The Athletic Football Show – “The Coaching Cycle That Just Won’t Quit”

Date: January 30, 2026
Host: Robert Mays
Co-Hosts: Derrik Klassen, Dave Helman
Special Guests: Joe Buscalia (Bills), Zach Berman (Eagles)

Episode Overview

This episode is devoted entirely to the never-ending NFL coaching carousel. With new head coach and coordinator hires (and surprises) unspooling daily, Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen, and Dave Helman engage in wide-ranging, insightful breakdowns of the most significant moves—covering the logic, surprises, and implications for franchise futures. They welcome Bills reporter Joe Buscalia to break down the unexpected Joe Brady hire in Buffalo and Eagles insider Zach Berman to untangle the perplexing, delayed Eagles offensive coordinator search. The show traverses staff shakeups, coordinator dominoes, and the complex dynamics keeping NFL coaching cycles spinning.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Cleveland Browns Hire Todd Monken as Head Coach

[06:56–14:59]

Initial Reactions

• Dave: “Mainly because… it sounded like it was going to be Nate Shieldhouse… when I heard it was Todd Monken, I was like, well, A, that's not Nate Shieldhouse and B, it's the opposite. Sort of hire in the sense of experience, age, history with the organization, history calling plays… very big veer away” [07:05].
• Robert: Surprised by the Browns’ corporate, somewhat unattractive hiring process (personality tests, essays): “I think they want to fancy themselves as like a Fortune 500 company…not a normal working environment” [07:59].

Why Did Candidates Withdraw?

• Derek: “You're incredibly young … why would you want to attach yourself to a Browns organization… the Browns have a very far way to go… zero answer at quarterback” [09:22].

Jim Schwartz Complication

• Insistence on coordinators keeping the current DC, Jim Schwartz, scared off candidates.
• “What is stopping you from just making Jim Schwartz the head coach?” Robert [10:41].
• Speculation Schwartz may now leave—a considerable loss, and likely to be in demand elsewhere (possibly San Francisco) [14:59].

Monken Outlook

• Robert: “The best case scenario is that he's Bruce Arians… Bruce was 60 when he got that job… That’s it. … Again, I like Todd Monken.” [14:10]
• General consensus: Monken isn’t a flashy or long-term fix, more a stabilizing bridge hire in a tough situation.

Notable Quote

• Robert Mays: “This feels to me like a couple of the coaching hires that the Texans made in the pre-Demeco Ryans era... Todd Monken is potentially going to be like your head coach for the next two years as you rebuild this thing.” [11:17]

2. Ongoing Staff Dominoes: Giants, Broncos, More

[17:13–19:16]

• Open questions about Giants and Broncos coordinator hires after dominoes from the Monken move.
• Giants DC Denard Wilson praised for making Tennessee’s defense competitive despite limited talent—his ability to maximize a suspect back seven bodes well with better Giants personnel [18:02].

3. Ravens Hire Jesse Minter; Building the Staff

[19:49–24:33]

• Robert: Strong endorsement of going with a defensive-minded head coach when you already have a proven, MVP-level QB like Lamar Jackson.
• Derek/Dave: Praised Minter’s track record developing players—growth in pressure packages and player maximization.
• Dave: Noted Mike Mickens as DB coach: “He’s coming from a DB factory… really intriguing and exciting.” [22:02]
• Derek: Focus is on getting offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford—signals move toward a zone-based running scheme, possibly optimizing Derrick Henry’s late-career production.
• OC search names: Declan Doyle, Scotty Montgomery, Cliff Kingsbury, Davis Webb.

4. Steelers Hire Mike McCarthy – “Deeply Uninspiring”

[26:50–31:30]

• Robert: “I used a word immediately after it happened. I stand by it. I think it’s just deeply underwhelming. I think it’s uninspired.” [26:50].
• Dave: Intrigued by potential OC Scott Tolzien, citing Kellen Moore’s endorsement.
• General consensus: McCarthy will raise the floor, but this is a safe, retreat move that won’t likely change the franchise’s cycle of mediocrity.
• “You just fired the guy, the last guy, for doing exactly that.” Derek [28:57].

5. Jets: Sinking Ship?

[33:50–37:31]

• Multiple assistants fired late, leading to speculation about chaos and ownership meddling.
• “This Jets situation is a disaster. Like … Give me one reason why I should have any faith that this New York Jets season is going to be anything less than a flaming wreck.” Robert [33:50].
• Disorganization and misalignment between front office and coaching staff—a warning sign for ongoing Jets dysfunction.

6. Across the League: Recent Notable Coordinator Hires

[37:31–60:12]

Cowboys DC: Christian Parker

• Robert: “He was arguably the most exciting defensive coordinator hire to be made … For the Cowboys, to not go with a name, to not go with someone that had been DC or a head coach, but pick the best new defensive coordinator—I’m impressed.” [39:31]
• Dave: Cowboys process (Brian Schottenheimer leading, hiring young, forward-thinking coaches) is “cutting edge”—a change from their historical MO [41:50].

Titans OC: Brian Dabel

• Derek: Fit for Cam Ward is “getting on base.” Cautions Dabel system has mainly worked with running QBs, which Ward isn’t [43:39].

Bucs OC: Zach Robinson

• Robert: Sees Robinson as capable of course-correcting from Atlanta’s odd 2025 offense. Dave: “An attempt by Todd Bowles to get back to what worked with Liam Cohen.” [47:58]

Chiefs OC: Eric Bieniemy Returns

• Robert: “There’s a pessimistic and an optimistic viewpoint … I think you can do both at the same time—improve personnel and make structural changes to help Mahomes.” [50:15]
• Derek: “I would have in the perfect world wanted to hire something a little bit different … But I think it will be better than with Matt Nagy.” [51:07]

Packers DC: Jonathan Gannon

• Robert: Sees the Gannon–Babich pairing as philosophically intriguing; they might blend Gannon’s simplicity with Babich’s disguised coverages [53:19].

Dolphins OC: Bobby Slowik

• Dave: “Coaching is such a zero sum… Two years ago, we wanted to make this guy a head coach. … Resume says: would give him another shot.” [57:19]

Commanders: David Blough (OC), Durante Jones (DC)

• Prospects for these two hinge on adaptability and learning from recent, successful systems, e.g., Vikings defense.

Deep Dives

Buffalo Bills Name Joe Brady Head Coach (w/ Joe Buscalia)

[66:58–90:01]

• Robert: “Why was Joe Brady the choice at the end of this process for the Bills?” [68:28]
• Joe Buscalia: Emphasizes desire for continuity tied to maximizing Josh Allen’s window; organization comfortable with internal promotion, collaborative style, and player buy-in [68:28].
• Debate over whether this is enough true change — why fire McDermott if the result is mostly continuity? Opted for continuity and a changing of the voice at the top, rather than a system overhaul [71:26].
• Wide Receiver Room Misfire: “If there’s one critique of the way they went about it in 2025, it was almost too much of an overreliance on Keon’s development.” Joe [83:10]
• Defense and Scheme Flexibility: New DC will have near total autonomy; expect staff and player turnover, especially if the scheme shifts from McDermott’s zone-heavy, small-linebacker approaches [86:27].
• Range of Outcomes: “I could see the Bills winning the Super Bowl next year… I could also see them missing the playoffs entirely… all bets are off.” Joe [88:58]

Philadelphia Eagles OC Search: Why so Complicated? (w/ Zach Berman)

[90:04–105:52]

• Robert: “How much should Eagles fans be concerned about the way this search has gone?” [90:12]
• Zach Berman lays out:
  • Philly started by aiming for big names (Mike McDaniel, Brian Dabel)—missed on both, so widened net for ideas and innovation [91:06].
  • Job less attractive for reasons including: demanding market, short leash (“the last two OCs were fired after 11-win seasons”), strong-willed power structure, uncertain blue-chip talent (retirement/contract status of Lane Johnson, possible A.J. Brown trade) [92:41].
• Potential Candidates (as of recording): Sean Mannion (Packers QB coach), Matt Nagy, Jim Bob Cooter, Frank Smith, and possibly a yet unidentified up-and-comer [98:09].
• Jim Bob Cooter, Sean Mannion Intrigue: Both seen as well-suited to adapt current scheme and/or inject new layup-producing concepts.
• Unique Philly Stakes: “You could imagine... the team wins 13 games next year, they look like a monster, or you could see everyone getting fired... the breadth of outcomes… is a unique proposition in the NFL.” Robert [104:08]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is why bad teams stay bad, and the Jets are very much on track to staying bad.” — Robert Mays, on Jets’ cycle of dysfunction [37:31]
• “I like Todd Monken, and I’m actually curious to see what Todd Monken can do.” — Robert Mays, after parsing public skepticism about Monken [13:08]
• “You just fired the last guy for doing exactly that.” — Derek Klassen, on Steelers hiring McCarthy after Tomlin’s steady 9-10-win runs [28:57]
• “Coaching is such a wild zero sum game… Two years ago, we wanted to make [Bobby Slowik] a head coach…” — Dave Helman, on the volatility of coaching reputations [57:19]

Timeline Reference & Timestamps

• [06:56] Browns hire Todd Monken
• [17:13] Giants OC dominoes; Denard Wilson to Giants defense
• [19:49] Ravens hire Jesse Minter, staff construction
• [26:50] Steelers hire Mike McCarthy, staff analysis
• [33:50] Jets fire assistants, turmoil
• [37:31] Cowboys hire Christian Parker as DC; discussion of OC/DC hires across league
• [43:39] Titans hire Brian Dabel as OC
• [47:58] Bucs hire Zach Robinson as OC; Chiefs bring back Bieniemy
• [53:19] Packers hire Jonathan Gannon as DC
• [56:15] Dolphins bring in Bobby Slowik for OC
• [59:24] Commanders coordinator hires
• [66:58] Joe Buscalia on Bills’ Joe Brady hire
• [90:04] Zach Berman on Eagles OC search

Style and Tone

• Rich, conversational, with plenty of banter and inside references.
• Deeply analytical, candid, not afraid to critique.
• Interjections of humor and analogies (“Jim Harbaugh school of fashion”; “Chess on the Titanic”).

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode offers a well-rounded, nuanced look at the frenetic, sometimes bewildering 2026 NFL coaching cycle—balancing insight, transparency, and a healthy skepticism. Expect a blend of quick-hit updates on all coaching moves and thorough, probing analysis of the biggest decisions in Cleveland, Buffalo, Philly, and more. The guests deliver local context missing from national coverage, and Mays and crew don’t mince words critiquing the NFL’s most powerful decision-makers.

Next Up: The crew heads to San Francisco for Super Bowl coverage, promising on-site reporting and more analysis as the coaching dominoes continue to fall.