The Pat McAfee Show 2.0, Episode 1469 – TNF Preview, Michigan Turmoil, Pete Thamel, Coach Cristobal, Mike McCarthy & AJ Hawk

Date: December 11, 2025
Main Theme:
Pat and the crew dissect a jam-packed sports day: a pivotal NFL Week 15 TNF matchup, explosive fallout at Michigan after Sherrone Moore’s firing and arrest, the ongoing college football coaching carousel, College Football Playoff anticipation, and in-depth interviews with ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, NFL legend Mike McCarthy, and cohost AJ Hawk. The show balances breaking news with signature humor, relatable debate, and behind-the-scenes sports insights.

1. NFL Week 15 Thursday Night Football Preview

(00:00–03:57)

• Pat McAfee welcomes listeners, building anticipation for the Week 15 TNF clash: Bucs vs. Falcons—two NFC South teams rebounding from embarrassing defeats.

  • "Football. It is magical. Week 15... kicks off this evening." (00:01)

• Discussion of stakes: no teams have clinched playoffs yet, making every matchup essential for postseason dreams.

• Detailed breakdown of both teams:

  • Bucs favored by 4.5, Baker Mayfield gets Mike Evans back.
  • Falcons reeling after a 37–9 demolition by Seattle (00:30).
  • Last time Kirk Cousins faced the Bucs, he threw four TDs, zero picks.

• Cultural relevance:

  • Pat prods the idea that even “shite” games can be unexpectedly magical:
    • "Let's assume something magical happens." (00:53)

2. Michigan Football Crisis – The Sherrone Moore Saga

(03:57–26:22)

Real-Time Internet Chaos

• Pat and cohosts reflect on a viral, confusing internet evening: rumors, AI images, troll accounts, and real versus fake news regarding Sherrone Moore.

  • "All we do know is Sherrone Moore is not the head coach of Michigan anymore... in jail... wildest rides on the internet I've had in a while." (01:32)

• College football's chaos amplified by AI's ability to create misinformation and by fierce rivalry trolling (Ohio State, Michigan State fans piling on).

• Key context: Michigan’s New Year's Eve Cheez-It Bowl versus Texas suddenly in flux; interim coach Biff Poggi takes the reins.

Pete Thamel’s Breakdown of the Michigan Situation

(06:13–24:39)

Timeline & Details

• Pete Thamel appearance (ESPN Insider):

  • Timeline of events:

    • Moore fired midday by Michigan "with cause," citing an explicit inappropriate relationship—unusually direct for a university statement.
    • Police respond to an "alleged assault" shortly after Moore’s dismissal.
    • Moore detained in Washtenaw County Jail, still in custody as of showtime.
    • No decision on charges at the time (08:33).

  • "This was because of an inappropriate relationship. Rarely in these cases is that as explicitly stated as Michigan said it." – Pete Thamel (06:57)

  • Seriousness and complexity:

    • Internet rumors included suicide threat, unclear facts about protective custody versus actual penal action.
    • "Until the police come out with a clarifying statement... I don't think anyone can be certain the exact nature of what he could be charged with." – Pete Thamel (09:06)

What's Next? (10:16–13:52)

• Moore’s legal pathway: Await an attorney, likely bond & release, but legal proceedings continue.
• Michigan's position:
  • Entering the coaching carousel late, with the pool of top candidates narrowed by earlier hires and extensions.
  • "I would think the DNA of Michigan football... being sort of defiantly pro style, NFL style." – Pete Thamel (11:45)
• Top candidates:
  • Kaylin DeBoer (Alabama, but unlikely), Jeff Brohm (Louisville), Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri), Jed Fisch (Washington/former Harbaugh assistant), Jesse Minter (internal candidate).

Roster Fallout & Recruiting

• Portal rules: players can now enter five days after a new coach is hired, with the main window opening January 2.
• "So it used to be coach leaves, it's free agency season. That shifted this summer." – Pete Thamel (15:15)

Internal Knowledge & Blowback

• Ward Manuel (AD) and other Michigan brass only received actionable, overwhelming info in the immediate days before Moore’s firing.
• Initial reports months back were from an anonymous tip deemed not credible.
• "Within the past day or two, credible information emerged that was overwhelming..." – Pete Thamel (16:13)

Impacts on Players, Staff, and Next Steps

• Portal floodgates could open, especially with high-profile recruits like Bryce Underwood scrubbing Michigan from their social feeds.

• Possibility of Michigan having a gutted roster by bowl season.

• Notable quote:

  • "Yesterday is one of those [nights] on the Internet—you read everything, react to nothing." – Connor Rogers (05:19)

3. Broader College Football Playoff Talk & Matchups

(26:22–30:01)

• Swings to anticipation for upcoming College Football Playoff, Army-Navy, and the Heisman.
• Jokes about sideline coverage, "midnight yells," and local football culture in College Station for Miami vs. Texas A&M (32:00–34:00).
• Expansive, loose discussion:
  • Group of Five teams’ postseason fate.
  • If Oregon or Ole Miss blow out Tulane or JMU, implications resonate on playoff format debates.
  • "You're not just playing for yourself... you're playing for all future Group of Five [teams]." – Pat McAfee (28:14)

4. NFL News & Referee CBA, Draft Format, Pro Flag Football

(32:10–42:27)

• NFL Referee labor deal up:

  • Potential for officiating improvements—calls for full-time refs, accountability, and a player-to-ref pipeline.
  • "The most powerful union in sports is the NFL refs union. They have no accountability..." – Pat McAfee (35:00)

• NFL Draft process change:

  • First-round pick time reduced from 10 to 8 minutes.
    • "As people that host a draft spectacular every year ... becomes a very long, drawn out night." – Pat (39:31)

• NFL investing in pro flag football: $32 million for parallel men's/women's leagues starting post-Super Bowl/during offseason.

  • Context on the sport's growth in high schools and Olympics.

5. College Football Playoff Interview: Mario Cristobal, Miami Head Coach

(42:57–52:28)

• Cristobal on overcoming adversity, sneaking into the playoff, and building Miami’s culture:

  • "It was always about, if you take care of your business, everything’s gonna take care of itself... after that SMU loss, we kind of put it in maybe not entirely in our control, but we could work ourselves back." – Mario Cristobal (44:35)

• High praise for his QB Carson Beck (Georgia transfer), his true freshman phenom Tony.

  • "He’s fully healthy now... that arm is strong now, slinging it, comfortable with our offense... Just an awesome November." – Cristobal on Beck (45:31)
  • On Tony: "Just throw on his high school highlight tape... Special dude, special attitude, ridiculous energy..." (50:30)

• Locker room culture:

  • Miami's hunger for postseason relevance.
  • "It’s been a long time since Miami’s been in a situation where, December, they’re in the conversation." (46:45)

• Signing day, facilities arms race, and talent recruiting (noting new Gatorade National Player of the Year Jackson Cantwell).

  • "We had a trench-heavy class...we signed our best and deepest class. The trajectory is going like this." (48:44)

• Lighthearted wrestling with Pat about sideline hi-jinks and jiu-jitsu.

6. NFL Quarterback Commentary: Joe Burrow’s Tough Press Conference

(55:00–55:54)

• Burrow reflects on the need for football to still be "fun", sounding weary after years of injuries.
  • "If it's not fun, then what am I doing?" – Joe Burrow (55:40)
  • Panel expresses concern he'd go the way of Andrew Luck if burnout persists.

7. Owners: Tepper’s Turnaround & NFL Franchise Management

(66:46–73:27)

• Deep dive on David Tepper’s image rehab as Panthers owner:
  • Used to be reviled for being too hands-on; now praised for backing off and enabling new GM and coach, leading to on-field and off-field improvements.
• "I think Tepper stepping away when I know that was very much against his...that is a big deal." – Pat (69:34)
• Mike McCarthy (longtime NFL head coach) adds historical perspective on owner involvement, comparing models in Dallas (Jerry Jones), Green Bay, and Carolina.
  • "…Every leader has to go through it… there were some growing pains, but I agree 100%" – McCarthy (72:38)

8. NFL Legend Mike McCarthy – Weather, Packers, Quarterbacks & Parity

(73:27–101:20)

• On Philip Rivers’ return:
  • Rivers, five years retired, making shocking comeback for the Colts due to his mastery of the playbook.
  • "These guys have seen so much football… If there’s anybody that can do it, definitely Philip can pull this off." – McCarthy (76:20)
• NFL Playoff Parity:
  • Expanded playoff race, upsets, and how close the “middle class” of the NFL can surprise.
  • "The definition of parity is adjusted every year… I think the number is bigger, probably 10-12 [contenders]." – McCarthy (90:16)
• Handling cold weather:
  • Real advantage comes from handling the football, not just being "used to cold".
  • "The most important part is ball handling… catching the football in cold weather." – McCarthy (98:00)
• On coaching seat temperature for icons like Andy Reid, Tomlin, Harbaugh:
  • "All three in my opinion deserve to step away when they feel it's time..." (104:16)
  • Warns fans to “be careful what you wish for” with coaching changes.
• Packers/Bears assessment:
  • "Best thing going in Green Bay right now is that defense and the perimeter's getting healthy... I think Jordan's done a nice job [at QB]." (79:59)

9. Additional NFL Topics

(55:54–101:20)

• Joey Burrow’s future:
  • Panel debates whether injuries will cut his career short or he’ll push for a fresh start elsewhere (ala Carson Palmer).
• Colts-Philip Rivers "fairytale":
  • Running jokes and real hope for 44-year-old Rivers, suggestions that loss shouldn’t count against the team due to the special circumstance (humorous).
• **Reflections on NFL’s grind and the importance of joy and support systems for players returning from injury.

10. College Football Coaching Carousel & Michigan’s Search

(134:13–158:10)

• Extensive breakdown of Michigan’s coaching search in the wake of Moore’s firing.
  • Kaylin DeBoer (Alabama), Jed Fisch (Washington), Clark Lea (Vandy), Eli Drinkwitz (Missouri), internal candidate Jesse Minter, NFL names (Harbaugh, Tomlin, Jon Gruden) and wildcards (Lane Kiffin, P.J. Fleck, Chip Kelly, etc.).
• "Michigan is one of those jobs… as blue blood as you have." (149:22)
  • Panel discusses how late timing could devastate roster via portal departures and recruiting poaching.
• Portal rules, Michigan's need to "stop the bleeding," and the impact on high school prospects.
  • "You need to put the fire out right now." – Tone (150:15)
  • Bowl line movement: Texas already up to -7 vs. Michigan due to uncertainty (151:08).

11. College Basketball: Women’s Growth & Caitlin Clark/Ady

(132:54–135:39)

• Shout-out to women’s college basketball stars, especially Audi (Iowa State) and Caitlin Clark (Fever/WNBA).
• Focus on growth and marketability of women’s hoops.

12. Notable Quotes & Moments

• Pat McAfee:
  • "All we do know is Sherrone Moore is not the head coach of Michigan anymore." (01:32)
• Pete Thamel:
  • "This was because of an inappropriate relationship. Rarely in these cases is that as explicitly stated as Michigan said it." (06:57)
• Mario Cristobal:
  • "It was always about if you take care of your business everything’s going to take care of itself." (44:35)
• Mike McCarthy:
  • "If there's anybody that can do it, Philip can pull this off." (76:20)
• On internet rumors & AI:
  • "Yesterday is one of those [nights] on the Internet—you read everything, react to nothing." – Connor Rogers (05:19)
• On coaching rumors:
  • "All three... deserve to step away when they feel it's time." – McCarthy on Reid/Tomlin/Harbaugh (104:16)

13. Highlighted Segments & Timestamps

• NFL TNF Preview: 00:00–03:57
• Michigan Crisis – Rumors, Reaction, and Pete Thamel interview: 03:57–24:39
• Cristobal (Miami) Interview: 42:57–52:28
• NFL News/Owner Management/Tepper: 66:46–73:27
• Mike McCarthy Interview: 73:27–113:17
• College Football Playoff, Portal, Coaching Carousel: 134:13–158:10

14. Tone & Style

• Signature mix of sports expertise, hot takes, real-time news reaction, comedic jabs, and accessible explanations.
  • Casual, rapid-fire, and honest, with plenty of banter and humor throughout.
  • Always acknowledges uncertainty ("the information we know right now"), and repeatedly issues reminders around sports priorities vs. real-life seriousness.

15. Conclusion & Looking Forward

• The show closes with classic Pat sign-off, anticipation for Friday’s show with John Cena, and encouragement to "be a friend, tell a friend."
• Panel consensus: Bucs win and cover vs. Falcons; massive eyes on Michigan’s next move; and all of sports set up for a wild holiday stretch.

For listeners: This wide-ranging episode is a must-listen for fans wanting in-depth real-time takes on the Michigan crisis, coaching rumors, NFL parity, QB culture, and how meme culture, AI, and social media are intersecting with sports journalism—a signature "Pat McAfee Show" blend of analysis and entertainment.