The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 #1409 – BA Day with Bruce Arians, Derwin James, Rich Rodriguez & More

Date: September 16, 2025
Host: Pat McAfee
Co-Hosts & Guests: AJ Hawk, Darius Butler, Toxic Table (Boston Connor, Ty Schmidt), Bruce Arians, Derwin James, Rich Rodriguez, Tone Digs

EPISODE OVERVIEW

This lively BA Day edition of The Pat McAfee Show dives deep into the major storylines from the NFL's recent action, spotlights the inspiring journeys of several teams and players, and takes detours into college football, gambling insights, and signature PMAS humor. Special guests Bruce Arians (Super Bowl champion coach), Derwin James (Chargers DB), and WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez join for insightful breakdowns and banter, while the panel debates MVP frontrunners, football culture changes, and the business of both pro and college ball.

MAIN THEMES & PURPOSE

• Deconstructing major NFL matchups, especially Bucs vs. Texans and Chargers victories.
• Examining Baker Mayfield’s emotional story arc in Tampa Bay.
• Celebrating the Chargers’ defensive evolution under Jim Harbaugh and Derwin James’ leadership.
• Candid interviews highlighting coaching philosophies and locker room culture.
• College football chaos, the impact of NIL and transfers, and funding in the new era.
• Laughter and authenticity from football lifers, with old-school stories, modern hot takes, and signature Pat McAfee Show antics.

SEGMENT & GUEST BREAKDOWN

0:00–5:38 | Show Open & Setting the Table

• Pat, Connor, and Ty riff on football’s magic, shoe sponsorships, and the good luck rituals of sportswear and gear.
• Banter over sneaker brands spins into jokes about fashion superstitions and Indianapolis becoming a shoe hotbed.
• The day promises deeper looks at the previous night’s NFL thrillers and a preview of big guest conversations: Bruce Arians, Derwin James, and more.

5:39–16:59 | Bruce Arians on Football Grit & Baker Mayfield

Guest: Bruce Arians (BA)

• BA reflects on the Bucs' gutsy win versus Houston, focusing on adversity (O-line injuries) and Baker Mayfield’s leadership.
  • “Baker just willed his team to win this game.” (05:38)
  • Praises OC Josh Grizzard for sticking to the run and credits Mayfield for elevating coaches: “Baker might have turned their careers around.” (06:17)
• Darius Butler breaks down the Bucs’ game-winning two-minute drill, focusing on Mayfield’s clutch scramble on 4th and 10 and decision-making under pressure.
• Discussion of “No Mas” strategies—letting the opponent score for a comeback chance, referencing Roberto Duran's infamous boxing surrender (08:23).
• Arians, on Baker's legacy shift: “He's the franchise. Mr. Glazier’s already said: he is the face of the franchise. Will be for a long time. Tampa loves him…” (40:03)
• Arians weighs in on teams peaking early, injuries, the importance of divisional games: “September games come back, bite you in the ass.” (33:47)

17:00–26:58 | Chargers Ascending: Defense, Harbaugh & Herbert

• Praise for the Chargers’ defensive culture under Jim Harbaugh—physicality, communication, and player development.
  • “This Chargers defense… they're always on the same page. Everything was tough for the Raiders.” (11:12)
• Justin Herbert’s rise is likened to a “Yin to his Yang” with Harbaugh; Arians lauds Herbert’s balanced play and maturity: “He’s got all the size, he’s got every measurable, and he’s got the great mind.” (13:10)
• Panel jokes about lean times for Chargers fans, LA stadium woes, and a history of heartbreak; hope is now firmly restored.

26:59–32:07 | Derwin James: Heartbeat of the Chargers

Guest: Derwin James

• Derwin describes the new culture: “Definitely one of the best coaches we had... Coach Harbaugh, Coach Mentor, just setting that standard.” (19:44)
• Talks about the “Silver Bells Club”—an exclusive dumbbell club in their state-of-the-art facility. (24:22)
• On defensive philosophy: “The standard is the standard. Whoever’s out there, they’re gonna make plays.” (21:43)
• Highlights of Brazil trip and team bonding abroad.
• Jim Harbaugh’s unique, real-life storytelling approach to leading the locker room: “He’s one of a kind… he’s giving you real-life advice, real-life situation.” (28:37)
• Panel basks in Derwin’s leadership, versatility on defense, and impact on team culture.

32:08–46:08 | NFL Week 2 Trends, Injuries & Gambling Insights

• Hot takes on scheduling: early divisional matchups compared to prior years, increased importance, and injury implications.
• Rundown of key injuries to QBs (Burrow, J.J. McCarthy, Jaden Daniels, Brock Purdy, Justin Fields) and how it reflects today’s more mobile, risk-taking QB play.
• AJ Hawk and crew marvel at how Baker Mayfield shrugs off knee blows: “He comes up immediately calling a play. That’s what I love about the kid.” (39:27, Arians)
• Segment on gambling trends: Overs finally hit, sportsbooks still generally win, but the Chargers' strong ATS record is highlighted.
• College football “vibe teams” discussed, with buzz around Miami, Oregon, Utah, Vandy, Florida State, Oklahoma, and the struggles of Texas and Arch Manning.

46:09–64:30 | College Football Deep Dive & Rodriguez Joins

• Tone's “Five College Football Takeaways” spotlights teams with momentum, schedule strength, and teams to watch like Cal with Songa Politelli at QB.
• Open discussion on NIL’s new transfer-wave era, programs like Cal becoming “feeder systems,” and the implications for championship windows and program retention.
• Mountaineers' big win in the Backyard Brawl, upcoming schedules, and conversation about West Virginia/Big 12 future.
• Guest Rich Rodriguez (WVU HC) joins, reflecting with humor and humility on emotional win, program pride, use of the “heavy” (fat) package, and culture-setting.
  • “Football is a game of big people moving other big people against their will.” (99:03, Rodriguez)
  • “I tell our guys, sometimes you gotta tell ‘em why you’re getting on their ass a little bit…” (112:54)

64:31–85:35 | Fan Culture, Coaches, and Modern College Football

• Ongoing, candid reflections on the identity of college football: tradition vs. innovation.
• Open chat: Clemson’s future, NIL impact, changing transfer market, and why the NCAA’s power is fading fast.
  • “NCAA is basically toast… These conferences are taking over football.” (128:03, Arians)
• Panel jokes about regional biases, the rise of free agency windows in CFB, and how college is on the brink of being a true year-round major sport.

85:36–101:04 | NFL Burning Questions: BS or No BS With BA

Signature Segment - "BS or No BS With Bruce Arians"

• Baker Mayfield in the MVP conversation: “Oh, that's no BS… what he's doing is amazing. He's gotta be in the conversation right now… That Bucs team is, I think, for real.” (73:17)
• JJ McCarthy’s injury time “good” for him: “Oh, that's total BS. He's too young. He needs reps now. He is a dog, but he better learn to slide quick.” (80:36)
• Chiefs are dead, Chargers division now: “Total BS. This coaching staff's way too good... Patrick Mahomes is too good...If Patrick Mahomes continues to be the leading rusher, they got problems.” (85:57)
• Steel Curtain (Steelers defense) is like ‘soft pillows’: “That was the hardest watch for me on Sunday... Seattle just ran it down their throat at home—it just doesn’t happen.” (89:21)
• Each statement opens a debate, with BA’s coaching anecdotes and player insights illustrating the bigger themes of success, adversity, and toughness.

101:05–118:00 | Rich Rodriguez Interview: WVU’s Identity & The Hard Edge

• Coach Rodriguez opens up about the significance of the Backyard Brawl win, culture-building, and the unique demands of flipping a roster and a culture.
• Emphasizes needing “fat” (heavy) personnel for power football, shares stories of team bonding, balancing discipline and free time in the NIL era.
• “Coach ‘em harder ‘cause they’re getting paid… You got more to lose now if you're not maximizing your abilities.” (112:54)
• The show celebrates WVU’s return to identity—toughness, physicality, and family driven leadership.

118:01–144:44 | College Playoff Debate & Football as a Global Product

• Animated debate: Notre Dame's playoff path, playoff expansion, and the future role of conference commissioners.
• The show riffs on college football atmospheres, traditions, and why styles of play (SEC speed vs. Big Ten weather) will shape the playoff in unexpected ways.
• Tom Brady’s dual roles as owner and future broadcaster spark debate about potential conflicts of interest; Arians and the crew agree no team will give away secrets in “production meetings,” but concerns persist about competitive fairness.
• “Being at Friday practice, that's totally different than a production meeting.” (155:01, Arians)

144:45–160:56 | Tom Brady, Flag Football, and The NFL’s Next Frontiers

• Tom Brady’s involvement with the Raiders, TV, and now a Saudi-backed flag football superfest is dissected for both its absurdity and potential.
• “Tommy doesn’t do anything half-assed—he’s 100% hands on.” (148:01, Arians)
• Panel jokes about “Mississippi” counting for flag football, international game expansion, and the mechanics of elite athletes like Brady and Gronk entering new promotional ventures.
• All agree: Money talks, and football's global appeal is just starting to take off in full.

QUOTE HIGHLIGHTS

• Arians on Mayfield:
  • “He is the franchise. Mr. Glazier’s already said: he is the face of the franchise. Will be for a long time. Tampa loves him…” (40:03)
• Derwin James on Chargers DC Jesse Minter:
  • “Coach Mentor...does a great job moving me around every week—not just moving around where I ain't doing my job, but moving me around where I could do it at a high level.” (20:22)
• Rich Rodriguez on culture:
  • “Football is a game of big people moving other big people against their will...” (99:03)
  • “You better know what the hell you’re doing but you also better have a whole lot of help to get you there if that makes sense.” (112:01)

NOTABLE MOMENTS AND HUMOR

• Extended shoe banter and sports gear superstition at the open.
• “Fat package” offense described by Rodriguez: “If I could find one of those fat guys that could actually carry the ball, I’ll have 10 guys in there.” (99:38)
• BA’s hard stance: “September games come back, bite you in the ass.” (33:47)
• Tom Brady headset-gate and speculation around his dual roles.
• Pat's impromptu college football playoff debates—Notre Dame, conference strength, and playoff “Truthers” culture.

STRUCTURED TIMESTAMPS

• 00:00–05:38: Show open, apparel superstitions, football joy.
• 05:39–16:59: Bruce Arians on Bucs, Baker, coaching.
• 17:00–26:58: Chargers rise, Jim Harbaugh, Herbert’s maturity.
• 26:59–32:07: Derwin James interview—defense culture, LA facilities.
• 32:08–46:08: NFL early-season trends, injuries, gambling.
• 46:09–64:30: College football chaos, NIL, funding, Rodriguez joins.
• 64:31–85:35: Panel debates playoff, conference power, football's identity.
• 85:36–101:04: “BS or No BS with BA”—Hot Takes with humor.
• 101:05–118:00: Rich Rodriguez: WVU, culture, the “heavy” (fat) package.
• 118:01–144:44: Playoff debate, regional football, NCAA’s fading power.
• 144:45–160:56: Tom Brady ownership/media dilemma, Flag Football in Saudi Arabia, NFL global future.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This episode is a vibrant tapestry of gridiron analysis, player/coach storytelling, and cultural commentary—seasoned with McAfee and friends’ trademark energy and wit. Listeners get current football insights, timeless lessons (“the standard is the standard”), and a reminder: “Team on me, team on three.”