The Bobby Bones Show

Episode: Lots to Say – 2x Super Bowl Champion Logan Ryan on NFL Playoffs and NIL Future

Date: January 8, 2026

Host: Bobby Bones
Co-host: Matt Cassel
Guest: Logan Ryan (Former NFL defensive back, CBS analyst, Co-founder of Ryan Animal Rescue Foundation)

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation with two-time Super Bowl champion Logan Ryan about current NFL playoff matchups, coaching mentalities, and the "us against the world" team dynamic. The discussion also explores Logan’s transition to broadcasting, playoff predictions, and the transformative world of college athlete compensation and the transfer portal. The episode closes with personal stories about family, sports parenting, and Logan’s passion for animal rescue.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Logan Ryan’s Media Career & Personal Life

Timestamps: 01:09 – 06:59

• Introduction to Logan: Bobby highlights Logan’s career with the Patriots, Titans, Giants, Bucks, and Niners, plus his two Super Bowl rings.

• Logan’s Transition to Broadcasting:

  • Logan credits Bobby for encouragement, "I hopped on your show a few years ago and you told me, you know, I would be okay at this one day." (04:45)
  • Discusses “turning into a butterfly” in the media world (04:12).
  • Matt notes Logan’s professionalism and leadership on and off the field (02:16).

• Family & Parenting Young Athletes:

  • Bobby and Matt share humor about raising athletic children. Matt jokes, “They better be or… they’re getting water in their cereal. Don’t come home with a loss.” (02:39)
  • Logan reflects on his young son’s soccer prowess and the importance of work ethic over parentage:

    “A lot of people think he’s just good because he’s my son…he works really hard at it and he has big dreams to play for Team USA one day.” (05:51)

2. Life as a Football Analyst

Timestamps: 07:10 – 09:35

• Explaining the Game:
  • Logan enjoys serving as a “bridge” between players and media, especially given recent experience and changes in offensive/defensive play.
  • Cites the importance of capturing iconic moments, such as calling Myles Garrett’s sack record on CBS (07:22).
  • Details behind-the-scenes on how networks prepare for on-field milestones and disputes over in-game celebrations (08:05–09:35).

3. Coaching Mentality: The Patriot & Vrabel Way

Timestamps: 10:14 – 14:14

• Playoff Preparation:
  • “The playoffs aren’t out of reach when Mike Vrabel is your coach. He’s making that a true possibility. Similar to New England… the season doesn’t start till after Thanksgiving.” (10:24)
  • Matt and Logan discuss the New England method: coaching habits, not results, and holding players accountable after wins as much as losses.
  • Logan: “He doesn’t coach the results, he coaches the habits.” (13:15)
  • The intensity and pressure amplify during the playoffs—“It’s truly a whole new season.” (14:14)

4. NFL Playoff Matchups – In-depth Analysis & Predictions

Timestamps: 14:14 – 24:07

• Chargers vs. Patriots (15:21–16:57):

  • Logan comfortably favors the Patriots due to their defensive matchups and Chargers' injuries.
  • “Drake May’s been so good all year… he’ll be comfortable picking apart the zone defense the Chargers run.” (16:44)

• Bills vs. Jaguars (16:57–20:32):

  • Logan recounts his time on an underdog Titans squad with an “us against the world” mindset and likens it to the current Jags.
  • Matt highlights Jags' strong offense and defense.
  • Logan says if Jags control possession early, they can win, but leans toward the Bills due to Josh Allen’s elite playoff presence:

    “If Josh Allen doesn’t get it done this year, he’s not going to have many years without Mahomes in it… this is the easiest path for him.” (19:46)

• Packers vs. Bears (20:32–22:13):

  • Explores the amplified intensity of divisional rivalries in playoff settings.
  • Logan gives a slight edge to the Packers based on experience:

    “It’s going to come down to one of those final plays and I just think LaFleur and Jordan Love have more time together…” (21:29)

• 49ers vs. Eagles (22:13–24:07):

  • Logan draws on personal experience with both teams, revealing insider strategy on containing Jalen Hurts.
  • Leans 49ers for their comfort with the Eagles’ style and coaching matchup, admits outcome is a true coin flip.

5. MVP Debate: Stafford vs. Drake May

Timestamps: 24:07 – 25:07

• Logan advocates for Drake May, given his consistency, efficiency, and success with a new team and less experienced roster.
  • “No real bad games from Drake May all year. 14 wins with Mike Vrabel… I think he’s been more valuable of a player.” (24:55)

6. Behind the Scenes of Broadcasting & NFL Analysis

Timestamps: 25:07 – 28:51

• Logan receives game assignments roughly 3 weeks in advance during the season.
• He puts in 15–20 hours of film study per game, watching both teams’ offense and defense—much more intensive than when he played.
  • “It’s literally like double or triple the amount of film… I try to bring [my playing memory] on air, but it’s definitely double the amount of prep I did as a player.” (27:27)

7. College Football: NIL & the Transfer Portal

Timestamps: 28:51 – 35:52

• Logan, Matt, and Bobby discuss the explosion of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals and rampant transfer activity.
• Logan on athlete compensation:
  • “I’m okay with players getting paid… If Nike’s going to pay you, then you’re going to be a 13-year-old Nike soccer player. So I’m not against that part of it.” (29:11)
• Concerns raised over the long-term effects of frequent transfers (loss of degree, no alma mater, short careers).
• Logan points out NFL teams scrutinize transfer histories:
  • “If you’re just running from adversity, that ain't going to always steer clear… answering the why is a big reason.” (34:46)

8. Animal Rescue & Personal Passions

Timestamps: 35:52 – 37:38

• Logan discusses the founding of his animal rescue nonprofit (RARF), inspired by his wife’s hands-on shelter work.
  • “I always try to combine my sports platform to animals… since I had a platform, I try to shine light on… the people and the pets.” (36:16)
• Friendly banter about both hosts’ animals and rural lifestyles.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Matt Castle, joking about parenting young athletes:

  “They better be or… they’re getting water in their cereal. Don’t come home with a loss.” (02:39)

• Logan Ryan on coaching habits over results:

  “He doesn’t coach the results, he coaches the habits.” (13:15)

• Logan Ryan, on playoff mindset:

  “It’s truly a whole new season. Like it literally does not matter what you did.” (14:14)

• On Myles Garrett’s sack celebration and the Bengals:

  “There’s not 12 men on the field. There’s 37 men on the field, right? ... So they felt like it really messed up their flow.” (08:05)

• Logan Ryan on NIL realities:

  “I’m okay with players getting paid if you got that… If Nike’s going to pay you, then you’re going to be a 13-year-old Nike soccer player.” (29:11)

• Bobby Bones on transfer culture:

  “I think it’s poisonous to most because… they’re not going to have a home, they’re not going to have a degree and they’re not going to have a career in professional sports.” (33:23)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:09 – Introduction of Logan Ryan, career highlights
• 05:07 – Logan’s move into broadcasting, early mentorship from Bobby
• 07:10 – Explaining football analysis through a player’s eyes
• 09:18 – Analysis of Myles Garrett’s milestone moment
• 10:24 – Coaching culture: learning from Vrabel and Belichick
• 14:14 – Playoff mentality, “whole new season” comparison
• 15:39 – Chargers vs. Patriots playoff analysis
• 16:57 – Jaguars’ “us vs the world” mentality, playoff insights
• 18:39 – Trevor Lawrence’s development and Jags coaching
• 20:32 – The meaning of rivalry playoff matchups: Packers vs. Bears
• 22:19 – Deep dive: 49ers at Eagles, insights from Ryan’s 49ers tenure
• 24:13 – MVP debate: Matt Stafford vs. Drake May
• 27:27 – Film prep and transition to analyst work
• 28:51 – NIL and the transfer portal: pros, cons, and culture
• 31:00 – Dylan Raiola, loyalty, and the transfer debate
• 35:59 – Logan’s animal rescue passion and the story behind RARF

Summary

This episode offers a robust blend of football strategy, playoff analysis, personal stories, and commentary on the evolving nature of college sports. Logan Ryan’s insights bring listeners directly into the mindsets of elite NFL locker rooms, while his candor about family life and off-the-field passions round out a conversation both football fans and general listeners can savor.

For more on Logan Ryan’s animal rescue work, visit rarf.org, and for full episodes, catch The Bobby Bones Show on your favorite podcast platform.