KSR: NFL Cover Zero — Thanksgiving Football Traditions (Nov 26, 2025)

Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, Billy R. Sports
Podcast: KSR (iHeartPodcasts / Sports Talk 790 WKRD-AM)
Episode Theme: Celebrating Thanksgiving football traditions, discussing NFL news and culture, and previewing the upcoming holiday games.

Episode Overview

This episode celebrates the deep-rooted intersection between Thanksgiving and the NFL, blending nostalgia, family traditions, and hilarious banter about football, fan culture, and recent league news. Matt, Drew, and Billy reminisce about their own traditions, tackle top storylines, touch on viral football fandom moments, and preview a stacked slate of Thanksgiving week games.

Main Topics & Highlights

1. Thanksgiving and NFL: Personal Traditions and National Spectacle

• Thanksgiving as a Football Holiday
  • Matt and Drew swap stories about their families’ football-first Thanksgivings, Cowboys games as central events, and the ritual of watching NFL all weekend.
  • Drew: “I grew up in a Cowboys family, so it’s always been football over turkey since I’ve been little. …The food was always the second part of the day.” (03:32)
  • Matt jests about the never-ending slate: “From the moment you get up until the moment you go to bed, from now until Sunday.” (02:29)
• Detroit Lions’ Place in Tradition
  • Both marvel at Detroit’s enduring Thanksgiving spotlight, despite decades of mediocrity.
  • Matt: “I’ve never really understood the Lions part of it. …They were awful for years.” (04:28)
  • Drew explains: “The owner that moved them from Ohio to Detroit ... looked for ways to market them and got NBC to pick them up on Thanksgiving.” (04:44)

2. This Year's Thanksgiving Slate: Best in Years?

• Matchup Excitement
  • Drew and Matt hype up a rare year where all the Thanksgiving/holiday games are compelling, notably Lions-Packers, Chiefs-Cowboys, Bengals-Ravens (with Burrow’s return), and a Friday Bears-Eagles game.
  • Matt: “This is like one of the better slates that I think we’ve ever had on Thanksgiving.” (04:54)

3. Football Fandom: Viral Characters & Quirks

• Carolina Mike and the Power of Fan Songs

  • The crew gets lost in laughter over a viral Panthers fan (“Carolina Mike”) and his song about what he’d do with $150,000—breaking down its odd, comedic lyrics and self-awareness.
  • Matt: “Everything he says, he then gives the argument against it … Not many songs that have HOA.” (10:41)
  • Drew: “It’s almost like he’s budgeting and brainstorming in his brain. We’re hearing his thought process…” (11:37)
  • They tie this to the love of authentic, local fan culture, with nods to other viral Panthers fans and the identity such moments give a franchise.

• The Infamous "NFL Hat"

  • Billy’s choice to support the league in general—by wearing a “just NFL” hat—sparks a running joke about rooting for the shield versus real teams.
  • Matt (teasing): “Your team is the league.” (14:14)

4. Thanksgiving Football, Traditions, and the Crowd

• Game Attendance as Family Ritual
  • Matt’s mom’s annual puzzlement about people attending games instead of spending Thanksgiving at home spurs a lighthearted exchange.
  • Matt: "My mom always says the same thing… Why would you go to a game on Thanksgiving?” (06:28)
  • Drew: “Maybe they all come back to Detroit... just like your mom probably looks forward to setting the table.” (07:02)

5. NFL Headlines & News Roundup

Joe Burrow’s Comeback

• Significance: Joe Burrow (Bengals) returns on Thanksgiving Night against the Ravens after injury.
• Debate: Is Cincinnati risking his future in an already lost season?
  • Matt: “I don’t know why he’s coming back. …It’s going to make that game better, but I think that’s a bad decision.” (15:52)
  • Drew: “Again, we’re anti-injury, but if something were to happen there, that would be a huge misstep.” (16:09)
• Burrow’s Announcement: A viral “he’s back” post in a small LeBron jersey gets analyzed for Cincinnati-Cleveland sports culture nuances. (17:02)

Rookie and Breakout Performers

• Titans Kick Returner Chamir DK

  • Leads NFL in all-purpose yards; context about new kickoff rules and Titans giving up lots of points.
  • Matt: “It’s a little misleading… Because of the new kickoff rule… but very cool.” (23:50)
  • Drew: “He’s been a great rookie … something I have hope with the Titans.” (24:41)

• Breakout Star of the Year

  • Friendly debate on who would win this made-up award: Jackson Smith-Njigba, Pickens (Cowboys), or Rico Dowdle get mentioned.

Quirky NFL Stats and Trades

• George Pickens’ Success After Steelers-to-Cowboys Trade

  • Pickens nearly matches the ENTIRE Steelers WR corps in yardage this season.
  • Matt: “Was that one of the best trades of all time? …He’s wide receiver one, right?” (30:14)
  • Drew: “The Steelers are done with him … he’s been awesome.” (30:26)

• Christian McCaffrey’s Reception Numbers

  • Matt: “He gets a crazy number of receptions every year.” (31:13)
  • Drew: “First to do 1000 rushing, 1000 receiving a couple straight years—pretty rare.” (31:41)

• NFL Draft/Prospect Chatter

  • Laughs about mock drafts, Titans’ needs, and obscure projected top picks.

6. NFL Coaching Carousel

• Giants Fire Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen

  • Franchise record: fifth 10+ point lead blown this season, leading to both head coach and DC’s dismissals.
  • Matt (sarcastic): “Everyone who’s ever watched a football game has said... Shane Bowen doesn’t know what he’s doing. I don’t think that’s true…” (49:27)

• Raiders Cycling Back to Greg Olson

  • Olson becomes interim OC for a third time.
  • Matt: “He just has a long term lease and every few years they’re like, 'Greg’s a good guy. Let’s bring him back.'” (56:22)

7. Quarterback News & Oddball Stories

• Shadur Sanders Starting for Browns

  • Conversation shifts from rooting interest to Sanders’ reputation as confident ("I, I, me, me") vs. more traditional QB humility.
  • Drew: “I think he’s going to have a come down moment.” (38:07)

• QB Room Dynamics: Shadur Sanders vs. Dylan Gabriel

  • The guys riff on the inherent rivalry in a rookie quarterback room.
  • Matt: “This is not like you can be starter/backup in two years. Only one of these guys is going to be on the team… I feel like they hate each other.” (41:48)

• Miscellaneous Legend References

  • NFL deep cuts: Devin Hester, Dante Hall, Billy White Shoes Johnson (and why white shoes became a thing).

• Legendary NFL Player Haircuts

  • The show spirals into a hilarious tangent about Brad Johnson’s (supposedly) famous Tampa Bay hair.
  • Matt: “I see no pictures of Brad Johnson with good hair. None.” (46:50)

8. Madden Thanksgiving Celebration Preview

• Fourth Annual John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration
  • Features special coins (Madden/Turducken), MVP high school grants, and classic Madden broadcast moments.
  • Matt: “The official coin will be John Madden on one side and a Turducken on the reverse side.” (62:01)
  • Drew: “We need an AI John Madden or something. Because Thanksgiving—it needs all the Madden it can possibly get.” (62:18)
  • Recollections of how Madden shaped Thanksgiving viewing with his legendary telestrator turkey segments.

9. Picks and Fantasy/Survivor Games

• Victory Bundle Picks

  • Consensus bets:
    • Lions (-2.5) on Thanksgiving
    • Bengals (+7) vs Ravens
    • Chiefs (-3) vs Cowboys
  • “We’re taking Chiefs, Lions and Bengals and that will be our Victory Bundle.” (65:46)

• Thanksgiving Dinner Scheduling

  • Matt’s family “eats dinner at 2:50” as parents age—prompting sympathy and shared stories.

• Survivor League Cheating Accusations

  • Lighthearted grilling as Billy denies “double-picking” the Seahawks, with Matt goading: “Are you suggesting you have not cheated by picking the Seahawks?” (69:04)

• Weekly Touchdown Picks

  • Billy: Travion Henderson (Patriots RB)
  • Matt: Puka Nakua (Rams WR)
  • Drew: Takes a risk on Max Brosmer, Vikings’ rookie QB, with promise of double points if he hits at high odds.

10. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the power of football tradition:
  “I have fond memories going back to when I was a little kid watching the Cowboys every Thanksgiving… It was almost a Cowboys party as much as it was the feast.” — Drew Franklin (04:08)

• On family rituals:
  “My mom always says the same thing…Why do these people go to this? Do they not want to spend time with their families? …Mom, this is their family tradition!” — Matt Jones (06:28)

• Hilarious lyric analysis:
  "Everything he says, he then gives the argument against it. …Not many songs that have HOA.” — Matt Jones on ‘Carolina Mike’ (10:41)

• Thanksgiving football announcing:
  “We need an AI John Madden or something. Because Thanksgiving—it needs all the Madden it can possibly get.” — Drew Franklin (62:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:29 – Thanksgiving football’s packed schedule, significance for fans
• 04:08 – Cowboys & Lions as NFL Thanksgiving fixtures
• 09:03 – Break: “Carolina Mike” segment—a viral Panthers fan’s song
• 15:35 – NFL headlines begin: Burrow’s return, new injuries, trades
• 23:50 – Rookie all-purpose yard leader, impact of new kickoff rules
• 30:14 – George Pickens trade & breakout star debates
• 38:07 – Shadur Sanders and rookie QB rivalries
• 49:27 – Giants’ defensive coordinator firing, local commentary
• 56:12 – Raiders coaching carousel: Greg Olson’s odd resume
• 62:00 – John Madden Thanksgiving tributes and celebration details
• 65:46 – Victory Bundle NFL picks for Thanksgiving games
• 69:04 – Survivor League cheating joke / Touchdown picks

Episode Tone & Style

• Relaxed, candid, irreverent: Plenty of in-jokes, tangents, and self-deprecation.
• Deeply nostalgic: Thanksgiving’s emotional connection to football, Madden memories, and family.
• Football-obsessed, but relatable: Stats, gambling, fantasy, and odd fan stories abound.

In Sum

If you love football, pop culture, and the quirky side of fandom, this episode delivers—with a heavy dose of nostalgia, an appreciation for uniquely American traditions, and the kind of banter that makes KSR a staple for sports fans every Thanksgiving. Whether you’re prepping turkey or just need something to keep you company during a commercial break, Matt, Drew, and Billy will keep you laughing—and maybe even rethink your own family’s holiday rituals.