PTI Podcast Summary: "Did Dante Moore Make the RIGHT Decision?!"

Episode Date: January 14, 2026
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Special Guest: Steve Young

Episode Overview

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon banter over the day’s hottest sports debates, with a primary focus on the quarterback carousel in both NFL and college football. They cover Mike Tomlin’s exit from the Steelers, the attractiveness of the open Pittsburgh job, Dante Moore’s decision to stay at Oregon, and Ty Simpson’s leap to the NFL. Later, Steve Young joins for "Five Good Minutes" on ball security, playing in bad weather, and the 49ers’ injuries. The show also digs into fan-player dynamics in Milwaukee after Giannis Antetokounmpo booed the crowd.

1. NFL Coaching Carousel: Is the Pittsburgh Steelers Job Most Attractive?

Segment Start: [00:58]

• Main Question: With nine NFL head coaching vacancies, is the Steelers’ job the most desirable?
• Wilbon’s Take:
  • No, he prefers Atlanta. Atlanta has talented young players (Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, Drake London) and a winnable division.
  • Ownership matters: "Working for the Rooneys is a pretty good way to go." ([01:55] Wilbon)
• Kornheiser’s Take:
  • Decision is “quarterback dependent.”
  • Steelers lack a franchise QB since Ben Roethlisberger: "Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Mitch Trubisky...If they made the playoffs, they went out immediately.” ([02:36] Kornheiser)
  • Suggests Atlanta (especially if they get Kirk Cousins), Tennessee (if Cam Ward signs), and Baltimore (Lamar Jackson) have higher upside.
• Wilbon Doubts the Raiders: "The Raiders...are broken and I got to see a whole lot more from [them]." ([03:42] Wilbon)
• Steelers’ Downside:
  • Kornheiser: "They have no offense. 175 yards...That’s a rebuild, Mike." ([03:46])
  • Wilbon notes NFL rebuilds can be quick, but Steelers’ offense needs a major overhaul.

2. College Quarterbacks & NIL Decisions: Dante Moore and Ty Simpson

Segment Start: [04:12]

• Topic:
  • Dante Moore stays at Oregon; Alabama’s Ty Simpson heads to the NFL despite large NIL offers.
• Economic Calculus:
  • Kornheiser: "Both decisions seem...economically based." ([04:40])
  • Ty Simpson’s NFL bet: Even as 32nd pick, $16m contract vs. reported $6.5–8m in college NIL deals.
  • Moore’s Move: After bad game vs. Indiana, stays at Oregon to rebuild draft stock and prepare for a title run.
    • Kornheiser: "He’s going to go back and prove himself so that he can get more money down the road." ([05:14])
• Wilbon on NIL Safety Net:
  • “These decisions are no longer perilous because there’s some money...Even if...injury [or] underperformance...there’s money there and there’s opportunity to...get better.” ([05:35])
• Kornheiser on NFL Potential for QBs:
  • “There is more money in the pros if you’re a starter...The amount of money they have made...dwarfs whatever you could get in college.” ([06:21])
• Both Hosts Agree:
  • Both Moore and Simpson’s choices make sense for their situations. “I think both these kids made the right choice for them.” ([06:50] Kornheiser)

3. Giannis vs. Milwaukee: Boo-ing Fans, Boo-ing Back

Segment Start: [06:50]

• Situation:
  • Milwaukee fans booed Giannis and the Bucks during a big loss; Giannis responded by sitting on the court and giving two thumbs down.
• Wilbon’s Take:
  • “Giannis is a very...likable guy. This makes me love him, that he booed back.” ([07:21])
  • Predicts Giannis could leave: “If I’m Giannis...I don’t think he’s going to be there that long anymore.” ([07:46])
• Kornheiser’s Fatigue:
  • “I am the one person in this show who is apparently getting tired of Giannis Antetokounmpo and all the drama surrounding whether he’s gonna stay or whether he’s gonna go.” ([08:11])
  • But, defends Giannis: “I think it’s wrong to boo Antetokounmpo. I do too. He is an NBA champion.” ([08:23])
  • Notable Giannis Quote: "I don’t think anybody has the right to tell me how I should act on the basketball court or after I’ve been here 13 years." ([08:43] Paraphrased by Kornheiser)
• Team Underperformance:
  • Kornheiser: "They’ve been a very disappointing team...They got rid of two coaches and [Giannis] had a part in that." ([09:36])
• Trade Speculation:
  • Wilbon: Still 80% confident Giannis will be traded before the deadline ("How about 80%?" – [10:18])

4. Five Good Minutes With Steve Young (NFL Playoff QBs)

Segment Start: [12:23] Guests: Steve Young

a) Ball Security — C.J. Stroud’s Five Fumbles

[12:42] Kornheiser: "What did you do...to keep the ball secure?"

• Steve Young:
  • Ball security can be taught (unlike accuracy): drilling two hands on the ball, pocket awareness.
  • “The more dynamic the game is...the more likely you’re going to have the ball on the ground. CJ’s got two problems: he’s dynamic...and he’s big enough to stiff arm linemen [like Ben Roethlisberger], but that exposes the ball.” ([13:19])

b) Playing in Cold & Wind: Is Stafford Serious?

[14:05] Wilbon: "Does any quarterback love the wind and the cold?"

• Steve Young:
  • "The cold? Nobody. If you’re down under 10 degrees, no one’s going to be happy...But the wind and the rain, you can...be neutral about, it’s fine."
  • Technique matters more than preference: “The most accurate passers generally are great in wind and in rain.” ([14:32])

c) Patriots Facing Texans’ Fierce Pass Rush

[15:21] Wilbon: "How would you approach that challenge?"

• Steve Young:
  • Move the QB outside, change “rally points,” avoid sitting duck status.
  • “This defensive line...doesn’t have one star, it’s got four stars. They come relentlessly at you...run the football.”
  • On Houston D: “They’re integrated...it’s like a symbiotic kind of feel...like avatars, they connected and you couldn’t beat them.” ([16:52])

d) Impact of Losing George Kittle (49ers)

[17:30] Kornheiser: "What’s the impact for Brock Purdy of losing Kittle?"

• Steve Young:
  • Macro: Kittle is a face of the franchise, leadership, locker room presence.
  • Micro: "As a quarterback, there’s nothing greater...than an all-pro tight end. The proximity of all the plays are nearer to you...missing George is a problem."
  • 49ers’ resilience: “It feels like...losing players is now a feature—how do we respond?” ([18:30])

5. Quick Hits and Notable Segments

DeAndre Swift’s Emergence

[21:06]

• Kornheiser: Swift’s stats for the Bears, growing into key rusher after low expectations.
• Wilbon: “Either first or second in the NFL in rushing. Yay Mr. Swift.” ([21:45])

NFL Redshirt Rule Change

[24:26]

• Wilbon: New rule lets players appear in 9 games and still redshirt.
• Kornheiser: “That’s ridiculous...That is completely ridiculous.” ([24:34])

Golf — LIV Tour Additions

• Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Cam Smith join LIV. Wilbon thinks it’s a big deal for PGA, Kornheiser: “Not as much as you do.” ([24:50])

6. Noteworthy Quotes & Moments

• On NIL and College Decisions:
  • Wilbon: “Even if there’s injury, even if there’s underperformance...there’s money there and there’s opportunity to, as Moore says, get better.” ([05:59])
• On Booing Giannis:
  • Wilbon: “You want to boo Giannis, tell me exactly how many championships, how many banners are hanging in Milwaukee? 2. 1 with Kareem and one with him.” ([09:32])
• On 49ers’ Injuries:
  • Steve Young: “It feels like...losing players is now a feature—how do we respond?” ([18:30])

7. Timestamps for Highlighted Segments

• [00:58] – NFL coaching vacancies/Pittsburgh debate
• [04:12] – Dante Moore/Ty Simpson decisions and NIL analysis
• [06:50] – Giannis and Milwaukee crowd incident
• [12:23] – "Five Good Minutes" with Steve Young
• [21:06] – DeAndre Swift’s impact on the Bears
• [24:26] – Redshirt rule criticisms and LIV Tour discussion

8. Closing Thoughts

The episode was a wide-ranging and spirited debate, filled with humor, candid opinions, and deep dives into the economic realities now facing college athletes, the challenges of NFL quarterbacking, and the human drama of sports cities and stars. Tony and Mike’s chemistry and Steve Young’s quarterback insights make the show rich even for non-listeners.