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

Podcast: NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin
Episode Date: April 1, 2026
Host: Drew Franklin (joined by Billy Rutledge, guest hosting for Matt Jones)
Special Guest: Eric Kendricks (San Francisco 49ers Linebacker)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Drew Franklin and Billy Rutledge dive into current NFL storylines, with a focus on the San Francisco 49ers, the Hard Knocks series' big news, quirky football culture moments, and an engaging interview with standout linebacker Eric Kendricks. The episode blends news, humor, and authentic player perspectives, offering both behind-the-scenes peeks and broader NFL insights.

Key Topics & Segments

1. 49ers Catch-Up & Maintenance on the Pod (02:22–05:52)

• Host Configuration: Drew welcomes Billy as co-host while Matt Jones is away.
  • “I've got plenty more to talk about and I have not replaced Matt on the show. He's just doing his own thing right now.” — Billy Rutledge (02:36)
• Big Interview Tease: The highlight is their sit-down with Eric Kendricks—his midseason signing with the 49ers, playoff heroics, and uncertain career trajectory.
• Billy & Drew: The Car Guys? The hosts joke about their mechanical skills (or lack thereof), setting up for Kendricks’ automotive passion later.
  • “Don't forget your Johnson Rod. That's right.” — Drew Franklin (04:07)
• San Francisco Injuries & The Electrical Substation Conspiracy:
  • Discussion of the rumor that a nearby electrical substation has caused the 49ers’ injury problems. GM John Lynch's recent statement dismissed the theory.
  • “They hired an independent scientist to come in and study it... I would love to just see what they did. They probably walked in and did nothing. Just took that check from the 49ers.” — Drew Franklin (05:17)

2. Breaking News: Hard Knocks Teams Revealed (05:52–08:52)

• NFL Hard Knocks Announcement:

  • For the first time since the first season, the defending Super Bowl champion—the Seattle Seahawks—will be featured in this year's Hard Knocks.
  • Next year, the New England Patriots (under Mike Vrabel) will be the team.
  • “And with a plot twist, we already know next year will be the Patriots. So we're getting both teams from the Super Bowl.” — Drew Franklin (07:19)

• Host Reactions & Discussion:

  • Drew is always persuaded by Hard Knocks: “No matter the team, no matter what their previous record was. For some reason, Hard Knocks convinces me that I love them and I want the best for them and that they're going to be good.” (06:24)
  • Billy wonders about personalities and drama, especially with new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel soon.

3. NFL Coaches Photo: The Ultimate Offseason Ritual (11:14–15:17)

• NFL League Meetings Culture:

  • Discussion of the annual, famously awkward NFL coaches group photo—their poses, clothing choices, and how it reflects their personalities and current fortunes.
    • “You have half of them in the front row sitting down with their hands on their knees, the other half standing behind them with their arms crossed.” — Drew Franklin (11:43)
  • Fashion highlights: Robert Saleh in a hoodie, Andy Reid with a Hawaiian shirt, Liam Coen’s sunglasses, and John Harbaugh’s “white sock, black penny loafer look” (13:29).
  • “You can also kind of tell how these guys feel about their teams. Aaron Glenn looks like he does not want to be there...” — Drew Franklin (13:49)
  • Vrabel gets special attention for his hands-on approach at the Arizona State pro day, in contrast with more staid coaches.

• Player News:

  • Patriots rookie QB Drake May’s “buzz cut” (14:57), recalling Tom Brady’s style and fueling Patriots fans' hopes.

4. Interview: Eric Kendricks, 49ers Linebacker (16:08–25:54)

A. Return to the NFL, Late-Season Signing, and Playoff Heroics

• On nearly sitting out the season:
  • “No, actually, the people who I was closest to… I feel like maybe they were a little bit more worried than I was.” — Eric Kendricks (16:33)
  • He waited for the right situation after the offseason with Dallas and a slow-developing free agency market.
  • “I just gotta wait. Gotta hold.” (16:59)
• Family pressure:
  • Kendricks’ family and friends wanted him “to show the world what you can do.” (18:24)
• On his mindset:
  • “It’s kind of crazy how it goes full circle, you know, from when I was in college…” (18:26)
• The playoff moment: Breaking up a crucial fourth-down pass vs. the Eagles.
  • “You never know when your moment’s gonna kind of happen…When everyone was asking me after the game, you know, how did it feel? I was like, I should have picked it off…” (19:01)
  • “To be in a position to…help the team that I joined late succeed… in the most crucial part of the game…was just pretty surreal.” (19:25)

B. Minnesota Days & Off-Field Life

• California to Minnesota Culture Shock:

  • “I tell people all the time, you know, I didn’t own a jacket before I moved to Minnesota…I didn’t really know anything about Minnesota…I knew it was cold.” (20:14)
  • Highlighting the shock and the pleasant surprise at the organization’s support and the defensive scheme fitting his style.

• Team Bonding Off the Field:

  • Favorite activity in Minnesota: riding Bird scooters downtown with teammates, “like 16-year-old girls do.” (21:45)
  • “We would all go hang out downtown, we would all ride down the river together…It was really a good time.” — Eric Kendricks (22:09)

C. Car Guy Cred

• Defining “car guy” status:
  • Enjoys working on cars, collecting them, attending car shows, and doing automotive work himself.
  • “I got a whole set of tools…from Harbor Freight…change my own oil…have a lift…” (23:06)
  • “If you’ve played with Legos…some things are intimidating. There’s other things that are really more straightforward.” (24:19)
• Dream car?
  • “R34 Nissan GTR…the one that Paul Walker…jumped over into…It was unattainable…until it’s 25 years old in the United States, which it just turned. So I got one.” (24:22–24:51)

D. What’s Next for Kendricks?

• Looking ahead:
  • “Yeah, you know, I’m, I’m, I feel great…after the Eagles game, I played 71 plays…This is my profession. Like, I’ve been doing this. I do this. Like, I take it seriously.” (25:01)
  • Attributes his longevity to being a “late bloomer”: “That youthfulness kind of just placed in my advantage.” (25:35)
• Light moment:
  • “I will come over and change your air filter if you need to here on Cover Zero.” (25:42)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the infamous Levi’s Stadium substation conspiracy:
  “I would love to just see what they did. They probably walked in and did nothing. Just took that check from the 49ers.” — Drew Franklin (05:17)

• On every year’s Hard Knocks effect:
  “For some reason, Hard Knocks convinces me that I love them and I want the best for them and that they're going to be good.” — Drew Franklin (06:24)

• The NFL Coaches Photo:
  “You can also kind of tell how these guys feel about their teams…It’s almost like you could go through and do your season predictions based on facial expressions.” — Drew Franklin (13:49)

• Kendricks’ car guy energy:
  “I got, I got a whole set of tools set up… I have a lift. I change my own oil.” — Eric Kendricks (23:06)

• On returning to the game:
  “I’m in shape...if I'm sacrificing, you know, certain things on my end...I need to focus on the things that are important to me.” — Eric Kendricks (17:02)

• On his pivotal playoff play:
  “To just in the…most crucial part of the game when I could just, you know, show my ability and my talents, it was just pretty surreal. And, you know, everything happens for a reason.” — Eric Kendricks (19:25)

Timestamps of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | | ------------- | ----------------------------------- | | 02:22 | Show open with Drew and Billy; Matt's absence explained | | 03:26 | Teasing the Eric Kendricks interview | | 04:16 | The 49ers “injury conspiracy” & John Lynch’s statement | | 05:52 | Breaking news: Hard Knocks teams revealed | | 06:37 | Hosts discuss their personal dream Hard Knocks teams | | 08:05 | Discussion of past Hard Knocks seasons and NFL docuseries | | 11:14 | NFL Coaches group photo breakdown & offseason rituals | | 14:17 | Mike Vrabel “hands-on” coaching at a pro day | | 15:02 | Discussion of Patriots rookie Drake May’s buzz cut | | 16:08 | Main interview: Eric Kendricks joins | | 19:01 | Kendricks describes his pivotal playoff play | | 20:14 | Kendricks on adjusting to life in Minnesota | | 21:39 | Team scooter rides: humorous bonding stories | | 22:19 | Kendricks the car guy — wrenching & dream cars | | 25:01 | Kendricks discusses future plans and his approach to longevity | | 25:42 | Light close: Kendricks jokes about being available for car maintenance deals |

Episode Highlights & Tone

• Authentic and humorous: The hosts mix legit football insight with offbeat takes (fashion breakdowns, car jokes, “Johnson Rods,” and more).
• Humanizes athletes: Kendricks shines as a multidimensional person with wit, perseverance, and earthy interests (from the gridiron to the garage).
• News, nostalgia, and nitty-gritty: From latest NFL media announcements to pandemic player comebacks and old school locker room tales.

For New Listeners

This episode delivers a sharp slice of NFL culture, both quirky and honest—perfect for those who appreciate both the games and the stories in between. For fans craving offseason content, behind-the-scenes peeks, and a real sense of the personalities shaping today’s league, it hits all the right marks.