The BOB & TOM Show Extra: Conversation with Football Great Joe Theismann

Episode Date: February 23, 2026
Main Guest: Joe Theismann
Hosts: Tom Griswold, Bob Kevoian
Format: Comedy, talk, sports
Duration: ~18 minutes
Note: Sponsored segments and intros/outros omitted in summary.

Episode Overview

In this lively "Extra" episode, the BOB & TOM crew welcomes legendary NFL quarterback and broadcaster Joe Theismann for an engaging, opinionated, and lighthearted discussion on current football topics. The conversation jumps between the challenges coaches face, weather’s impact on games, memorable games from Theismann’s career, NFL and college football trends, and—inevitably—a debate about the top food at Super Bowl parties.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Playing Football in Harsh Weather

• Fairness of Outdoor Conditions
  • Tom and Bob debate whether games should be played outdoors in harsh weather, with Tom arguing it’s unfair, and Joe weighing in:
    • Joe Theismann (06:10):
      “The elements are the same for everybody. It's a question of how you handle them. ... The game slows down when the weather gets like that. The game does slow down a bit, and the footing becomes a very, very important part of it.”
  • Joe recalls a game in Tampa under a torrential downpour and a frigid game in Buffalo at minus 5°F, emphasizing that weather can be a major factor in football.
    • Joe Theismann (10:15):
      “It rained so hard that the water was cascading down the steps in the stadium like a waterfall... And then early on in my career, we played The Buffalo Bills ... minus 5 degrees. And you just. There's nowhere to hide from it.”

2. NFL Coaching Carousel and Job Security

• Discussion about increasing coach turnover, referencing respected names:
  • Joe Theismann (06:48):
    “You look at John Harbaugh, after all that he's done in Baltimore. Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh. 19 years. Sometimes you just reach a point where maybe you want a change of scenery or possibly ownership wants a change of scenery...”
• Cleveland Browns’ unusual “essay” job application process:
  • Joe Theismann (07:38):
    “They were, you know, asking coaches to write essays. And they were doing a lot of analytics regarding the search for a head coach. And analytics are fine in certain situations. Football is still a game of instincts. It's a game of personalities.”
• Quips about coaches possibly using AI to write application essays.

3. Modern NFL Decision-Making & Fourth-Down Trends

• Field Goals vs. Going for It on Fourth Down
  • Tom questions why teams (like the Broncos) skip field goal attempts. Joe provides context:
    • Joe Theismann (09:02):
      “Depending upon where we are on the field. Depending upon how well your defense is playing... But I really feel like this will give coaches a pause when it comes to fourth downs and not taking points in a game like that.”
  • Emphasis on trusting your defense, especially with a backup QB: “You want to get points on the board. Make New England chase you.”

4. Assessing This Season's Super Bowl and Team Dynamics

• Young QBs and Team Prospects
  • Seattle’s defense vs. New England’s Drake May; praise for Sam Darnold’s journey and current form.
    • Joe Theismann (11:33):
      “Seattle's defense is going to put a lot of pressure on Drake May... I'm looking at this football game right now. I think the way Sam Darnold is playing, I don't know if anybody can beat him with the weapons that he has around him.”
• Challenges with shifting lineups:
  • Joe Theismann (13:45):
    “You just can't win in the NFL if you're shuffling a deck all the time at the quarterback position.”

5. College Football: NIL and Team-Building Challenges

• The impact of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and free agency-like transfers:
  • Joe Theismann (14:19):
    “College football has become professional football. And the difference is, you don't have one owner paying for people, and you don't have a salary cap... I just wonder sometimes when you go out and pay all this money ... and you don't accomplish what you want, do you keep pouring money in or do you try and build some sense of continuity?”
• On continuity and the NCAA’s fading role:
  • Joe Theismann (15:19):
    “They have to put something in place that allows some continuity in college football... Buy one here, buy one there, and good luck to you.”

6. Super Bowl Party Food Survey—A Running Gag

• The Bizarre “Baked Potato” Survey
  • Hosts ask Joe to guess the most popular Super Bowl party food, promising $5 for the right answer.
    • Joe Theismann (16:00):
      “I would probably go with chicken wings. ...”
    • Bob Kevoian (16:14):
      “An excellent guess. ... However, the answer was baked potatoes.”
  • Banter about baked potatoes dominating parties, with Joe feigning disbelief and sarcasm.
    • Joe Theismann (16:22):
      “I've seen a lot of those at Super Bowl parties. The first thing I do when I walk in and say, listen, if you don't have baked potatoes, I'm leaving.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On weather’s fairness in football:
  • “The elements are the same for everybody. It's a question of how you handle them.” —Joe Theismann (06:10)
• On coaching job applications:
  • “They're sending out resumes and asking coaches to write essays, which boggles my mind... It'll be interesting to see who has the best essay.” —Joe Theismann (06:48)
• On field goals vs. aggressive play-calling:
  • “Points are a premium. Whether it's three or seven doesn't matter... This will give coaches a pause when it comes to fourth downs and not taking points in a game like that.” —Joe Theismann (09:02)
• Super Bowl party essential:
  • “The first thing I do when I walk in and say, listen, if you don't have baked potatoes, I'm leaving.” —Joe Theismann (16:22)

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:14 | Joe Theismann joins the show | | 06:10 | Debate on playing football in harsh weather | | 06:46 | Coaching carousel and Cleveland’s essay job search | | 07:55 | Football as a game of instincts, personalities | | 08:32 | Field goals vs. fourth-down calls in modern NFL | | 10:15 | Theismann’s worst weather games as a player | | 11:33 | Super Bowl preview—Seattle’s defense, Darnold’s rise | | 13:08 | NFL team health/injuries and continuity | | 14:19 | NIL, college football free agency, and stability concerns | | 16:00 | Super Bowl party food gag; the baked potato survey | | 17:27 | Theismann on his Super Bowl week duties, safety reminder |

Tone, Style, and Final Thoughts

As always, the BOB & TOM Show blends humor, teasing, and analysis. Joe Theismann comes off as knowledgeable, candid, and quick-witted, effortlessly bantering with the hosts while still sinking his teeth into nuanced football topics. The running gag about baked potatoes at Super Bowl parties adds levity, while the segment closes with Theismann encouraging fans to be safe during Super Bowl festivities.

For listeners and non-listeners alike, this episode offers:

• Expert commentary on trending football issues
• Candid football stories and perspectives from a legendary player
• The playful, irreverent energy that BOB & TOM Show fans expect