The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 #1479: BA Day with Bruce Arians, MNF Recap, Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen, Dan Orlovsky, Nick Saban & More

Recorded: December 30, 2025

Episode Overview

On a lively year-end episode, Pat McAfee and crew—including Bruce Arians (BA), Darius Butler, AJ Hawk, and Tone Diggs—deliver wall-to-wall football conversation as 2025 ends and a new NFL/CFB playoff season dawns. The show recaps a wild Monday Night Football, previews epic college football playoff showdowns, ponders the most wide-open NFL playoff race in years, dives into award races, and features candid interviews with Jaguars head coach Liam Coen, ESPN's Dan Orlovsky, and coaching legend Nick Saban.

Key Segments & Timestamps

1. Opening & BA Day Energy [00:00–03:02]

• Pat sets the tone for a celebratory BA Day, welcoming Coach Bruce Arians and reflecting as 2025 closes.
• Lively banter about the year’s football highlights and the anticipation for the New Year’s Eve Cotton Bowl with Miami vs. Ohio State.

"Football is the greatest. That cadence came from a man who has coached football for 47 years... Coach Bruce Arians is here!" — Pat McAfee [00:03]

2. College Football Playoff Preview [00:41–04:13]

• Miami vs. Ohio State: Intrigue around South Florida players, Miami’s moxie, and standout Buckeyes freshmen.
• Other New Year’s Bowl Matchups: Rose Bowl (Alabama vs. Indiana), Oregon vs. Texas Tech, Ole Miss vs. Georgia.
• On-the-road broadcasting: The crew will be reporting live on ESPN2, giving a “fan’s eye” experience throughout playoff action.

3. Wildness and Parity in the NFL [03:13–05:49]

• Projecting the best NFL playoff field in years: “Question mark on who the hell is going to win the Super Bowl.”
• Darius Butler and team discuss the unpredictable NFC/AFC standings—the Rams' recent swoon, Atlanta’s upset, and what true “parity” means this season.

"It's just a crapshoot in the NFC and AFC right now when you get to the postseason." — Darius Butler [06:59]

4. Falcons–Rams MNF Breakdown [05:49–13:58]

• In-depth MNF review: Falcons’ resurgence, coaching resilience, and Rams’ disappointing East Coast performance.
  • Bijan Robinson’s epic game, red helmet “mojo,” Atlanta’s youth-infused defense.
  • Rams’ late chances, controversial penalties/no-calls, Stafford’s rare mistakes.
• The broader issue of teams struggling on the road (especially Rams on east coast) and how it impacts playoff hopes.

"Most west coast teams have trouble. One o'clock east coast games, but these are all going to be prime time... No excuses for the Rams to come up short as far as being ready to play." — Bruce Arians [07:57]

5. Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen Joins [14:46–36:26]

Topics Covered:

• Jaguars’ Defensive Identity & Camaraderie: Building a “connected” team full of dogs.
• Trevor Lawrence’s Evolution: Honest player-coach conversations at the bye, unleashing aggressive play, and making live playcall audibles.
• Trade for Jacoby Meyers: How adding Meyers "unlocked" the offense ("super genius WR joins super genius QB").
• Underdog Mentality: Lack of national respect—only one Pro Bowler (the long snapper!). Using slights as motivation.
• Shad Khan’s ownership: Supportive, solution-oriented, presence in meetings (“all he wants to do is to win”).

“This group just wants to win... to go 1-0 each week. We’ve had undrafted FAs, 7th rounders, 1st rounders... it doesn’t matter. This is a team that’s well connected and cares about each other.” — Liam Coen [17:36]

• Impact Marching Toward Playoffs: Winning 7 straight, road victories (Denver, Indy), mindset entering “biggest games.”
• Colts’ future and perseverance: Arians urges patience, emphasizes the importance of continuity (and some ‘sage’ for evil spirits!).

"You got to have a strong culture. From the head coach and then your leadership in the locker room." — Darius Butler [150:03]

6. NFL MVP Race: May vs. Stafford—with Dan Orlovsky [39:57–56:11]

Discussion Points:

• Tone Diggs (AP voter): Breaks down the “tale of the tape” comparing Drake May (Patriots) and Matthew Stafford (Rams):
  • Stats, common opponents, strength of schedule, division titles, value to team.
  • Odds swing after Week 17 (Stafford struggles on MNF, May shines).
• Dan Orlovsky: Advocates for Stafford’s body of work, stresses context for stats (hardest schedule in 20 years!), and pushes back on “stat only” MVP logic.

"You can’t in one hand talk about the stats, and in the other say, 'who he did it against’ doesn’t matter. Yes, it does." — Dan Orlovsky [47:39]

• Lively debates and jabs about bias, friendship with Stafford, and Orlovsky’s old takes on Drake May.

7. More College Football Talk with Nick Saban [72:04–96:58]

Key Insights:

• Ohio State vs. Miami Preview: Saban worries about big layoff for OSU, but Miami needs to score more—OSU’s offense/skill guys “tough matchup.”
• Coaching and playcalling nuance: Ryan Day taking back playcalling; Saban on how it affects leadership focus.
• Defensive Schemes: Matt Patricia’s “complicated” but fundamentally sound system, Ohio State’s run D.
• Distractions in Rose Bowl prep: NIL/transfer portal, coaching changes—winning takes mature teams.
• Indiana’s Fairytale: Saban: “People still don’t have the proper respect for Indiana.”
• Michigan’s Kyle Whittingham hire: Proven program builder, tough culture—a good fit.
• State of College Football: Saban calls for antitrust exemptions, restrictions on player movement/payment, and leadership to “figure it out” before system crumbles.

“There’s a way to do this that satisfies both parties so we can move forward... But the underbelly underneath [the excitement] is not really good.” — Nick Saban [93:13]

8. Award Races & Playoff Dark Horses [101:55–112:43]

• BA’s Coach of the Year pick: Liam Coen (“It’s kind of like Indiana football, no respect!”)
• Tone Diggs explains AP Coach of the Year voting.
• Defense, Turnovers & Super Bowl History:
  • Arians: “Teams who rely on turnovers are not sustainable for wins in the playoffs. Gotta get off the field.”
  • Which QBs are “turnover-proof”? (None as reliable as Brady/Peyton/Big Ben this year).
• Wild Card Potential: Arians sees at least one wild card team (Texans, Seahawks, Niners, Bills) who can make a Super Bowl run.

9. Game Balls / The Return of the Running Back [112:30–113:13]

• BA’s official Week 17 game balls:
  • NFC: Bijan Robinson (Falcons)
  • AFC: Derrick Henry (Titans)
• Pat: “Ball is back to being a run league?” Two RBs with 200+ yards in Week 17.

10. Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists Discussion [132:01–144:36]

• First look at the 2026 finalists: Larry Fitzgerald, Reggie Wayne, Adam Vinatieri, Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Frank Gore, Torrey Holt, Luke Kuechly, Jason Witten, and more.
• Reflections on what separates Hall of Famers—postseason heroics, longevity, and impact beyond stats.
• Side stories: Canton, OH, as a “diamond in the rough” and what Hall of Famers love about the tradition.

11. Rapid Fire: News, Darts, and BA on Colts, Bears, Diggs Bros [145:39–163:49]

• Trevon Diggs cut by Cowboys; speculation on landing spots and locker room ramifications
• Stefon Diggs (Patriots) facing legal allegations
• Luke Littler, dart phenom: The “most dominant athlete in the world” at 18, flipping a hostile crowd.

"You guys pay for tickets—and you’re paying for my prize money. So thank you." — Luke Littler [155:16]

12. Show Close & Signature Banter [164:07–End]

• Annual “See you next year” gags, reflections, and inside jokes by Pat and the crew.
• Appreciation for Bruce Arians and recurring co-hosts.
• Final reminders: Field Pass live on ESPN2 for the Cotton Bowl, College Gameday at the Rose Bowl, then back live after the holidays.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Who cares? Because the product on the field ... is about to be electrifying." — Pat McAfee [02:40]
• "This is a team that's well connected and they care about each other." — Liam Coen [18:30]
• "If I was voting today, I would vote for Stafford. ... But you have to include context; who you do it against matters." — Dan Orlovsky [48:49]
• "Indiana's a damn good team. ... On a national level, people still don't see them as a great team, but they are." — Nick Saban [85:28]
• "You got to have a strong culture... That’ll be a big part of it too." — Darius Butler on Diggs-to-Bears potential [150:07]
• "You guys pay for tickets and you're paying for my prize money. So thank you." — Luke Littler, darts sensation [155:16]

Episode Takeaways

• The NFL’s most unpredictable season in years has everyone excited and confused—no clear Super Bowl favorite.
• College football’s expanded playoff is working: New powers, new faces, and more meaningful games.
• Jaguars’ rise is the story of the year. Liam Coen’s first-year magic has cemented him as Coach of the Year favorite; the team’s bond and underdog mentality is palpable.
• Award voting is both science and politics. Insider stats matter, but context—and narrative—loom large.
• Nick Saban is the sport’s philosopher king, offering clarity on distractions, development, and the bumpy future of college sports in the NIL era.
• Hall of Fame class is stacked; Canton remains a sacred (and quirky) football pilgrimage.
• No lack of humor, humility, or authenticity in the Thunderdome as McAfee & Co. ring in 2026—football is as fun and weird as ever.

Suggested Listening Points

• NFL Playoff Parity: [03:01]
• MNF Analysis (Falcons/Rams): [05:49]
• Liam Coen Interview: [14:46–36:26]
• MVP Debate – Drake May vs. Stafford: [39:57–56:11]
• Nick Saban Extended Interview: [72:04–96:58]
• BS/No BS with BA: [101:55–112:43]
• Hall of Fame Discussion: [132:01–144:36]
• Darts/Luke Littler Segment: [154:57–163:49]

For a pulse on football and a locker room’s worth of laughs, this is a can't-miss episode as 2026 kicks off.