What’s Next for the Steelers After Mike Tomlin Steps Down?

Summary

PTI Podcast Summary

Episode: What’s Next for the Steelers After Mike Tomlin Steps Down?
Date: January 13, 2026
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon
Guest: Jeff Saturday

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Episode Overview

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon tackle the headline news of Mike Tomlin stepping down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. They discuss his legacy, speculate on his future, and explore what's next for the Steelers. The episode also touches on NFL playoff reactions, the questionable future of veteran quarterbacks, NBA officiating controversies, and insights from guest analyst Jeff Saturday.

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Main Topics and Key Points

1. Mike Tomlin Steps Down as Steelers Head Coach

(Segment begins: 00:55)

• Legacy of Tomlin:
  Tomlin leaves after 19 seasons, having never recorded a losing season but losing seven straight playoff games and not winning in the postseason for nine years.
• The Rare Coaching Change:
  Wilbon notes the rarity of Steelers head coaching changes: “[They] will do what they haven’t had to do very often in their history, which is go and select a coach…Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, you know, it doesn’t happen very often.” (01:39, Mike Wilbon)
• The TV vs. Coaching Debate:
  Wilbon advocates for Tomlin in broadcasting:

  “Mike Tomlin can reset television as a form of entertainment, football as a form of entertainment on television in a way that no one has since John Madden.” (02:05, Mike Wilbon)

• Speculation on Coaching Future:
  Tony interjects that Tomlin’s age (53) makes a return to coaching likely, but acknowledges uncertainty:

  “I don’t know if he wants to coach again... TV is fine to mention. I don’t know if he wants to do television. Nobody really knows what he wants to do.” (03:17, Tony Kornheiser)

• Was He Pushed or Did He Jump?:
  Tony believes the decision was mutual and respectful with Steelers ownership.
• Hall of Fame Credentials:

  “He’s a great coach. I’m confident he’s a Hall of Fame coach. But…it is undeniably true that the playoffs have been terrible for him lately.” (04:44, Tony Kornheiser)

• Stress of Modern NFL:
  Wilbon points out, “19 years of that kind of stress in today’s NFL...That’s a long time.” (04:51, Mike Wilbon)
  The two discuss the rarity of long coaching tenures, referencing Halas, Madden, Belichick, and Reid.

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2. Steelers’ Playoff Loss to the Texans & Aaron Rodgers’ Future

(Segment begins: 05:43)

• Houston’s Defensive Dominance:
  The Texans beat the Steelers 30-6 despite three turnovers.

  “Houston had three turnovers, an interception and two fumbles by C.J. Stroud, and still the Steelers couldn’t score a touchdown.” (05:44, Mike Wilbon)

• Steelers’ Offensive Struggles:
  Tony details the ongoing quarterback issues:

  “They’ve tried Kenny Pickett and…Mason Rudolph…Justin Fields…Russell Wilson and now they’re trying Aaron Rodgers. And Aaron Rodgers last night...threw the ball 33 times for a total of 146 yards. That’s just not enough.” (06:24, Tony Kornheiser)

• Rodgers’ Legacy and Decline:

  “It’s no indictment of Aaron Rodgers. Greatness doesn’t need to be questioned...But...looked like an old Muhammad Ali climbing into the ring against, like, Trevor Burbick...” (07:25, Mike Wilbon)

• Texans’ Defense vs. Offensive Limitations:
  Wilbon praises Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter:

  “They put it on you. And Pittsburgh had no answer for them…” (07:52, Mike Wilbon)

• Playoff Future Thoughts:
  Houston is seen as dangerous on defense, but their offensive ceiling is questioned.

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3. NFL Coaching Turnover & Coaching Legacies

(Segment begins: 08:33)

• Tomlin and Harbaugh Out:
  Discussing the monumental shift if both Tomlin and John Harbaugh depart the AFC North:

  “If someone suggested…both Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh would be out at the end of the year...You would have said what?” “I would have said, no way.” (08:33, Tony Kornheiser & Mike Wilbon)

• Coaching Tenure Comparisons:
  Madden, Belichick, Andy Reid discussed as long-tenured but the rarity of Tomlin's run is reinforced.

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4. NBA: Joe Mazzulla’s “Illegal Screen” Protest

(Segment begins: 09:07)

• Press Conference Antics:
  Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla repeats “illegal screen” in answer to every question, referencing a missed call:
  Transcript Example:

  Reporter: “Illegal screen.”
  Mazzulla: “Illegal screen.”

• Wilbon’s Disapproval:

  “If Joe Mazzulla doesn't have the stones to go after the officials, go after him in full sentences…This had an agenda. This just irritates me.” (10:09, Mike Wilbon)

• Tony’s Take:

  “After a while, when you say it 10 times, it sounds like you’re doing a Saturday Night Live skit... Everybody’s going to be past this by Friday.” (10:59, Tony Kornheiser)

• NBA Officiating Trends:
  Tony adds players get away with plenty, “the game is played so fast and the players are so athletically gifted that they pretty much just let him play.”
• The NBA Apology:
  The league confirms it missed the illegal screen; Wilbon mocks the idea that it’s the “first illegal screen in the damn history of professional basketball.” (11:54, Mike Wilbon)

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5. Interview: Jeff Saturday on Tomlin, the Eagles, and NFL Playoffs

(Segment begins: 14:09)

a) On Tomlin Stepping Down

• Jeff’s Admiration:

  “Mike Tomlin is a Hall of Fame [coach] and I could not respect Coach probably more than I respect him...the way that he’s carried himself...He’s just that kind of guy...I hope he goes back and does it somewhere else.” (14:26, Jeff Saturday)

b) On Eagles Firing OC Kevin Petullo

• What Went Wrong:

  “They never found consistency and they never found their identity...midway through the year, remember, it was all the A.J. Brown, and I needed more touches…They just never found their flow.” (15:51, Jeff Saturday)

• Petullo as Scapegoat:

  “There’s got to be a scapegoat. Petullo takes that rap this year and they’re going to move on...and be back right in the fray of the Super Bowl next year.” (16:30, Jeff Saturday)

c) On the “Tush Push” Play (Jacksonville vs. Buffalo)

• Jeff’s Take:

  “I freaking love it, baby. Pick them up and tote that dude...No one could do it as well as Philly. Now all of a sudden Buffalo does it...that’s physicality at its best. It’s pretty much what football was based on, Mike.” (17:33, Jeff Saturday)

d) Most Impressive Wild Card Winner

• Jeff’s Choice:

  “The Bills going against one of the hottest teams in Jacksonville and going down to Jacksonville and finding a way to win…It was an electric win.” (18:33, Jeff Saturday)

• Josh Allen’s Heroics:

  “Again, everybody talks about Josh Allen’s best opportunity to win a Super Bowl because certain people aren’t in it. His team ain’t as good as they were either. And so he's having to do more with less. And he's doing it.” (19:06, Jeff Saturday)

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6. Rapid Fire: News & Sports Reactions

(Segment begins: 21:03 & 23:43)

• Bob Baffert’s Return to Horse Racing
• Anniversary of Dolphins’ Back-to-Back Super Bowls
• Missed NHL Call in Detroit vs. Carolina
• NFL Coordinator Firings & Coaching Interviews
• PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program Excludes Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed:

  “Phil’s 55 years old. DJ hasn’t won much lately, and nobody actually likes Patrick Reed.” (24:26, Tony Kornheiser)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Hair Transplant Joke
  “You fly on Turkish hairlines, I think.” (00:51, Tony Kornheiser)
• Wilbon on Tomlin’s Next Move:
  “He's going to make more than $20 million no matter what he does, without the stress. I don't see him coaching next year.” (02:36, Mike Wilbon)
• Tony on Pittsburgh’s Offensive Issues:
  “...they do not have a quarterback.” (06:18, Tony Kornheiser)
• Wilbon on NFL Coach Burnout:
  “This isn't George Halas's NFL...George Halas, by the way, broke his 40 years of coaching up into four groups of 10 years. He didn’t even try to go 19.” (04:51, Mike Wilbon)
• Joe Mazzulla’s Press Conference Stunt:
  Multiple repetitions of “illegal screen” (09:30 – 09:59)
• Jeff Saturday on Tush Push:
  “Pick them up and tote that dude. Do it. Run over. Dominate the humans in front of you.” (17:33, Jeff Saturday)

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Key Timestamps

| Topic | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Mike Tomlin Steps Down & Steelers Legacies | 00:55–05:43 | | Steelers vs. Texans Playoff Recap & Rodgers’ Performance | 05:43–08:33 | | NFL Coaches, Tenure, and Turnover Discussion | 08:33–09:07 | | NBA – Joe Mazzulla’s Press Conference Protest | 09:07–12:01 | | Interview with Jeff Saturday (on Tomlin, Eagles, Tush Push) | 14:09–19:33 | | Happy Time / Rapid Fire Sports News | 21:03–24:39 |

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Summary Takeaways

• Mike Tomlin’s exit marks a seismic change for the Steelers and the AFC North.
• Wilbon predicts a TV future for Tomlin; Tony remains unsure, but both agree on his Hall of Fame credentials.
• Steelers offense and quarterback direction are major concerns following their heavy playoff defeat.
• The NFL’s ever-increasing coaching turnover is highlighted, with comparisons to coaching greats.
• NBA officiating and coach protests are lampooned after Joe Mazzulla’s “illegal screen” routine.
• Jeff Saturday is effusive in his praise for Tomlin and bullish on the physical “tush push” play.
• The episode mixes football, basketball, and rapid-fire sports news, maintaining PTI’s brisk, bantering tone throughout.

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For full context, listeners should explore the drama and wit that defines Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon’s take on sports’ biggest news and controversies.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Mike Wilbon]

Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. I'm told it's make youe Dream Come True day. Tony, do you have a dream you'd like to come true?

[Tony Kornheiser]

I'm Tony Kornheiser. I do, but it involves a flight to Turkey and a hair transplant surgeon. I'm having trouble vetting, so I don't see it coming true.

[Mike Wilbon]

I don't Turkey. You can get hair. Yeah, you can get hair a lot closer than Turkey.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. But you know, you fly on Turkish hairlines. I think.

[Mike Wilbon]

Very nice.

[Tony Kornheiser]

I've done it because you see all these guys coming back in the back of their heads have little dots where they've apparently inserted hair. You know, that might be fun. Or maybe not. Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, the Texans defense dominates. Joe Mazzulla reiterates and Jeff Saturday conversates for five good minutes. But we begin today with Mike Tomlin stepping down as head coach of the Steelers following last night's playoff loss to the Texans. Tomlin has led the team for 19 years without a losing season, but the super bowl winner has dropped his last seven playoff games and the team hasn't won in the postseason in nine years. Wilbaugh Tomlin is just 53. Where do you see him and the Steelers going from here?

[Mike Wilbon]

I don't see him going with the Steelers anywhere. Since he has stepped down, the Steelers will go and do what they haven't had to do very often in their history, which is go and select a coach. You know, I mean, Chuck Noel, Bill Cower, you know, it doesn't happen very often. So they'll do that. I'm sure they've had their eyes on a string of a short string of candidates for weeks. Because Tony, going back to when there were the boos, when Mike Tomlin was booed and people suggested fans in Pittsburgh need to be fired, I remember thinking then, Mike Tomlin needs this. Really? He needs this. I know he makes a lot of money. He's making whatever in the teens of millions of dollars. Somewhere between 13, $16 million. He can make more than that in TV. That's where I expect him to go. I told you weeks ago, Mike Tomlin can reset television as a form of entertainment, football as a form of entertainment on television in a way that no one has since John Madden. And that may be new ways we don't know about. It may be one of the existing ways with an existing network or platform. I don't know. I. I'm not a television executive. But Mike Tomlin, who you have loved to hear talk and talk to for 20 years, you know, Mike Tomlin would be great at that. Why does he need coaching? It's been forever. He's going to make more than $20 million no matter what he does, without the stress. I don't see him coaching next year. I don't.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Okay, so let me take a few things at a time. There was a very interesting name being mentioned on the Internet as the next coach of the Steelers, and that's Kurt Signetti. Kurt Signetti would be very interesting. I think he's from that area, so I just wanted to throw that one out there. It's somebody else's idea. Look, last night after that game, it would have been fair to say in any discussion, did we just see the last of Aaron Rodgers and we just see the last of Mike Tomlin. In Aaron Rodgers case, he looked old, he looked sort of creaky. And he's got physical demands that at a certain point he can't do anymore. Mike Tomlin's only 53 years old. A lot of guys coaching in leagues, league older than him. Sean Payton's older than Mike Tomlin, for example. I don't know if he wants to coach again. John Harbaugh wants to coach again. Wants to coach right away. Maybe Mike Tomlin does as well. If Atlanta looks good for John Harbaugh, looks just as good for Mike Tomlin. So one of the things that we don't know, TV is fine to mention. I don't know if he wants to do television. Nobody really knows what he wants to do. I think the questions that are out there are essentially, well, everybody wonders, did he jump or was he pushed? That's not what the Rooneys do. The Rooneys don't do that as a rule. I always thought that if he was going to leave, that would be one of those things that's a cliche, mutually agreed upon. But I believe the respect was such between Tomlin and the Rooneys that it would have been mutually agreed upon. You know, the bell rang. I'm just gonna say that I always thought he was a great coach. I'M confident he's a Hall of Fame coach. But it is true. And I would never have joined that group chanting fire. Tom.

[Mike Wilbon]

No, that's stupid.

[Tony Kornheiser]

But it is undeniably true that the playoffs have been terrible for him lately.

[Mike Wilbon]

Terrible. Even if they hadn't been that long is enough. 19 years of that kind of stress in today's NFL. This isn't George Halas's NFL. And George Halas, by the way, broke his 40 years of coaching up into four groups of 10 years. He didn't even try to go 19. That's a long time.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You're sitting in the same seat for 25 years. I took what's long to one is not long belong to somebody else. I mean, I. I do expect him to coach again. I think that's his blood.

[Mike Wilbon]

You expected Coward to coach again too? And I ran into Bill Coward down the street from this studio one day and he said, do me a favor, tell Tony I'm never coming back.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Tony. Okay, but others do.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm just saying.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Others do come back.

[Mike Wilbon]

Just saying. You missed that break. I took that four year break. Got me through the next, you know, four and a half. You don't remember that?

[Tony Kornheiser]

No. You're 25. 25.

[Mike Wilbon]

We move now, same chair, to last night's final wild card game. That 30 to 6 drubbing of the Steelers by visiting Houston. This wasn't much of a game. Houston had three turnovers, an interception and two fumbles by C.J. strout, and still the Steelers couldn't score a touchdown. Aaron Rodgers had two turnovers that gave Houston 14, including possibly ending his career on a pick six. Tom, what did you make of what you saw?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Oh, I believe I had that right. I believe I said to you that Houston was going to win that game and they were going to win the game comfortably. Because the Pittsburgh Steelers really don't have much of an offense. And they haven't had much of an offense since Ben Roethlisberg. No, I mean they really haven't. They don't have a quarterback. They tried Kenny Pickett and they tried Mason Rudolph and they tried Justin Fields and they tried Russell Wilson and now they're trying Aaron Rodgers. And Aaron Rodgers. Last night, Aaron Rodgers, if I have this right, threw the ball 33 times for a total of 146 yards. That's just not enough. You know, he was sacked four times, intercepted once, fumbled once. The entire Steelers offense had 175 yards. You can't win with that. Houston has a very good defense. We are aware of that they're very solid team. They have won 10 games in a row. And C.J. stroud did basically nothing less. I didn't need him. They didn't need him because they were that dominant. So, I mean, I look at this, where do they go next? They go to New England, I believe. I think that's a winnable game for them. But there's Drake May is a lot better running with the ball than Aaron Rodgers is.

[Mike Wilbon]

Well, he's a lot better than a lot of things. Look at Aaron Rodgers is going to wear a gold jacket in five years unless he decides to play some more. He's been one of the greats to ever do this, but time's up. It's okay. It's okay. It's no indictment of Aaron Rodgers. Greatness doesn't need to be questioned. Then you can't take it back. He won a Super Bowl. I'm surprised the packers didn't get to more of them while he was playing. But, but, but that. You looked at that last night, Tone, and that was one of those deals where it looked like an old Muhammad Ali climbing into the ring against, like, Trevor Burbick and he was going to get a beat down and that's that. All right, so that's what we saw. And what was I going to mention? I was going to mention Will Anderson and Daniel Hunter. My God, they put it on you. And Pittsburgh had no answer for them. They weren't going to have an answer for them. And the question is, will the Patriots in an offensive line, which is sort of vulnerable, have an answer for them? Houston, the Houston Texans, I don't know if they have enough offense to go much further, but they got enough defense.

[Tony Kornheiser]

To hurt you at the beginning of the year. If someone suggested to you that in the same division, both Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh would be out at the end of the year. They had been in that division for nearly 20 years. If both were out, you would have said what? I would have said, no way.

[Mike Wilbon]

You know, Tony, I would have said no way. But then you think about the 18 and 19 years, respectively. I'm not kidding about that. This NFL, this is not. I mean, John Madden only coached, what, 11 years, 10 years, 18 and 19 is a long, long time.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Andy Reid's out there a long time. Bill Belichick was there a long time. Let's move to the NBA. In a soundbite from Boston Celtics coach Joe Missoula last night, Missoula was apparently miffed that the officials did not call an illegal screen On Indiana's Pascal Siakam just before the Pacers winning basket by Siakam after the game, Missoula had this interesting monologue.

[Joe Mazzulla]

Joe, gave yourself the chance to win, I guess. Take us through the last couple sessions.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Illegal screen.

[Joe Mazzulla]

What do you say?

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Illegal screen.

[Joe Mazzulla]

Illegal screen.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Illegal screen.

[Joe Mazzulla]

What fell apart to get you guys behind? And then how were you able to get by?

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Legal screen.

[Joe Mazzulla]

What do you want people to know?

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Illegal screen.

[Joe Mazzulla]

Would you like.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Illegal screen.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Illegal screen. Wilbon, are you okay with how Joel Missoula handled the post game press conference?

[Mike Wilbon]

I told our producers this this afternoon when I came in and we were talking about this. Cuz it's a story. There's no question about it. I don't know that I would have dignified this with even showing the clip. Because if Joe Mazzullo doesn't have the stones to go after the officials, go after him in full sentences. Cuz if your player, Jaylen Brown, who I have the ultimate respect for, I love Jaylen Brown. He did it. He's a player. He did it. The coach can't do it. Illegal scream. Really? You're not Rasheed Wallace. It wasn't funny. It had an agenda. Rasheed did not have an agenda. This had an agenda. This just irritates me and it seems.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Soft just to fill in the blanks for people. Rasheed Wallace is famous for saying, both teams play hard. Both teams.

[Mike Wilbon]

Makes you smile even now, doesn't it?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Yeah. Missoula fixated on illegal screen. I understand that after a while, when you say it 10 times, it sounds like you're doing a Saturday Night Live skit. I imagine it's an 82 game season. Everybody's going to be past this by Friday. But I can see Missoula today talking to people and saying illegal screen. And he will keep doing it until Brad Stevens pulls him aside and says, okay, let it go. I will say this, Mike, in the games that I watch, and this is an ongoing thing, there's a lot of things that are not called. Players travel, players charge, players bump. Nobody draws an offensive foul anymore. Nothing is called. And I think it's because the referees look at these players. The game is played so fast and the players are so athletically gifted that they pretty much just let him play. But I think he ought to lean into it. Missoula ought to get a sweater made that says illegal.

[Mike Wilbon]

By the way, the league. The league has absolved him by saying it was an illegal screen.

[Tony Kornheiser]

That's right.

[Mike Wilbon]

So they're saying so his players have never set an illegal screen. This is the first illegal screen in the damn history of professional basketball.

[Tony Kornheiser]

No, but he should try to get a patent on it like Pat Riley did with 3 Pete. Let's take a break. Coming up, we will get back into Mike Tomlin's decision to step down with.

[Mike Wilbon]

Jeff Saturday and we'll ask him about the Eagles. Big change at OC Quick Break Tailgates.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

We've got some football questions for our great friend ESPN NFL analyst Jeff Saturday. We will start with the news of the day. You played against Mike Tomlin Steelers. You coached against Mike Tomlin Steelers. What are your thoughts on his decision to step down?

[Jeff Saturday]

Oh, first, first of all, Mike Tomlin is a Hall of Fame and I could not respect Coach probably more than I respect him the way that he's carried himself the way that he's. You know, he's really been the face, honestly, of the Steelers since. Since, you know, we got good in Indianapolis. I mean, you look at him and what he was and the battles that we all had, the defenses that he built with Roethlisberger and the. And the. And the Triple Bs or whatever, it was like. Like you watched all these different phases and all the different comments he makes to the press. Everything he said, you hung on every word. He's just that kind of guy. He's got that kind of personality, and I'm going to miss seeing him in that way. I think he's a. He's a heck of a head coach. I hope he goes back and does it somewhere else. I'm not sure if that'll be this year or in the future, but I know this. Everybody who lined up under Mike T. Appreciated him.

[Tony Kornheiser]

They.

[Jeff Saturday]

They love the way he did it, the way he went about his business. And we're going to miss him. We're going to miss him being a Steelers head coach, but just in the NFL as a whole, because he's that good of one.

[Mike Wilbon]

In slightly less urgent news, Jeff, as you know, the Eagles today dumped offensive coordinator Kevin Petullo.

[Tony Kornheiser]

What?

[Mike Wilbon]

Slightly. Yeah, yeah. What primarily looked wrong with the Eagles offense to you? And is it. I mean, they change offensive coordinators, like, every week, every year. How fixable is what is wrong with them?

[Jeff Saturday]

Well, it's very fixable. They. They. They are loaded with talent, so they got two really good receivers. They got a great tight end. They got, you know, great back. They got a quarterback who's won championships and is. Has played at elite levels. And so they got a great defense or an elite defense. So all the pieces and parts are there. I think, from the Petullo side of it, is they never found consistency and they never found their identity. And I think where. I would say, you know, midway through the year, remember, it was all the A.J. brown, and I needed more touches and I. I need to be a larger part, and they tried to make that happen. He was the most targeted receiver for, like, three games, but they lost all three games. They went back. They just never really found their flow. And then, I'll be honest, this last game, this is not really on Petullo. Like, I mean, I get it. Like, was it. Was it a thing of beauty? Was a masterpiece? No, but they got the ball, you know, and they got guys dropping the ball. Three or four different drops on third down, they got the Devonte Smith drop on on the 10 yard line. You got first and 10 from the 20 with a minute 28. The Eagles usually win those games and unfortunately they did not. And so I think ultimately there's got to be a scapegoat. Patula took takes that rap this year and they're going to move on to, to somebody else and be back right in the. Right in the fray of the super bowl next year.

[Mike Wilbon]

During the Jacksonville Buffalo game when Josh Allen is involved in about a 10 yard tush push. Yeah, you were the person I immediately thought of. What does Saturday think about this? And now we have the chance to ask you because I know Greeny lost his mind. I'm trying to dismiss that. Jeff, is this good? Is this not good for football? What were your thoughts?

[Jeff Saturday]

I freaking love it, baby. Pick them up and tote that dude. Do it. Run over. Dominate the humans in front of you. Run over them. I absolutely love it. Listen, I, you, I can't stand the whole we hate the tush push. We're this. It drives me nuts. No one could do it as well as Philly. Now all of a sudden Buffalo does it. They pick their guy up, a 240 plus pound quarterback who's a massive human being with a cape on and runs him all the way. I love it.

[Mike Wilbon]

I'm off.

[Jeff Saturday]

I'm here for it until it can be stopped. I love it. I'm all about it. That's physicality at its best. It's pretty much what football was based on, Mike. Everybody thinks it was a seven on seven. Now they want to throw it all over the yard. When you could take that dude in front of you and drive him 8 yards and double on his back. Good on you, bro. That's how football should be played.

[Mike Wilbon]

There we have it. There we have it.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We will get you out of here on this. It's a survey question of sorts. Which of the wild card winners? I guess there are six of them. Which of the wild card winners impressed you the most?

[Jeff Saturday]

Oh, the Bills going against one of the hottest teams in Jacksonville and going down to Jacksonville and finding a way to win. Right. I mean, I think that is. I mean it was an electric win. Josh Allen again, four different times. I think the dude's going to be out of the game. I mean, he was getting. He's taking shots and concussion protocol, all of it, man. And you just, they keep fighting through it. It just shows you the toughness of the team. I absolutely love that game. And in Jacksonville, what Liam Cohen's done with them and tip of the cap. They, they were, they were playing fantastic ball. For them to go down there and get that win, that was special. Again, everybody talks about Josh Allen's best opportunity to win a Super bowl because certain people aren't in it. His team ain't as good as they were either. And so he's having to do more with less. And he's doing it. And those other guys give him credit, man, they responded and they make plays and they made enough plays to find a way to beat Jacksonville. That was my favorite of the week.

[Tony Kornheiser]

All right, thank you, Jeff, as always. Great pleasure to have you.

[Mike Wilbon]

Thank you.

[Jeff Saturday]

Appreciate y' all have a great one.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's take one last break. Still to come, the PGA Tour's new returning member program seems to exclude a few very famous golfers. Is that fair or foul?

[Mike Wilbon]

And Jim Harbaugh makes a change to the Charger juice.

[Tony Kornheiser]

You know, we are all universally impressed with what Josh Allen did in that game because it was him.

[Mike Wilbon]

It was amazing.

[Tony Kornheiser]

It was him.

[Mike Wilbon]

Amazing performance, no doubt.

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[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy time, people. Happy 73rd birthday. Bob Baffert, the controversial horse trainer, had his suspension lifted by Churchill Downs in 2024 and is saddling horses again in the Kentucky Derby, which he has won six times, most notably with Triple Crown winners American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018. Baffert's six Kentucky Derby wins are the most for any current trainer. Baffert also has eight Preakness winners, the most all time and three Belmont winners for a total of 17 Triple Crown race wins. More trophies than he can probably fit on his mantelpiece. D. Wayne Lucas had 15 such wins. Baffert and Lucas were the biggest names in American training over the last 40 years.

[Mike Wilbon]

My question is, as we come upon horsey season is are your horsies gonna run or they're gonna sit out back to backs and eliminate even the possibility of a Triple Crown? They're gonna do that.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy anniversary Miami Dolphins. On this day 52 years ago, the Dolphins won the super bowl for the second straight year. This one, a 247 win over the Vikings came one year after the Dolphins legendary 170 team, the only unbeaten team in NFL history. Football historians might argue that the 1973 team was actually better than the 1972 team. Despite finishing the season 12 2. The argument is made that the 72 team played a notably soft schedule and the 73 team had to play powerhouses like the Raiders, Steelers and Cowboys and did so with an obvious target on their backs. Wilbon, will you make that argument?

[Mike Wilbon]

I will. I was no historian at 15 years old, but I do remember Tony that that that follow up season thinking wow, this is a much tougher schedule and it's just harder to do. Even if you can't say they're as great because they weren't undefeated, don't you wish we could ask Don Shula, the great Don Shul, the late great Don Shuler to participate in that discussion?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Happy trails to a cross checking call against the Red Wings. With time running out in overtime last night, Detroit's Andrew Kopp knocked down Carolina defenseman Shane Gotsepare from behind, then collected a pass and buried it for the game winner. The Hurricanes were so hot about that non call that two of them including Gotzaspaer got 10 minute misconducts for language they directed at the refs. And while we're talking hockey, shout out to the University of Minnesota's Abby Murphy for her insane assist on Saturday night. Murphy lifted the puck in the air, then knocked it down and threw the defender's legs. Wow. Before pushing it over to a teammate for the goal.

[Mike Wilbon]

One handed. One handed pass but the cross check. Come on now. Man. It's just gutless to not make that call. What? Just cause it's overtime, you swallow the whistle? I don't know. Not a great week for officiating.

[Tony Kornheiser]

Let's go to the big finish. The Charges fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Does that make sense?

[Mike Wilbon]

It all does kind of. It's big blame week in the NFL. You get eliminated or your season's over. Fire somebody. The Cardinals traded third baseman Nolan Arenado to the D backs. That's a big deal, isn't it?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Well, he's a great defensive third baseman, but he's going to be 35. His offense is down a little bit. The Falcons interviewed John harbor yesterday. Do you like that fit?

[Mike Wilbon]

Yes. For anybody who really wants to coach a team loaded with talent, particularly on the offensive side. Yes. The PGA Tour's new returning member program would seem to exclude Phil, Dustin Johnson, and Patrick Reed. Your thoughts?

[Tony Kornheiser]

Phil's 55 years old. DJ hasn't won much lately, and nobody actually likes Patrick Reed. Last one, unbeaten. Number two. Iowa State at Kansas tonight.

[Mike Wilbon]

Who you got at Kansas is the key phrase there. You know who I got.

[Tony Kornheiser]

We're out of time. We'll try to do better the next time. I'm Tony Corn Hunt.

[Mike Wilbon]

And I'm Mike Lobon. Same time tomorrow, knucklehead. Hey, fans.

[Fansville Host]

Welcome back to Fansville's cheers and tears. Okay, so, like, everybody deals with losing, right? To a rival and a last second field goal.

[Mike Wilbon]

Whatever. It's fine.

[Fansville Host]

I'm totally fine. But I cope with losing with an ice cold Dr. Pepper.

[Joe Mazzulla]

Mmm.

[Fansville Host]

Those 23 flavors are, like, so delicious. They totally wash away the pain of your college football team taking a big, fat L. College football. It's a pepper thing.