The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 – Episode 1482 Recap

Date: January 6, 2026
Guests: Dan Orlovsky, Bruce Arians, Darius Butler, AJ Hawk

Overview

This episode of The Pat McAfee Show aired as anticipation was peaking for both the College Football Playoff semifinals and NFL Super Wild Card Weekend. Pat, AJ Hawk, Darius Butler, Bruce Arians, The Toxic Table, and recurring ESPN guests Dan Orlovsky and Tone Digs discuss the wild landscape of both college and pro football, the prominence of transfers and NIL in the NCAA, news in NFL head coaching cycles, playoff matchups, and their annual “All-Everything DB” team. The crew blends in-depth football analysis with their signature unfiltered banter and some heartfelt (and hilarious) moments.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Football’s Big Week: College Semifinals & NFL Playoffs

Timestamps: 00:00–18:04

• The show opens with the team celebrating what they call “the best football week of the year,” with two CFB semifinal games (Indiana vs. Oregon, Ole Miss vs. Miami) followed by the NFL’s expanded Super Wild Card Weekend.
• Tony frames the college games as generational stories with upstart teams and transfer-fueled rosters.
  • “Welcome to football heaven. We’re lucky to be here.” – Tony (03:36)
• Ty Schmidt puts it simply: “If you’re a football fan, really, if you’re a sports fan, this is the best week of the year, in my opinion.” (04:30)
• The panel highlights the underdog stories of Wisconsin–River Falls (D3 champs) and Ferris State (D2), reinforcing that "ball thrives in the North."

Notable Quote

“The way he describes guys is whether or not you’d like to have a beer with him... that is the type of language we like to use whenever we’re discussing football players, whenever we’re discussing leaders.” – Tony on Ole Miss coach Golding (00:58)

2. College Football Playoff: Bold New Era

Timestamps: 08:26–18:04

• Miami’s “at large” inclusion and identity: "Miami kind of has their own brand even separate from the ACC...” - Darius Butler (09:39)
• Indiana’s rise with Coach Signetti: Panel raves about the Hoosiers’ rapid emergence via transfer portal and NIL, suggesting it’s a new template for program turnarounds.
  • “What Signetti has done... is give a lot of people hope that if they have the right boosters, the right people... you can flip something from nothing to maybe a national champion in two years.” – Tony (11:44)
• Transfer Portal = Parity: “We might never see an Alabama type run, a Clemson type run...” – Connor (16:03)
• “Ratings up into the right” for college playoff games; audience excitement is spreading to previously less-followed teams and conferences.

Notable Quote

“The cool part [about the transfer portal] is it separates the great coaches from the good ones, the good coaches from the not so good ones.” – Connor (13:25)

3. NFL Playoff Matchups & QB Talk with Dan Orlovsky

Timestamps: 18:04–34:15, 43:02–47:00

• Future of College QB Stars: Dan Orlovsky joins to assess Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza (“reminds me play-wise of Trevor Lawrence… if you don’t change the picture on him, he’ll shred you”) & Oregon’s Dante Moore (“If you protect Dante Moore, he’s Matt Ryan – just so smooth.”)
  • [19:22] “He talks like a ten-year vet when he’s talking about defenses… every play is a puzzle.” – Tony
• NFL Wild Card Preview: Orlovsky talks Steelers vs. Texans (“Houston’s defense is ridiculous... I struggled not to put 6 or 7 guys on their [All-Pro] defense,” 27:26).
  • He lays out the tough challenge for Pittsburgh: "It’s not going to be an overly complicated thing for Aaron... this is a pretty significant challenge." (28:39)
• Texans D creates ‘boo birds’ in any stadium: “Your offense is just trying not to turn the ball over. That is the move. They just smother your happiness." – Tony (31:04)
• Extended debate about which home underdogs actually have a chance (“I’m not betting against Josh Allen because he’s been there, done it," 90:46 – Coach Arians).

Notable Quotes

• “...to be a top pick and really good in the league, you have to be a three-tool player. You gotta beat dudes with your arm, your mind, and your legs.” - Dan Orlovsky (25:14)

4. Coaching Carousel & Trends, Defensive vs. Offensive Hires

Timestamps: 91:24–104:22

• Bruce Arians (Coach BA) debates the NFL’s offensive coordinator obsession vs. the elite group of defensive coaches available:
  • “Defensive coaches are way more qualified, but the hiring cycle… has been all offense…” (91:24-92:09)
• “Owners are very much monkey see, monkey do.” – Tony, regarding coaching hiring cycles (104:22)
• The trend appears to be swinging back toward “actual leaders,” not just play-callers, at head coach.
• More evidence of the importance of leadership, not just Xs and Os:
  • “You need an actual coach. You need a leader in there, not just a play-caller, a play designer…” – Tony (105:47)

5. The Pipeline & GM Talks

Timestamps: 110:07–112:06

• Dolphins GM search: “John Eric Sullivan of the Packers… he’s a dude.” – AJ Hawk (111:07)
  • Extended local color about working in Green Bay and leadership pipelines.

6. Super Bowl Contenders – Parity, Media, and the Playoff Atmosphere

Timestamps: 126:19–146:15

• Extended breakdown of NFC, AFC playoff teams (Eagles, Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Bears, Packers, Jaguars, Bills, Patriots, etc.).
• Recurrent theme: coaches and teams flying under the radar due to defense-heavy, “unsexy” football and market perceptions.
• The locker room insight: chemistry from “beers with the boys” still matters for leadership and team building (Tony 151:49, Tony 148:08).

7. The Annual “All-Everything DB” Team with Darius J. Butler

Timestamps: 132:52–142:19

• Darius presents his exclusive, selective “All-Everything DB” list:
  • Derek Stingley Jr. (Texans), QuinYon Mitchell (Eagles), Cooper Dean (nickel, Eagles), Kaylin Bullock (Texans, FS), Derwin James (Chargers, SS – “the OG of the group”).
  • “Tough to make this team… These are the five that made your final five.” – Tony (132:52)
• Co-Rookies of the Year: Xavier Watts (Falcons), Nick Iman Wari (Seahawks)
• Emphasized: communication, versatility, physicality—“They are ball hawks as well as getting after you and laying the wood.” – Darius J. Butler (137:02)

8. Memorable/Miscellaneous Moments

• AJ Hawk’s Birthday: Multiple lighthearted “Happy Birthday” serenades to A.J. Hawk, who also fields questions on high school two-way stardom and toughness. (64:43, 116:05, 161:00)
• Pittsburgh Pizza Discourse: Intensely authentic, local debate about the best style and shop in Pittsburgh. (37:31–41:12)
• Scott Hanson & NFL RedZone: Tribute to Scott Hanson’s offseason “powering down” and RedZone’s changing style. (120:54–123:50)
• Travel Tales: Crew recounts their harrowing but safe plane landing en route to the live show (159:07).
• Coach BA Wisdom: “If you’re getting picked in the top five, you’re going to a really shitty team most of the time.” – Bruce Arians on QB evaluation (85:11)
• “Beers with the boys” as a necessity: “Team chemistry is built better around a keg than kale...” (79:31)

9. Best Quotes (with Timestamps & Attribution)

• “If you’re a football fan, really, if you’re a sports fan, this is the best week of the year, in my opinion.” – Ty Schmidt (04:30)
• “The cool part [about the transfer portal] is it separates the great coaches from the good ones, the good coaches from the not so good ones.” – Connor (13:25)
• “Your offense is just trying not to turn the ball over... [The Texans] smother your happiness.” – Tony (31:04)
• “To be a top pick and really good in the league, you have to be a three-tool player. You gotta beat dudes with your arm, your mind, and your legs.” – Dan Orlovsky (25:14)
• “Team chemistry is built a lot better around a keg than it is kale.” – Tony (79:31)
• “Owners are very much monkey see, monkey do.” – Tony (104:22)
• “You need an actual coach. You need a leader in there, not just a play-caller, a play designer…” – Tony (105:47)
• "I think Mendoza is generational. You're the quarterback whisperer..." – Tony to Bruce Arians (86:11)
• "Defensive coaches are way more qualified, but the hiring cycle…has been all offense." – Bruce Arians (91:24)

Additional Notes

• Show Tone: Unfiltered, rowdy, deeply knowledgeable, and extremely inside-football, leavened frequently with jokes, ribbing, and local flavor.
• Football Week Energy: The whole crew backs up the week as 'football heaven', joking about travel mishaps, legendary pizza, and connecting classic football culture with the modern transfer portal/paydays era.
• Final Word: “We love you guys. These are the good old days.” – AJ Hawk (161:14)

This episode is a can’t-miss for diehard NFL and college football fans. It captures the stakes, emotions, and off-the-field culture heading into one of the most anticipated weeks in the football calendar, all while showcasing the crew’s signature camaraderie and sharp wit.