The Bill Simmons Podcast

Episode: Winning QBs and Football Nerds With Mina Kimes, Plus Robert Redford’s Incredible Career With Brian Koppelman
Date: September 16, 2025
Host: Bill Simmons
Guests: Mina Kimes, Brian Koppelman

Episode Overview

This episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast is a two-parter, blending sharp football talk with a celebration of cinema. First, Bill welcomes NFL analyst Mina Kimes for a deep-dive into the biggest NFL storylines two weeks into the season—quarterback tiers, evolving offensive philosophy, and rule changes. Then, screenwriter Brian Koppelman joins Bill for a heartfelt and discerning look at Robert Redford’s remarkable film career, prompted by Redford’s passing. The episode is packed with keen insights, lively debate, and loving pop culture nostalgia.

Section 1: NFL Deep-Dive With Mina Kimes

1. Week Two NFL Quarterback Storylines

(Segment begins ~04:00)

• Seahawks’ Geno Smith Fluctuations

  • Mina reflects on the inconsistency of Seattle’s QB Geno Smith, joking after a tough outing:

    "It's kind of brave for me to come on, by the way, after a Geno clunker. We had a support group meeting this morning..."
    (Mina Kimes, 04:35)

  • Bill likens Geno’s letdowns to “a child melting down in an airplane” (04:54).

• Chargers’ Defensive Evolution

  • Mina asserts the Chargers “are a well-coached, talented secondary” and sees them as potentially elite.

2. The "12 Personnel" Offensive Trend

(07:00 - 11:30)

• Mina and Bill discuss the rising use of two tight end formations (“12 personnel”), which is at a historic high, and how it’s altering the rhythm and physicality of NFL games.

  • “Offenses have used two tight ends, 12 personnel, 25% of the time, which is the highest ever… This is a historic rate.”
    (Mina Kimes, 07:05)

  • They credit roster trends, improved tight end talent, and defensive adaptation for this strategic shift.

• Tight End Draft Regrets

  • Both ponder why the Bears drafted Loveland over Tyler Warren and gush over Warren’s NFL start:

    “Could a person who's never watched football put on a game and immediately say that's the best player on the field?... Warren just looks like a superstar to me.”
    (Mina, 10:51)

3. New NFL Kickoff Rules – Impact & Overreactions

(15:00 - 19:30)

• Bill marvels at the drastic impact the new kickoff rule (ball starts at the 35 after a touchback) has had:

  • "I think this kickoff thing is nuts. It feels like 52-year-old Belichick would have spent so much time on this… It’s had a dramatic difference.”
    (Bill, 15:14)

• Mina notes:

  “You’re getting way more returns… It’s just five yards, but there’s such a difference. Especially with these kickers who are banging it from 60.”
  (Mina, 16:10)

• Both agree the rule will likely get tweaked back but enjoy the chaos and strategy it’s introduced.

4. The Tom Brady/Fox Booth "Cheating" Debate

(19:10 - 22:44)

• Bill wonders if Tom Brady joining Fox’s booth creates an unfair advantage if/when he rejoins a team; Mina is unbothered:

  • “I don't feel like he's compromising… If anyone should be bothered by it, I suppose it would be the perception of bias in the booth.”
    (Mina, 19:47)

5. Early Drake Maye and Patriots Take

(22:50 - 24:45)

• Bill seeks permission to be excited about Pats rookie QB Drake Maye. Mina is cautiously optimistic, especially after his recent game, but has concerns about the Pats’ defense:

  • “He made some really impressive throws... but I am lower on the Pats than you.” (Mina, 24:17)

Section 2: Winning QB Criteria and NFL Quarterback Tiers

(26:50 - 47:00)

1. Is Mahomes Still the Best Regular-Season QB?

(27:12 - 33:00)

• Bill claims Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have surpassed Patrick Mahomes in regular season value:

  • "Why are we still holding onto this Mahomes thing when it’s three long balls over people’s heads and they’re scoring 21 points a game?"
    (Bill, 26:58)

• Mina, defending Mahomes, says the situation in Kansas City is dire:

  "His circumstances are so much worse… Tyquan Thornton is their number one deep threat…"
  (Mina, 27:50)

• Both agree Mahomes’ supporting cast is arguably the NFL’s weakest among contenders, but Bill pushes back that all-time QBs have overcome worse.

2. Sorting Which QBs Can Actually Win a 2025 Playoff Game

(32:30 - 47:00)

• They draw up a list, debating each name’s candidacy:

  • "Yes" Group: Mahomes, Allen, Lamar, Hurts, Jordan Love, Stafford, Goff, Mayfield, Purdy, Daniels, Herbert, Dak
  • Debate Tier: Herbert (polarizing but both say yes), Dak (yes), Rodgers (no, due to supporting cast/age), Burrow (cross off, injury), Bo Nix (too divisive).
  • Mayfield Appreciation:

    “Not only has he won playoff games… but I feel like they’re going to win. I believe in that dude.”
    (Bill, 34:00)

  • Discussion extends to younger QBs and underdogs (Maye, Kyler, Geno, Caleb Williams—all “no for now”).

• Fun Hypotheticals:

  “How many 2025 QBs in your mind can conceivably win a 2025 playoff game?”
  (Bill, 32:33)

Section 3: Quick-Hits and Listener Favorite Segments

1. NFC West Chaos Check-In

(47:00 - 53:00)

• Bill and Mina agree the division is “completely bunched together” and ripe for weirdness, with Seattle’s odds surprisingly long relative to parity.
  • Mina:

    "If they all played each other... they’d probably all be like 4.3 points or less splitting them.”
    (Mina, 50:15)

2. Football Nerd’s Asian Heritage NFL Tracker

(55:28 - 58:35)

• A delightful segment where Mina reveals Jaden Daniels’ Japanese heritage and celebrates Asian (and AANHPI) representation across the league.

  • “Any quarterback with a QBR of 90 or higher, we'll take anything. You can be 1/24th Korean, and we will claim you if you're performing the way Jayden Daniels does.”
    (Mina, 56:27)

  • Bill suggests this needs to be a real Twitter account.

3. Reality TV/Pop Culture Wind-down

(61:39 - 65:29)

• The pair trade notes on TV recs (“Task” on Amazon, “Alien Earth”) and lament how reality TV has become “too self-aware,” losing its original authenticity.
  • Mina:

    “People started treating it like sports in a way that made it not fun…”
    (Mina, 63:26)

Section 4: Robert Redford’s Legacy With Brian Koppelman

(71:55 - 105:49)

1. Immediate Redford Reaction

(71:55 - 75:49)

• Bill and Brian reminisce about Redford’s unprecedented career: iconic movie star, Oscar-winning director, producer, and founder of Sundance.

  • Brian:

    “He had runs as each thing, that little runs within the thing, each of which would have made him in the running for kind of like the best eight-year chunk…”
    (Brian, 72:47)

• Both cite his massive influence, taste, and self-awareness.

2. On-Screen Mystique and Taste

(75:49 - 80:00)

• Bill outlines the “Redford formula”—movie star mystique, working with top directors, and picking films with iconic endings:

  • “He knew he was a movie star. He wanted to make movies where he seemed like a movie star… There’s something a tiny bit hard to figure out about me. I play it close to the vest. You’re going to have to figure me out.”
    (Bill, 75:49)

• They highlight Redford’s ability to leave audiences on a high note and run through a list of his greatest film endings.

3. Redford’s Producing & Activist Side

(80:15 - 85:00)

• Discusses his early push into directing (“Ordinary People”), founding Sundance, modeling a new era for actors-producers, and activism, paralleling Paul Newman’s career trajectory.

4. Peak Run and Cultural Impact

(98:54 - 101:40)

• Cites his legendary 69-76 run, where Redford starred in five of the 20 top-grossing films in two years and “owned the decade.”

  • “He had this run… he blows up with Butch Cassidy and Downhill Racer, immediately becomes a megastar… it’s about as good as it gets, man.”
    (Bill, 98:54)

5. Redford’s Acting Approach and “Movie Star” Status

(92:47 - 96:07)

• They reflect on why Redford was more often celebrated for being a movie star than as a technical “actor’s actor”:

  • “Redford’s word, much less showy. He didn’t do that, really. He wasn’t big in that way.”
    (Brian, 92:47)

6. Comparing All-Time Careers

• Bill and Brian compare Redford’s full-body-of-work to others: Cruise (longevity, action star), Clint Eastwood (actor-dir longevity), Leo (last of the “mystique” generation), noting Redford’s unique “taste” and legacy for generations of actors and filmmakers.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Geno Smith:

  "You just kind of know it’s going to happen… like a child melting down in an airplane.”
  (Bill, 04:54)

• On Mahomes/Allen/Lamar:

  "Why are we still holding onto this Mahomes thing…? Now it’s Allen and Lamar for MVP."
  (Bill, 29:06)

• On the AFC West race:

  “If they all played each other… I don’t think any of them would have more than a score. They’d probably all be like 4.3 points or less…”
  (Mina, 50:15)

• On Robert Redford:

  "He is the quintessential idea of what a movie star is supposed to feel and look like… and so much had to do with his taste."
  (Brian, 75:45)

• Redford and the value of endings:

  "He really understood the importance of an ending… think about it… Downhill Racer, Butch and Sundance, the Natural, all of them, you just leave the theater feeling something."
  (Bill, 79:40)

Useful Timestamps

• 04:30 – Mina on Geno meltdown and Chargers’ D
• 07:04 – Two-tight end offenses trend
• 15:14 – Bill on the “kickoff thing is nuts”
• 19:47 – Tom Brady booth controversy
• 24:49 – Big QB conversation begins
• 27:12 – Mahomes/Allen/Lamar MVP talk
• 32:33 – “How many QBs can win a playoff game?” exercise
• 50:15 – NFC West parity analysis
• 55:28 – Jaden Daniels & Asian NFL heritage
• 61:39 – TV & Reality show digression
• 71:55 – Redford career retrospective begins
• 98:54 – Redford’s 1969-76 movie run analysis

Tone

Bill and Mina’s rapport is classic: nerdy but never dry, irreverent, peppered with in-jokes and mutual ribbing. Koppelman and Bill are reverential but fun, switching from deeply knowledgeable film appreciation to affectionate old-friend banter. Both halves of the podcast are infused with nostalgia and love for their respective subjects—NFL nerdiness and cinematic history.

Summary Takeaway

A top-tier episode for football and film fans alike, this two-parter showcases what Bill Simmons does best: sparking lively conversations—equal parts smart, heartfelt, and funny—about the games and stories that matter most to sports and pop culture diehards.