The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 #1503: Live from the Lahd Hahse at the NFL Combine

Date: February 25, 2026
Host: Pat McAfee, with AJ Hawk, the Toxic Table, and Tone Diggs
Special Guests: Mat Ishbia (Phoenix Suns owner), Joe Hortiz (Chargers GM), Jim Harbaugh (Chargers HC), Mike McDaniel (Chargers OC), Jesse Minter (Ravens HC), John Schneider (Seattle Seahawks GM), Robert Saleh (Titans HC), Mike Borgonzi (Titans GM)
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

Episode Overview

Pat McAfee and crew are back, broadcasting live from Indianapolis for the 2026 NFL Combine. This special episode blends insider football conversations, NFL combine insights, a passionate Olympic recap, and interviews with some of football’s biggest decision-makers and personalities. McAfee and team cover the present and future of the NFL, discuss cyclical trends in football, speculate on player movement, and highlight the gravity of the Combine for incoming rookies and teams alike.

Key Topics & Highlights

The Significance of the NFL Combine

[00:00–06:57]

• Combine as the Great Equalizer: Pat describes the Combine as where legacies and fortunes are made, overlooked prospects can shine, and the networking across the league intensifies with agents, GMs, and coaches all in town.
• The “Largest Sports Interview on Earth”: Emphasizes the holistic evaluation—athletic testing, on-field drills, and crucial meetings testing recall, football IQ, and “do you love ball?”
• Football’s Offseason Pilgrimage: The Combine is depicted as a Mecca for hope, especially for downtrodden fan bases seeking Super Bowl dreams, with 197 days until the new season.
• [05:59] AJ Hawk on the Mind Games: "It's the ultimate job interview... the mental side is even a bigger component that people don’t talk about."
• Discussion on loaded draft positions (WR, Edge, DB), key quarterbacks, and the pressures on prospects.

Olympic Recap: Patriotism and Sportsmanship

[07:42–21:36]

• Winter Olympics Deep Dive:
  • McAfee lauds U.S. athletes and narrates emotional highlights—Alex Ferreira (gold, men's skiing halfpipe), Alyssa Liu (figure skating prodigy), Elena Myers Taylor (41, first bobsled gold), Jordan Stolz (speed skating), Team USA women’s and men’s hockey triumphs over Canada.
  • “If we know the sport exists here in America, we win it.” – Pat, [08:37]
  • Laments figure skating judging controversies and celebrates unique Olympic moments.
• On Athletes Representing America:
  • McAfee preaches the pride U.S. athletes have, noting: “When the national anthem is played before sports, athletes are thinking about: our athletes are better than yours... Sports are a way to show other countries you’re better.”
  • Discusses the celebratory culture post-victory and the role of sports as a substitute for international rivalry.

NBA All-Star Insight with Mat Ishbia

[25:50–41:21]

• Ishbia’s NBA Dream Journey:
  • His transition from mortgage magnate to Suns owner and recent on-court exploits at the Celebrity All-Star Game.
  • On tanking and draft strategy: "Tanking is loser mentality... That’s not my stuff. If you want to lose, I'll show you a loser." – Ishbia, [30:25]
  • Advocates for changing incentives in the NBA to discourage losing for picks.
  • Announces (with Pat) $1M prize + $1M charity donations for next year’s NBA All-Star slam dunk and three-point contests.
• Key Quotes:
  • "Everyone says, ‘Don't meddle,’ but as a basketball guy, you want to be involved." – Ishbia, [28:15]
  • Explores team-building dynamics, NBA’s global growth, and managing the All-Star event in Phoenix.

Chargers’ Brain Trust: GM Joe Hortiz, HC Jim Harbaugh, OC Mike McDaniel

[42:24–56:34]

• Organizational Alignment:
  • Focus on shoring up offensive line, integrating new offensive/defensive philosophies with OC McDaniel and DC Jesse Minter.
  • Harbaugh on learning from McDaniel: "I'm really just leaning into how Mike sees the game; it's creative. It puts defenses in conflict." – [44:03]
  • On Justin Herbert: “A player that has shown he can do everything on the football field.” – McDaniel, [47:16]
  • Discuss evolving X’s and O’s, with McDaniel reflecting on his pre-snap innovations and how football trends are cyclical (offense vs defense), and adapting schemes to player strengths.

Baltimore Ravens’ New Head Coach: Jesse Minter

[69:16–88:00]

• From Michigan to the NFL:
  • Minter shares how being with Jim Harbaugh prepped him for the top job.
  • On owner Steve Bisciotti: “He's the best owner in sports. He creates an environment where you’re always going to be doing what’s needed to be successful.” – Minter, [71:43]
  • Discusses building around Lamar Jackson, keeping Ravens’ defensive tradition, and making the leap to head coach.
  • Minter on chess-match defensive philosophy: “What coaching is—what do you have available, how can you put them in position to be successful?” – [79:14]

Kicker Analysis, Salary Cap & Business of Football

[89:19–95:43]

• Kicker Combine: Pat analyzes what scouts look for (“height” on kicks, strength, accuracy).
• Brandon Aubrey’s $10M+ Contract Prospects:
  • McAfee: “Every time you get a new record-setting contract comes the expectation as well.”
  • Explains the business side—media deals, salary cap jump, and financial health of the league.

John Schneider (Seahawks GM): Building Dynasties, Leadership & Scouting

[119:16–151:22]

• From Carroll to McDonald: Intimate details on Pete Carroll’s departure and hiring Mike Macdonald—valuing vision, “no egos, all ball,” and setting up for the next great era.
• QB Decisions: On moving on from Geno Smith, pivoting to Sam Darnold, and what’s required in the role.
• Culture and Talent Evaluation:
  • “Eye in the sky [on tape] and the person, the competitor, that’s what we look for.” – Schneider, [128:27]
  • Shares stories of combine interview questions, the value of authenticity, and the importance of “no walls” communication between personnel and coaches.
• On New Ownership Transition: Schneider expects to be a "carryover" and is preparing for an eventual $10B+ franchise sale.

Titans New Regime: Robert Saleh (HC) and Mike Borgonzi (GM)

[153:43–176:59]

• Saleh’s Second Chance:
  • On learning from Jets adversity and recalibrating under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco to prepare for head coaching in Tennessee.
  • Emphasizes style: “When people are watching... we want that [tape] to scream speed and violence.” – Saleh, [169:09]
  • Salutes Jeffrey Simmons as a cornerstone player.
• Borgonzi on Team Building:
  • Draws from Kansas City on creating a collaborative, “no division” culture reminiscent of Andy Reid’s model.
  • Titans have massive salary cap room ($100M+) and are targeting the right blend of FA and draft to build a new culture.
• QB Cam Ward discussed as a centerpiece:
  • “The dude is wired right... a competitor. He loves football, and the guys gravitate toward him.” – Borgonzi, [160:48]

Combine Betting & Position Trends

[60:37–65:17]

• Combine as a Betting Event:
  • Tone Diggs reviews 40-yard dash odds, bench press favorites, and which combine ‘freaks’ are poised to break records.
  • Discussion around the impact (or lack thereof) of certain drills—bench press rarely a dealbreaker for prospects.
• Return of "Beef":
  • Reflection on cyclical football trends—speed vs power, linebacker size, and the resurgence of run-heavy concepts.

Notable Quotes

• Pat McAfee [08:37]: “If we know the sport exists here in America, we win it.”
• AJ Hawk [05:59]: “It's the ultimate job interview... The mental side is even a bigger component that a lot of people don't talk about.”
• Mat Ishbia [30:25]: “Tanking is loser mentality... That’s losers. That’s not my stuff.”
• Jim Harbaugh [44:03]: “I'm really just leaning into how Mike sees the game; it's creative. It puts defenses in conflict.”
• John Schneider [128:29]: “What really matters is, like, eye in the sky and then the person, the competitor, that's kind of what we've [always looked for].”
• Robert Saleh [169:09]: “When people are watching and they can't hear anything... what are you telling them? We want that thing to scream speed and violence.”

Memorable Moments & Lighter Highlights

• All-Star “Combine Charity Challenge”:
  • Each guest attempts to toss a football through a small hole for $100,000 to charity—many near-misses, some playful ribbing.
• Pat’s heartfelt Olympic Salute:
  • Emotional tribute to athletes, solidarity, and national pride.
• Pat on Combine “off-the-field” action:
  • Plenty of playful jabs about the handshake deals and late-night bar negotiations happening throughout Indy.
• Cultural, Generational Football Chatter:
  • Reflections on scouting in the age of personality testing, media training, and the “do you love ball?” test.
• Endless banter about team needs, coaching hires, and the ever-churning NFL rumor mill.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• NFL Combine Opening Monologue: [00:00–06:57]
• Olympics Recap & Impact: [07:42–21:36]
• Mat Ishbia Interview: [25:50–41:21]
• Chargers’ Brass Roundtable: [42:24–56:34]
• Ravens HC Jesse Minter: [69:16–88:00]
• Kicker Market, Cap Talk: [89:19–95:43]
• John Schneider In-depth: [119:16–151:22]
• Titans New Era (Saleh & Borgonzi): [153:43–176:59]
• Combine Betting, Trends: [60:37–65:17]

Conclusion

The episode brings all the chaos and camaraderie of the Combine to life, mixing deep football analysis with behind-the-scenes storytelling and humor. Listeners gain real-time insight into how the NFL’s most pivotal offseason week operates—from front office decisions to the lore of “grit” and culture-building in the modern league, all delivered in the show’s signature, relatable, and energetic tone.

Perfect for fans seeking the intersection of league business, on-field trends, and the personalities driving every story, this episode is a comprehensive snapshot of where football stands—and where it’s heading—in 2026.