Car Culture: Kendricks the Gearhead

• Owns and collects cars, enjoys working on them; was a bigger NASCAR fan as a kid (22:08).

• Has all necessary tools, enjoys DIY repairs, and occasionally changes his own oil/filters—proudly saves money by refusing dealership service prices (22:55-24:08).

  • Kendricks: “If you’ve played with Legos… there’s some things… that are intimidating. There’s other things… that are… straightforward.” (24:08)

• Dream car: The Nissan R34 GTR, finally attainable after import restrictions lifted (24:11).

  • “I remember watching that movie as a kid… Ludacris song playing… Paul Walker with the blue glow underneath… it was unattainable… until it’s 25 years old… So I got one.” (24:11)

• Confirmation: Kendricks does plan to play again next year, crediting his late-bloomer/”youthful” advantage (24:46-25:24).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Drew Franklin (on NFL documentaries):
  “For some reason, Hard Knocks convinces me that I want the best for them and that they're going to be good.” (06:04)

• Eric Kendricks:
  “I just gotta wait… maybe someone, a position will open up where they need me and I could fill in. I’m ready to go. I’m in shape.” (15:20)

• Eric Kendricks (about relatives urging him back):
  “They just wanted it for me, you know, like, more than even I wanted it for myself.” (16:44)

• Eric Kendricks (on his big playoff moment):
  “I should have picked it off. … I got Stafford, I got Tom Brady, I got Russell Wilson. … I gotta get a Jalen Hurts ball. I’m kind of pissed about that still.” (17:20)

• Eric Kendricks (on Minneapolis winters):
  “I didn’t own a jacket before I moved to Minnesota. … It completely exceeded all my expectations.” (20:03)

• Matt Jones (on Kendricks’ car skills):
  “You have the thing like where you lay on it and you scoot under the car?”
  Eric Kendricks: “Yeah, I have everything. I got a lift…” (22:52)

• Eric Kendricks (on his dream car):
  “One of the dream cars I have was the R34… the Nissan GTR, the one that Paul Walker, you know, joked over… So I got one.” (24:11)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:48 – San Francisco trip reminiscences and Matt’s absence
• 02:16 – Introduction to Eric Kendricks and his big 49ers moment
• 03:43 – 49ers electric substation injury conspiracy addressed
• 06:29 – "Hard Knocks" team reveal for 2026 and 2027 seasons
• 09:32 – NFL coaches’ annual photo: fashion, posture, and personalities
• 13:36 – Setting up the interview with Eric Kendricks
• 14:27 – Eric Kendricks interview begins
• 17:07 – Playoff moment breakdown: breaking up Eagles fourth-down pass
• 20:03 – Living/minnesota and adjusting to the cold
• 21:33 – Vikings on Bird scooters: off-field camaraderie
• 22:08 – Kendricks’ car culture, DIY fixes, and favorite vehicles
• 24:46 – Kendricks’ outlook for next season and “late bloomer” vibe

Closing Thoughts

The episode is a mix of NFL offseason fun (with comedic touches) and an authentic, laid-back conversation with Eric Kendricks. Whether sharing locker room scooter rides, confronting career uncertainty, or gushing about cars, Kendricks makes clear his resilience and passion for life on and off the field. The episode closes with the promise of more player interviews in upcoming weeks.