NFL Cover Zero: Radio Row Day 1 — Steve Johnson, Terrell Davis, and Mike Golic Sr.
Podcast: NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin
Date: February 5, 2026
Episode: Radio Row Day 1
Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin
Summary by: [Your Summarizer Name]
Episode Overview
Day 1 of Super Bowl 60’s Radio Row brings Matt and Drew, long-time friends and football fans, into the epicenter of NFL media madness. They recount behind-the-scenes moments, swap surreal celebrity run-ins, and host lively interviews with legendary guests: Kentucky/Bills receiver Steve Johnson, Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis, and veteran broadcaster Mike Golic Sr. The episode overflows with genuine fan enthusiasm, Kentucky football nostalgia, candid football insights, and playful banter—perfect for fans who love both the game and the culture around it.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Radio Row Experience
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Sense of Arrival:
The hosts are in awe, noting the surreal feeling of broadcasting from the heart of Super Bowl week, among celebrities and media from around the world.- “I never thought that I would be at the Super Bowl. And not only are we here, we are here with the NFL. And it is a surreal scene.” (Matt, 00:25)
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Star Sightings:
They mention nearly bumping into Joe Flacco, seeing media personalities, and running into unexpected celebrities.- “Before we were 10 steps in the building, we almost had a collision with you and Joe Flacco. But it set the tone for the celebrity sightings we'd see every couple.” (Drew, 02:10)
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Running Jokes:
Light-hearted teasing about the pecking order on Radio Row—“You may be a Super Bowl champion, Joe Flacco, but we are on the podcast, walking around!”* (Matt, 02:38)
2. Surprise Drop-In: Steve Johnson ("Stevie Got Loose")
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UK Football Nostalgia:
The excitement is palpable as Kentucky and Bills legend Steve Johnson spots the group’s Wildcats gear and leaps into a joyous revisit of his legendary “Stevie got loose” play.- “Stevie got loose as my number one.” (Drew, 03:54)
- “That sparked everything for the Lexington community, I would say...” (Steve Johnson, 04:05)
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Breakdown of Iconic Play:
Steve recounts the details and emotions of his iconic touchdown against Louisville, revealing behind-the-scenes thinking and team chemistry (04:26-05:10). -
Locker Room Rap Revival:
Everyone gets amped as Stevie performs his “locker room rap” from his UK days, delighting both nostalgic fans and first-timers:- “Hustle and heart. Dedication is a must. If you ain't got that part, then your soul is weak. Meet for Wildcats. We about to get it popping like Joker from way back... There’s no eyes on this team because we all the man now.” (Steve Johnson, 05:58-06:39; [rap segment])
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Celebrating the Moment:
Hosts revel in the moment, sharing how much that play and player meant to them personally and to the Kentucky football community.
3. Guest Interview: Terrell Davis (Hall of Fame Running Back)
[Starts at 13:12]
Highlights
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On the Physical Toll of Football:
- “Football does hurt...I am feeling a little...no, not a little bit. A lot of the impact. I am paying my dues now.” (Terrell Davis, 13:34)
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Super Bowl Memories:
Terrell reflects on the difference between regular games and the Super Bowl, the pregame nerves, and focusing amid the overwhelming spectacle.- “The minute you go out on pregame, you realize quickly this is not a normal game... you try to remind yourself, all right, man, we've done this for, I don't know, what, 18 weeks, man, it's the same thing. Let's just stay in the moment.” (Terrell Davis, 16:01-16:30)
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Identity After Football:
He hilariously notes how little his Super Bowl MVP and gold jacket impress his kids.- “My kids don't care... None of that stuff even matters, man. When you have kids and they get older… they don't care that you have a gold jacket.” (Terrell Davis, 17:22-17:41)
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Running Backs in Today's NFL:
Davis thoughtfully explains why his style wouldn’t flourish in today’s pass-first league but reflects on how he’d find a role regardless.- “It wouldn't have benefited me today… The run game is... expensive time wise, commitment, resources... But I'm going to find a way to [contribute].” (Terrell Davis, 18:56-19:52)
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Advocacy & Health:
Terrell promotes awareness of Tardive Dyskinesia (“the other TD”), describing the condition and encouraging anyone experiencing symptoms from mental health meds to seek help.- “I just want to raise awareness, use my platform and raise awareness to people out there who are experiencing this condition while taking certain prescription mental health medication. And if that's the case, please go to theothertd.com.” (Terrell Davis, 20:15-21:19)
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Food Philosophy (Humor):
The segment ends with a playful debate about the value of spending on food, with Davis joking:- “Food is the biggest waste of money... You eat right now—in two hours, you're gonna have to eat again. So what, you just waste $400 on a steak?” (Terrell Davis, 14:44-14:56)
4. Guest Interview: Mike Golic Sr. (Legendary Radio Host)
[Starts at 22:25]
Highlights
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Radio Anecdotes:
Mike Golic shares self-deprecating and humorous stories from his Mike & Mike days, including breaking chairs, early-morning routines, and parenting:- “Every morning the alarm went off at 4:15 and I said a bad word and then I would get to work by 5.” (Mike Golic Sr., 23:50)
- “It did give me the opportunity to be a lunch dad at my kids school and coach them in all their little league stuff... So there were some pros, but the cons is I lost out on about 10 years of sleep.” (24:20)
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Working with His Son:
- “I probably would not be doing the show every day if, unless it was with my son... I try not to take it for granted that when the mic goes on, it's my kid there and we're doing the show together.” (Mike Golic Sr., 25:34)
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NFL Conversations:
Golic discusses the benefit of pedigree and patience in NFL quarterback careers, specifically citing Sam Darnold, and bemoans the lack of patience with coaches:- “If he was a fifth rounder, he'd have been done. But when you're a high pick, you're going to get a chance somewhere. And to his credit, he is playing extremely good ball.” (27:21)
- “I'm amazed at the lack of patience... Sometimes guys get a head coaching job and they're not supposed to be head coaches, but [Mike Vrabel] clearly is a head coach.” (28:23)
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Super Bowl Preview:
Analysis and expectations for the Seahawks vs. Patriots matchup, focusing on defense and New England's under-appreciated postseason run.- “Their defense needs to step up as well, which is a very good defense... They need a rock fight here... low scoring game.” (Mike Golic Sr., 29:07-29:40)
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On Radio Chops:
A candid look at the difficulty and chemistry needed for daily four-hour radio shows, the struggles of slow news days, and staying sharp on-air.- “It can be damning when you have a guest and the guest flakes on you... There are many days, listen, I did it for so long... Where you look at your watch and you're going, oh, my God, I got three and a half hours [left].” (Mike Golic Sr., 30:59-31:12)
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Personal Health & Advocacy:
Golic opens up about his 20 years with type 2 diabetes and advocates for Stello, a modern glucose biosensor for managing the condition.- “Now it's modern technology. Stello is a glucose biosensor... You have an app with it and it gives you real time numbers... You get up to the date numbers.” (Mike Golic Sr., 32:02-33:12)
5. Off-Mic and Anecdotes from Super Bowl Media Week
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Kindness of Guests:
Hosts are pleasantly surprised that all their big-name guests are both generous with their time and friendly, staying to chat even after the mics are off (34:39-34:56). -
Celebrity Encounters:
- Tony Dungy “Tugging”:
Drew recounts Tony Dungy mistakenly grabbing his jacket, thinking he was someone else—likely Jeff Saturday. Drew finds the awkward moment hilarious and a Radio Row classic.- “Tony Dungy grabbed you by the jacket and pulled on you and seemed to want your attention... But when you turned around, the look of disappointment on his face...” (Matt, 35:22-36:01)
- Derrick Henry at the Urinal:
Drew stands shoulder-to-shoulder with his football hero in the restroom but chooses not to speak—acknowledging that “there’s about 5ft of area where you cannot speak to Derrick Henry and that’s where we met.” (38:07-40:16)
- Tony Dungy “Tugging”:
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Media Madcap:
Sightings of everyone from Adam Devine (or “Kelvin Gemstone”) to the Workaholics crew, and discussion about Bounty’s humorous sponsorship presence. -
Networking & Dream Chasing:
Billy (producer) awkwardly navigates exchanging digital business cards with Tampa media, inspired by seeing other sidekicks-turned-hosts build their own shows.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)
- “Stevie got loose as my number one [moment].” — Drew Franklin (03:54)
- “That sparked everything… As you know, the year before, we got dominated by Louisville. So we had a chip on our shoulder... and yeah, we—Stevie got loose.” — Steve Johnson (04:05-04:18)
- “Food is the biggest waste of money. You eat right now—in two hours, you're gonna have to eat again.” — Terrell Davis (14:44-14:56)
- “My kids don't care [about my gold jacket]. When you have kids and they get older… none of that stuff even matters, man.” — Terrell Davis (17:22-17:41)
- “I probably would not be doing the show every day if, unless it was with my son... I try not to take it for granted that when the mic goes on, it's my kid there and we're doing the show together.” — Mike Golic Sr. (25:34)
- “It did give me the opportunity to be a lunch dad at my kids school and coach them... But the cons is I lost out on about 10 years of sleep.” — Mike Golic Sr. (24:20)
- “There are many days, listen, I did it for so long... Where you look at your watch and you're going, oh, my God, I got three and a half hours [of show left].” — Mike Golic Sr. (31:01)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [03:02] — Steve Johnson (“Stevie got loose”) joins for Kentucky nostalgia and freestyle rap
- [13:12] — Interview with Terrell Davis begins: physical toll, Super Bowl, advocacy for Tardive Dyskinesia
- [22:25] — Interview with Mike Golic Sr.: broadcast stories, parenting, modern diabetes management
- [34:12] — Reflections and off-mic anecdotes: Tony Dungy’s case of mistaken identity, running into Derrick Henry, and the quirks of Radio Row
Final Thoughts
This episode beautifully captures the thrill and camaraderie of Super Bowl Radio Row—a blend of fanboy joy, insider recollections, football analysis, and candid human moments. Matt and Drew’s chemistry with legends like Stevie Johnson, Terrell Davis, and Mike Golic Sr. will make listeners nostalgic for classic radio—and grateful for these rare inside glimpses.
[End of Summary]
