The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 #1487 — January 15, 2026
“John Harbaugh Finalizing Deal with New York Giants, Adam Schefter, Pete Thamel, & AJ Hawk”
Episode Overview
This episode is a classic Pat McAfee Show: high-energy NFL and sports talk with Pat and the crew, packed with insider info, hilarious banter, and big breaking news. Today’s focus is the monumental hiring of John Harbaugh as New York Giants head coach; reactions from Adam Schefter; updates with Pete Thamel on a college basketball gambling scandal; and the usual wild ride through NFL playoff storylines, new stadiums, and the latest ticket giveaway challenge—this time, involving a literal punch-out. The tone is part expert analysis, part locker-room hangout.
Table of Contents
- Ticket Giveaway—Punching Bag Challenge — [00:14–06:15]
- Main Story: John Harbaugh to the Giants (Guest: Adam Schefter) — [06:15–21:05]
- NFL Coaching Dominoes: LaFleur, Stefanski, and OC Trends — [12:09–17:52]
- Fred Warner Injury, Playoff Player Updates — [19:18–20:36]
- College Hoops Gambling Scandal (Guest: Pete Thamel) — [21:22–30:06]
- College Football Rule Changes, NCAA Uncertainty — [30:38–36:06]
- NFL New Stadiums: Commanders & The Anacostia River Poop Saga — [37:09–44:05]
- Tennis Gimmicks, Buzzer Beaters, and Sports Odds & Ends — [47:25–56:27]
- Mike Tomlin’s Emotional Team Exit — [56:27–81:41]
- NFL Playoff Weekend Predictions & Weather Talk with AJ Hawk — [63:45–68:07]
- Ticket Giveaway Punch-Out: The Results — [107:14–124:26]
- Closing Banter & Tomorrow’s Preview — [138:01–152:18]
1. Ticket Giveaway—Punching Bag Challenge
[00:14–06:15]
- Pat teases today’s “#PMSCGeekPunch” ticket giveaway—a guessing contest involving Ty Schmidt, Boston Connor, and a boxing arcade machine.
- The challenge: Guess the combined highest punch scores, Price is Right rules “in reverse” (closest over the actual number wins if nobody hits exact).
- “These things are in a lot of bars. Whenever we were kind of in our boozing era…” — Pat
- Only 3 entries allowed per X account; SeatGeek provides the tickets.
2. Main Story: John Harbaugh to the Giants (Guest: Adam Schefter)
[06:15–21:05]
The Announcement
- John Harbaugh is officially the new NY Giants head coach; deal being finalized as of late last night.
- Pat: “Congratulations to Harbaugh. Congratulations to the New York Giants.”
Shefter’s Inside Info
- Quote: “They had the framework of a deal in place when he left the building... the Titans trip was canceled.” — Adam Schefter [08:01–08:18]
- Giants and Harbaugh vetted each other deeply (called Tom Coughlin, Bill Belichick, and more).
- Harbaugh values QB/ownership alignment; he likes what he hears about the Giants.
- Deal: Approx. 5 years, $100 million ($20M/year) — among highest-paid NFL coaches.
Giants’ Excitement
- Shefter: “This is their Super Bowl. They won the Super Bowl today. They got the coach that everybody wanted.” [09:34]
QB Development Angle
- Pat notes Harbaugh’s strong record with rookie QBs (Joe Flacco, Lamar Jackson).
- Giants’ rookie Jackson Dart: “He is worthy of investment and being the guy to build around.” — Pat [10:46]
Impact on Other Coaches
- Harbaugh deal sets contract bar for others (e.g., Matt LaFleur in Green Bay).
3. NFL Coaching Dominoes: LaFleur, Stefanski, and OC Trends
[12:09–17:52]
- Shefter: “No bearing at all” of Harbaugh’s deal on LaFleur/Packers extension, “but other teams would pay big for him.”
- Discussion on Kevin Stefanski’s strong appeal for Tennessee, Atlanta, Miami, Baltimore, and potential for elite OC jobs.
- If you’re being paid as an ex-HC: “Would you take another head coaching job, or wait and be an OC with a better QB/organization, then re-enter the market?”
- Notable pay escalation for coordinators (“$6, $7, $8, $9 million OC contracts for the right guy”).
- OC openings at Eagles, Lions, Bucs, Chargers labeled “head coach creators” by Pat.
4. Fred Warner Injury, Playoff Player Updates
[19:18–20:36]
- Shefter: 49ers star LB Fred Warner is “pushing to play” but activation deadline is Saturday at 4pm ET.
- Bills’ Curtis Samuel/Ed Oliver: Injury decisions due earlier due to kickoff times.
- “Fred Warner doesn’t want to let it go” (on trying to play) — Adam Schefter [19:24]
5. College Hoops Gambling Scandal (Guest: Pete Thamel)
[21:22–30:06]
Federal Point-Shaving Case Unsealed
- “Today is sort of culmination...an unspooling federal investigation.”
- Ringleaders: Shane Hennan & Marv Fairley—career gamblers/criminals, infiltrated D1 small college hoops, including DePaul in the Big East.
- $458k on Towson-UNC A&T, $424k on Kent State “tainted games.”
- Quote: “First of all, someone would wager that much...and that none of this got flagged...blew my mind, Pat.” — Pete [23:53]
- Used player intermediaries (ex-NBAer Antonio Blakeney); scandal preys on low-paid, small-school athletes.
- Digital wagering increases detection but also creates broader risk.
- Pat: “The digital gambling will help root this out more because it’s impossible not to track everything.”
6. College Football Rule Changes, NCAA Uncertainty
[30:38–36:06]
- Coaches voted to expand redshirt eligibility from 4 to 9 games—a tactical move (“hedge”) as NCAA considers a “5-for-5” plan (5 years to play, no redshirts).
- Enforcement remains murky amid court injunctions over player eligibility (example: Trinidad Chambers at Ole Miss).
- Pete: “Who’s going to enforce it? The confluence of convoluted NCAA committees...I will not bore you guys with.” [Explanation of complex governance—NCAA dysfunction theme!]
7. NFL New Stadiums: Commanders & The Anacostia River Poop Saga
[37:09–44:05]
- Commanders unveil futuristic new stadium plan on Anacostia River near DC.
- Segment devolves into hilarious, recurring “poop” riff: Formerly polluted river, stadium plumbing disasters, and Clean Rivers Project to remedy it by 2030.
- “I did not know the Commanders were going to be surrounded by poop all the time.” — Pat [40:00]
- “Mussels have already purified 32 million gallons.” (on ecology efforts)
8. Tennis Gimmicks, Buzzer Beaters, and Sports Odds & Ends
[47:25–56:27]
- Tennis does a “Million Dollar One Point Slam”—48 players (pros, amateurs, celebs, one Aussie wins $1M in one-point matches).
- “One of the greatest pieces of sporting news you could probably watch...” — Con Man [47:25]
- Buzz around tennis and golf gaining popularity as football winds down.
- College basketball: Several buzzer-beaters (Kentucky vs LSU, SMU vs Va Tech, TCU women's), conference play heats up.
- “College hoops is hitting. It really is.” — Ty [56:11]
9. Mike Tomlin’s Emotional Team Exit
[56:27–81:41]
- Details emerge about Tomlin’s surprise stepping down as Steelers coach—deep emotional locker room response.
- Long snapper Christian Kuntz: “He did make a point to tell us ... that he had no intentions on coaching any other guys but the group he was looking at.” [75:46]
- Reports of tears, “felt like a funeral,” and veterans (Cam Heyward, Joey Porter Jr.) deeply affected.
- Pat: “Everybody in Pittsburgh I think has the same message: Hey, we appreciate the hell out of what you did for Pittsburgh... That’s abnormal these days.” [80:06]
- Discussion: Steelers and Ravens both navigating transitions after long-tenure coaches.
10. NFL Playoff Weekend Predictions & Weather Talk with AJ Hawk
[63:45–68:07, 122:47–129:16]
- Heavy focus on playoff matchups: Rams at Bears (cold weather), Bills-Broncos (Josh Allen vs. Denver D), and more.
- Cold weather and wind: How it affects QBs like Caleb (CHI rookie), Stafford (vet), Josh Allen’s “strapping” build.
- “Wind... more than anything affects the scoring in a game.” — AJ Hawk [67:15]
- How Bears’ coach Ben Johnson has acclimatized players—practices with no heaters.
- “We have made it to the divisional round. We have a head coach that’s been hired.” — Pat [69:46]
- Roundtable playoff picks, odds, and injury news (Fred Warner, Ed Oliver).
11. Ticket Giveaway Punch-Out: The Results
[107:14–124:26]
- Ty Schmidt and Boston Connor take on the Thunderdome punching bag.
- Quick recap of test runs and strategies (Ty: “Just trying not to break my hand.”)
- Final (highest) scores: Ty — 854; Connor — 793; Combined = 1,647.
- Winner: @ColtsfanCaden56 (out of first 10 correct guesses).
- “Travel and hotel not included...traffic’s crazy, plan accordingly.” — Pat [137:39]
12. Closing Banter & Tomorrow’s Preview
[138:01–152:18]
- Tease for Friday’s ticket contest—an in-office relay race (Mitt, Debone, Talk, Bill) around the Thunderdome.
- More NFL divisional round talk; passionate rift on roundabouts vs. rotaries; flying anxiety stories.
- Rich Rodriguez calls mid-show (possibly to recruit for Jacksonville State), poking fun at rumors on Facebook about Pat’s wife having a baby ("not true").
- Final thoughts: “Let’s enjoy this weekend... football is fleeting; let’s enjoy it right now.” — AJ Hawk [151:56]
- Reminder: “Be a friend, tell a friend, something nice might change their life!” — Pat
Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
- “They won the Super Bowl today. They got the coach that everyone wanted.” — Adam Schefter on Harbaugh [09:34]
- “It felt like a funeral.” — AJ Hawk/Pat, describing the emotion in Steelers locker room after Tomlin’s announcement [78:01]
- “This river is a poopy river... But I have good news!” — Commanders stadium discussion [39:48–40:16]
- “Wind... nothing affects the total score more than wind.” — AJ Hawk [67:15]
- “I love this... I don’t want to say immediately leads to a lot of Italians because there’s a lot of water, lot of moving. Okay.” — Pat, on Pittsburgh’s rivers and ethnic origin [44:40]
- “Be your friend, tell a friend something nice...” — Pat (signature signoff) [152:19]
Tone & Vibe
- Relatable, irreverent, but packed with credible insider info
- Banter moves seamlessly between hard news (coaching hires, sports scandals), speculation (playoffs, contracts), and total nonsense (poop rivers, punching bags)
- The ticket giveaway antics are a running thread, involving both the audience and the crew in slapstick competitions.
Useful For
- Anyone wanting sharp, up-to-the-minute NFL news plus a sense of how the sports world is buzzing about it
- Getting an inside look into locker room and franchise dynamics (Giants, Steelers, Packers, etc.)
- College hoops/gambling fans following the latest integrity scandals
- Fans of Pat’s brand of sports-as-entertainment—funny, chaotic, unpredictable
Listen to This Episode For...
- The most entertaining breakdown of John Harbaugh’s seismic move to the Giants
- Adam Schefter dropping direct reporting on contract numbers and coaching circles
- An honest, emotional glimpse into NFL transition moments (Tomlin/Steelers)
- College sports under threat from gambling, straight from Pete Thamel (ESPN’s best on that beat)
- The only sports podcast that might talk more about mussels cleaning a river than playoff weather trends
End of summary.