The Daily – "At the Super Bowl, It’s Nice Guy vs. Underdog"
Date: February 8, 2026
Hosts: Natalie Kitroeff & Michael Barbaro
Guests: Chad Graff (The Athletic), Michael-Shawn Dugar (The Athletic)

Overview

This episode dives into the compelling stories behind the two teams facing off in the Super Bowl: the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. With host Natalie Kitroeff as an avowed football fanatic, and Michael Barbaro as a self-admitted outsider to the sport, the goal is to get even a sports skeptic to care. The focus is less on stats or tactics and more on narrative: how the Patriots have transformed under a new "nice guy" head coach, and how the Seahawks embody the ultimate underdog story, led by quarterback Sam Darnold.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Why Stories Matter in Sports (00:02–03:24)

• Natalie reveals her passion for the Philadelphia Eagles and football in general, contrasting it with Michael’s indifference to the game.
• “I wanna try to change your relationship to this game… What I know about you is that you love stories." – Natalie (01:54)
• The premise: To make Michael (and listeners) care about the Super Bowl teams through their off-field stories.

2. The Patriots: A Transformation of Culture and Image (03:37–16:38)

Guest: Chad Graff (Patriots reporter, The Athletic)

a. The Belichick Era: The 'Evil Empire' (04:15–10:36)

• For 25 years, Bill Belichick defined the Patriots as a “machine” focused only on winning—joyless, gruff, and cold.
• “For the last 25 years, the Patriots essentially were run by one person, Bill Belichick… the national perception has essentially been that the Patriots are the evil empire run by this gruff, no-nonsense person." – Chad Graff (05:45)
• Even after wins, Belichick would publicly criticize star quarterback Tom Brady, keeping the team under constant pressure and never celebrating until the final championship.
• “Tom Brady says: ‘I’m the most miserable 8-0 quarterback in the NFL.’” – Chad retells a notorious anecdote (09:27)
• Brady eventually leaves for a more fun environment (Tampa Bay), wins without Belichick, and the Patriots begin to decline.

b. Vrabel Arrives: Injecting Life and Humanity (10:36–16:38)

• After failed attempts to continue the Belichick formula, Mike Vrabel (a former Patriot player under Belichick) is hired as coach.
• Unlike Belichick, Vrabel is seen “chest bumping,” dishing out hugs, and celebrating openly with his players.
  • “He sprints… to the locker room so that he can give a hug and a handshake to every single player walking off.” – Chad Graff (12:48)
  • “He’s hugging so hard that he’s literally bleeding.” – Natalie (13:49)
• Vrabel changes the Patriots’ personality, making them relatable (“New England’s version of Ted Lasso” per Natalie, 16:06).
• The team is now perceived as “more lovable,” lacking big stars and powered by camaraderie and underdog energy.
• “This team does not have the big stars… That little ragtag bunch, because of Mike Vrabel… is here in the Super Bowl.” – Chad (15:59)
• Concludes on the idea that people now have a reason to root for the Patriots, even if it feels strange after decades of dominance.

3. Seahawks & Sam Darnold: Perennial Underdog Makes Good (16:44–29:33)

Guest: Michael-Shawn Dugar (Seahawks reporter, The Athletic)

a. Sam Darnold: A Career of Setbacks (17:09–24:49)

• Darnold enters the NFL with huge expectations after a stellar USC career, drafted by the struggling New York Jets.
• The Jets’ dysfunction and media circus leads to Darnold being labeled a flop (the infamous “seeing ghosts” game, 20:46).
  • “Sam threw four interceptions against the Patriots. And a camera captured him saying he was seeing ghosts.” – Michael-Shawn Dugar (20:35)
• Multiple failed stints follow: released from the Jets, brief spark in Carolina, backup in San Francisco and Minnesota, never quite able to shed his reputation as an NFL joke.

b. A Second (or Fourth) Chance in Seattle (24:49–29:33)

• The Seattle Seahawks recognize Darnold’s “written off” status and sign him as a reclamation project.
• Unexpectedly, everything clicks: strong infrastructure, supportive coaching, and Darnold delivers remarkable performances, leading the team to the Super Bowl.
• “Quarterbacks generally need three things to be successful… The Seahawks nailed all that in one off-season.” – Michael-Shawn Dugar (27:37)
• Darnold’s appeal: fans identify with his journey of public humiliation and gradual redemption.
  • "People find it [the underdog story] because that's what they want. They want a Sam Darnold. I know you've been knocked down; I just feel stronger rooting for you because you are more like me.” – Michael-Shawn Dugar (28:45)
• The emotional resonance for Seattle’s run is undeniable: “He is the hero of our story, you know, for the Super Bowl.”

4. Reflection: What Makes These Stories Irresistible (30:04–33:47)

• Michael has been won over by the power of both narratives, seeing parallels:
  • “In Sam Darnold, you have someone who needed to go on this journey… In the case of Vrabel, he needed to leave the Pats… Not in the shadow of this kind of mean-spirited boss.” – Michael Barbaro (30:26–31:13)
• Both Vrabel and Darnold’s narratives are about leaving home, enduring hardship, and transforming.
  • “Great acts of humility, humiliation, and courage—to leave the place you call home, to believe in yourself enough that you can step way outside your comfort zone and try something new.” – Michael Barbaro (32:00)
• When pressed to choose, Michael admits: “It’s hard not to root, above all, for Darnold because… he’s known the lowest of lows… There’s just nothing like public humiliation… That’s beautiful.” (32:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Vrabel’s coaching style:
  “He sprints as fast as he can so that he can be the first one back to the Patriots locker room…to give a hug and a handshake to every single player.” – Chad Graff (12:48)
• On the old Patriots:
  “The Patriots were a machine. Those Patriots were only interested in success when it came to winning that final game.” – Chad Graff (07:10)
• On Darnold’s reputation:
  “Now you’re the ‘seeing ghosts’ guy.” – Michael-Shawn Dugar (21:01)
• The heart of sports fandom:
  "Everyone loves resonating with their own version of the Little Engine That Could. People find it because that's what they want. ...The one thing I resonate with is getting knocked down." – Michael-Shawn Dugar (28:45)
• Barbaro’s revelation:
  “There are great acts of humility, humiliation, and courage to leave the place you call home… and that seems to be something these two characters here share.” – Michael Barbaro (32:00)

Key Timestamps

• 00:02–03:24: Natalie lays out the mission: make Michael care about the Super Bowl through storytelling.
• 03:37–16:38: Chad Graff explains Patriots’ transformation from cold dynasty to fun underdog, thanks to Mike Vrabel.
• 16:44–29:33: Michael-Shawn Dugar details Sam Darnold’s long journey from NFL bust to redeemed Seahawks leader.
• 30:04–33:47: Michael reflects and ultimately roots for Darnold, celebrating the universal appeal of the comeback story.

Tone & Style

Throughout, the conversation is warm, lively, and balancing light banter (“Did Bill Belichick ever hug another human?” – Natalie, 13:49) with thoughtful analysis. Speakers are honest about their biases, mistakes, and the emotional pull of sports stories for fans and non-fans alike.

Summary Takeaway

Whether you’re a football obsessive, a casual viewer, or a cynic, this episode argues the Super Bowl is not just about touchdowns but about transformation, resilience, and joy—in both the teams and their biggest characters. Even for someone "rootless" in the sport, the human stories make it impossible not to pick a side.