Pardon My Take — “Chris Berman In Studio And We’re Live From Super Bowl Week In San Francisco”

Date: February 2, 2026
Hosts: Big Cat, PFT Commenter, Hank, Max, Zach, and crew
Guest: Chris Berman

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off Super Bowl week for the PMT crew, live from San Francisco, featuring their annual in-studio sit-down with broadcasting legend Chris Berman. The gang navigates the gap between Conference Championships and the big game, riffing on NFL storylines, the week’s chaos and, as always, each other. They break down coaching hires, league scandals, the pain and beauty of sports history, and share their anticipation and nerves for Super Bowl Sunday—especially for resident Pats fan, Hank.

1. Super Bowl Anticipation & Hank Week

00:45–05:36

• Hosts update from San Francisco and lament the no-football weekend—a “shock to the system” (03:00). PFT is on Team Hank and concerned for his own massive Patriots bet.
• Group jokes about the Patriots’ potential to set the record for most Super Bowl losses if they don't win:
  • ”That’s the LeBron James of the NFL if we lose.” — PFT (03:56)
• Teasing side content: flight drama, Max’s issues, and nod to showcase week for Hank.

2. NFL Coaching Carousel & Shanahan Tree

05:40–10:19

• Cardinals hire Mike LaFleur (another Shanahan tree disciple), while Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald gets stuck in a division of “boy geniuses.”
• Hosts debate perils (or not) of coaching in a stacked division.
• “All these hires, you’re basically just guessing.” — Big Cat (08:23)
• Clint Kubiak reportedly lands Raiders job—more Shanahan tree dominance.
• Short pitch for their new book, “Pardon My Book”—crew wrote chapters on podcast history, with preorders encouraged.

3. Napping Controversy & Crew Dynamics

12:09–15:20

• Zach admits he napped right before recording. Joke debate spirals over who’s allowed to nap, with playful blame on Hank for “enabling.”
• “You’ve written more words than you’ve read.” — Big Cat, ribbing Zach’s author credentials (11:10)
• Running bit that Max’s excessive napping disgusts Hank so much, it’s turning him anti-nap.
• The energy gets light as they poke fun at each other openly.

4. NFL News: Power Struggles, Scandals, and Owners

15:33–34:50

Vikings GM Firing, Paternity Leave & NFL Work Culture

• Deep dive on Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's departure; focus on QB draft missteps and an old report about his paternity leave resurfacing.
• “Everyone in the NFL is a complete psycho… It’s not normal to take that much time [off].” — Big Cat (17:02)
• PFT floats the tongue-in-cheek idea of a “gay GM” to avoid paternity leave drama (19:04).

National Coach Hires & NFL Owners’ Emails/Epstein Scandal

• NFL owner emails with Epstein make news—Jets, Giants, Pats, and 76ers owner Josh Harris all get mention. The crew humorously distances themselves:
  • “We disavow. Also, I’m starting to think this Jeffrey Epstein guy was a bad guy.” — Big Cat (33:29)
• Big Cat and PFT go deep on the culture and mechanics of new head coaching hires and criticize scapegoating GMs for normal life events.

5. National Sports Potpourri

34:57–54:50

• College basketball coach Rick Barnes’ gambling quote (“Sometimes I wonder if my guys are betting against us”) raises eyebrows for the panel (34:13).
• Paul George’s mysterious suspension and mental health substance comes up; group laughs off NBA’s drug testing.
• NBA trade deadline collides with the Super Bowl; Giannis trade speculation swirls.
  • “I can’t believe they do it every year during the Super Bowl. It makes no sense.” — Big Cat (52:45)
• Hosts riff on the likelihood of Giannis being traded, with wild hypotheticals on destinations.

6. Who’s Back of the Week & Alcatraz Deep Dive

40:12–49:30, 60:01–64:39

• “Who’s Back of the Week” careens into a long, comic tangent on Alcatraz facts, San Fran sharks, Shark Week, urban legends, and fun prison trivia.
• “Ride the current.” — PFT, sarcastically encouraging an Alcatraz swim (47:07)
• The group relishes being “lightly researched,” priding themselves on entertainment over specifics.

7. Chris Berman Interview

67:01–141:01
A PMT annual Super Bowl tradition

Highlights:

• Berman dishes on his career, longevity at ESPN, and the insane journey as the network hosts the Super Bowl for the first time in 2027.
• Hilarious reveal: he once slept on the ESPN executive lounge couch after a snowstorm, still buzzing from primetime football (68:46).
• Berman talks about his interview with Sam Darnold—his genuine, easy-going confidence:
  • “There are a lot of people in New York rooting for you... They figured out you’re not the problem.” (71:40)
• Berman offers his Swami pick: Seahawks 26, Patriots 17/19 (“I made the spread 5...not that I’m an odds maker...” 91:44)
• Touches on:
  • The Patriots-Seahawks Super Bowl as a dynasty-altering moment—for both teams (101:11+)
  • Comparing it to John Elway’s first Super Bowl win flipping league history (104:12)
  • The “what-ifs” of Scott Norwood/Bills, and slippery alternate NFL timelines (111:07, 112:05)
• Laments the slow death of snow football to an era of domes:
  • “You gotta have it in the stadium sites. No out, no indoor games for the whole playoffs.” — Chris Berman (118:07)
• Acknowledges and celebrates the PMT/ESPN crossover:
  • “There isn’t a week I don’t get stopped in an airport… ‘I love you on Pardon My Take.’ That’s a compliment to what this show has become.” (133:41)

Notable Quotes

• “I present Bill Belichick [to the Hall of Fame]. Sit down. That’s it.” — Berman on Belichick being snubbed (83:26)
• “This is fun. It’s doing me a favor.” — Berman, on doing annual PMT week (133:43)
• “If all else fails, watch your ears… you can always do ‘whoop!’” — Berman, classic signoff (140:26)

8. PMT Book Plug & Show Wrap

10:20, 61:05, throughout

• Multiple enthusiastic plugs for “Pardon My Book”—everyone contributed chapters, with interviews, behind the scenes, and podcast history.
  • “If we are New York Times bestsellers, it makes no sense. Henry Lockwood, a New York Times bestseller. Think about that.” — Big Cat (10:53)

9. Airport, Spyglass, and Internal Lore (PMT-verse)

141:43–155:25

• Crew updates: Max gets booted off his flight due to “weight restrictions” (the story is told in great, ribbing detail); Hank keeps the no-nap streak going.
• Trip highlights: golf at Spyglass, hotel antics, and ongoing jokes about bed, napping responsibilities, and “charging up.”
• PFT nearly gets a hole-in-one on his birthday, which would have been “the best birthday of my life.”
• Gentle ribbing and inside jokes continue, including allusions to Max’s ever-present “high ass crack” and the PMT anti-nap/nap disputes.

10. The Usual Shenanigans: Who’s Back Concludes, Numbers Game, Outro

154:41–end

• Numbers game: No one wins—but the journey’s the point.
• Standard closing: “Happy Birthday to Stephen Che and Shakira!” — PFT
• The crew promises a wild, fun-filled week of Super Bowl coverage.

Recommended Listen Segments (Timestamps)

• Hank’s Super Bowl Week mindset, host bets: 00:45–05:36
• Coaching carousel and ‘Shanahan Tree’: 05:40–10:19, 23:23–23:56
• Chris Berman Interview: 67:01–141:01
• NFL Owner Emails/Epstein (hot topic): 30:01–34:50
• Paternity leave/GM debate: 15:45–23:56
• Alcatraz and crew tangents: 40:12–49:30 and 60:01–64:39

Signature PMT Moments

• Light roast fest—nap vs. no nap, “charging up,” Max’s airport adventure.
• Unfiltered, “mostly” factual hot takes with a loving dose of chaos.
• Endearing Berman-isms, genuine sports history knowledge, and sincere PMT x Berman rapport.
• Super Bowl agony and anticipation distilled into the weird week between games.

Final Quote

“There isn’t a week I don’t get stopped in an airport… ‘I love you on Pardon My Take.’ That’s a compliment to what this show has become.”
— Chris Berman (133:43)

For listeners: This episode is rich in football lore, sports media nostalgia, and friends roasting friends. Skip the ads and book plugs unless you want in-jokes—don’t miss the Chris Berman hour or the ongoing lore of airport/nap logistics that define the PMT universe.