The Pat McAfee Show 2.0, Episode 1419 – "BA Day" with Bruce Arians, MNF Doubleheader Recap, Matt Stafford, Darius Butler, & AJ Hawk

Date: September 30, 2025
Host: Pat McAfee
Guests/Regulars: Bruce Arians (“Coach BA”), AJ Hawk, Darius Butler, Boston Connor, Ty Schmidt, Bubba Gumpino (Tone Digs), Matthew Stafford

Overview

In this lively, wide-ranging episode, Pat McAfee and crew celebrate "BA Day" with legendary coach Bruce Arians. The show recaps a dramatic Monday Night Football doubleheader, discusses the ripple effects of Tyreek Hill's devastating injury for the Dolphins, takes a deep dive with Rams QB Matthew Stafford, and spins through the latest in NFL narratives, college football, and even Ryder Cup fallout. The energy is unapologetically irreverent but packed with sharp football insight and genuine emotion.

Main Topics & Key Segments

1. Monday Night Football Doubleheader Recap

Timestamps: [00:36]–[10:13]

• Dolphins Victory & Tyreek Hill Injury:

  • Praise for Miami’s offense and Tyreek’s leadership—“He looked incredibly pumped up… if you got a tight end who's good in the middle of the field, you know what that does for the people that are outside...” (Host, [00:45])
  • The heartbreaking details of Tyreek’s gruesome knee injury and long recovery:

    “We thank him for being absolutely electrifying. It's gonna be a long road back and recovery, and rehab for this is gonna suck…” (Host, [01:16])

  • Darren Waller’s arrival as Miami’s new weapon (“the Darren Waller Miami Dolphins era has begun”—Host, [07:14])
  • Defensive playmakers highlighted (Jack Jones, Rasul Douglas)
  • Move to other AFC East teams:
    • Jets’ offensive struggles and bleak outlook: “They ran that thing 60 straight times…” (Host, [07:47])
    • Boston Connor, lifelong AFC East fan, doubts Jets’ future:

      “Until they change their colors or move their team, they’re never going to win anything.” (Boston Connor, [08:38])

• Broncos Dominate Bengals:

  • Broncos’ defense proves legit; Bengals’ O-line gets dismantled.
  • Arians’ classic critique:

    “They might want to try investing in the offensive line.” (Coach BA, [10:13])

  • Extended debate: Are the Bengals fundamentally broken due to repeated O-line failures and roster approach?
  • Discussion of roster-building philosophy: “Right now, it feels like trenches are back to being the number one thing…” (Host, [10:44])

Notable Quote:

“You can find a wide receiver in the third round... you can't find a tackle very often that can handle the pass rushers we have to see now in the NFL.” (Coach BA, [16:52])

2. State of the AFC & NFL Storylines

Timestamps: [39:01]–[47:12]

• “BS or No BS” with BA:

  • “The Bengals might be dead, dead.”—No BS, everyone agrees.
  • Coach BA: “That’s no BS because they can’t block anybody. Right now they can’t stop anybody.” ([39:43])
  • Panel laments the Bengals’ failed roster construction and hints that prime time games (e.g., Thanksgiving) are about to get much less enticing with Cincy involved.

• Overtime/Tie Rules Debate:

  • Coach BA confesses to supporting shorter 10-min OT but now advocates for college-style shootout—each team from the 8-yard line.
  • Pat proposes “Golden Boot” (kick off/shootout) option; crew votes for keeping stars on the field ([47:22]–[51:13])

3. Matthew Stafford Interview

Timestamps: [20:21]–[34:30]

• Stafford’s Health, Longevity, and Perspective:
  • Reports feeling great: “The arm feels live... still trying to make some things happen out there…” ([22:18])
  • Reflections on Rams’ culture, McVay’s brilliance, and how the team stays successful.
• Chemistry with Receivers:
  • On Puka Nakua and Davante Adams:

    “I feel lucky and blessed to be the guy throwing them the rock... I just gotta pick and choose.” ([23:13])

  • Host hails Stafford’s history with all-time WRs: Calvin Johnson, Cooper Kupp, Nakua.
• Evolution of NFL Defenses:
  • “There’s been a huge evolution... as offense changes, defense catches up, and vice versa. It’s been a fun challenge.” ([26:04])
• Division Rivalries and Favorite Stadiums:
  • Calls Seattle & SF the toughest away games; picks Lambeau as his favorite stadium outside Detroit/LA/Athens.

    “You feel like you’re part of history when you play there.” ([34:10])

Coach BA’s Testimonial:

“He’s the only guy I went out and watched warm up every time we played him... amazed at the throws he could make in warmups.” ([27:43])

4. Rushmore on X Preview

Timestamps: [15:52], [51:45], [116:42]

• Pat previews a new debate show on X where legends (Tom Brady, Peyton Manning) build their receiver Mount Rushmore.
• Teasers highlight spirited debates, inside stories, and all-time greats.
• Coaches and players comment on Gronkowski’s place in history:

  “He can block like a tackle... total mismatch.” (Coach BA, [53:49])

5. Eagles' Wide Receiver Drama & Team Dynamics

Timestamps: [69:50]–[80:49]

• AJ Brown Tweets, Siriusani Manages:
  • A.J. Brown’s cryptic tweet after limited targets in Philly’s win sparks panel analysis of receiver mentality.
  • Arians’ insight: “It's your job as a coach to get him the ball... sometimes you need to get the stars involved early, even with cheap catches.” ([73:11])
  • Pat: “Winning covers up a lot.” Panel agrees drama amplifies with losses.
  • Further discussion on elite WRs needing touches to maintain morale, even in run-heavy offenses.

6. Ryder Cup Fallout & 'Coolness' of Europe vs USA

Timestamps: [84:58]–[97:59]

• The crew debates why the US Ryder Cup team seems less ‘cool’ or unified than Europe, with banter about moxie, celebrations, and the need for more fiery personalities.
• Reflection:

  “They were the more mentally tough team in a hostile environment.” (Darius Butler, [96:18])

• Some tongue-in-cheek argument about “Team Europe” being cooler; Pat isn’t having it.

7. NFL/International Talk & College Football Preview

Timestamps: [100:16], [144:32]

• International Expansion Skepticism:

  • Coach BA: “I don't want to see a team over there... somebody’s going to get screwed in that travel.” ([101:21])
  • Panel agrees—regular internationals are great, but full-time European teams present huge logistical/roster challenges.

• College Football Hot Topics:

  • Recap of Bama’s restored dominance, Penn State heartbreak, and next big matchups
  • Praise for transfer QBs/OCs transforming programs; debate if college transfer portal is good for long-term player development.

8. Special Teams and Trick Plays Trends

Timestamps: [169:55]–[173:47]

• Rise in blocked kicks leads to speculation: will this catalyze a wave of fakes (punts, FGs) and strategic cadence changes?
• Coach BA: “It slows everyone down... For the offensive lineman, that's not easy: you can’t move, these 360lb D-linemen are coming for you…”

9. Chicago Bears Culture Change

Timestamps: [165:15]–[169:04]

• Extensive breakdown of Ben Johnson’s impact on the new-look Bears; underscored by intense postgame locker room speech and team buy-in.
• Coach BA: “Ben Johnson starts with the running game. Got a great play action game... great knack for when to throw the gadget.”
• All signs point to a new, tougher culture and fans should be optimistic.

Notable and Memorable Quotes

• On Tyreek Hill:

  “Everything he’s done for football up to this point, we thank him for. You were electrifying, brother.” (Host, [01:16])

• On Bengals' Offensive Line:

  “Three man rush sacks. Doesn’t matter if Joe Burrow’s out there or not.” (Coach BA, [10:19])

• On McVay as a Coach:

  “He got great background and his coaching ability and his knowledge. And he knows how to teach it.” (Coach BA, [35:36])

• Arians on Receivers vs. Tackles:

  “I can find a wide receiver in the third round... you can't find a tackle very often that can handle the pass rushers.” (Coach BA, [16:52])

• On blocked kicks:

  “Any time one of the big guys gets a ball is electrifying.” (Host, [147:01])

• On Eagles’ WR Drama:

  “If they weren't winning, it'd be a big problem. Winning solves a lot of these issues.” (Coach BA, [74:06])

Quick Hits & Inside Jokes

• Pat and crew repeatedly roast each other and the NFL’s digital ad prompts and online shopping experience.
• The ‘shopping cart’ analogy for fan disenchantment (“I’m about done with that, just let me proceed to checkout...”)—[05:50]
• BA’s classic “No risk it, no biscuit” line, plus the long-standing “BA Day” jokes.
• Long segment on “sweet, spicy, tropical” tequila ad-reads—deadpanned and ad-libbed into the show’s running banter.
• Spirited, tongue-in-cheek debates about international sporting events, American vs European “coolness,” and even the difference between white and Black barbershops.
• College football talk includes playful shots at coaches, culture, and the power of NIL (“You can change the entire culture of your university overnight.”)

Final Thoughts & Themes

• The show is, as always, equal parts football nerd-fest, locker room wisecracking, and celebration of the game’s unique characters.
• Main takeaways:
  • The NFL is about adaptability—offensively (tackles, receiver roles), culturally (Arians on coaching, player buy-in), and logistically (international expansion debate).
  • The human factor—injuries, motivation, star power, and locker room dynamics—remains the heart of football storytelling.
  • Everyone on the panel, from ex-coaches to ex-players, brings both war stories and a willingness to laugh at themselves, each other, and the sports world.

Episode Highlights

• [00:34]–[01:16] — Heartfelt Tyreek Hill tribute
• [10:13]–[13:08] — Bengals' O-line failures, BA classic roast
• [20:21]–[34:30] — Matthew Stafford in-depth interview (health, Rams culture, WRs, division rivalries)
• [39:01]–[47:12] — “BS or No BS” — Bengals are “dead dead,” and overtime rules brainstorm
• [69:50]–[80:49] — Eagles WR drama, coaching relationships, offensive design
• [116:42]–[118:44] — Rushmore on X sneak peek and production stories
• [144:32]–[154:32] — College football, transfer QBs, and “culture change” themes

Tune in for football, stay for the jokes, and you’ll leave with a far better sense of both what’s happening on the field—and what it takes to keep a team, a show, or even a tailgate truly great.