The Right Time with Bomani Jones
Episode: Steelers Beat Ravens, Kevin Stefanski & Raheem Morris Fired, Transfer Portal Madness
Release Date: January 5, 2026
Host: Bomani Jones with Ryan

Episode Overview

In this episode, Bomani Jones, joined by Ryan, tackles the latest NFL coaching carousel as firings loom and Black Monday claims victims like Kevin Stefanski and Raheem Morris. The duo breaks down pivotal NFL games, including the Ravens-Steelers showdown and its fallout for coaches and star players. They offer sharp takes on playoff prospects, coaching security, and untangle Transfer Portal chaos and college football's shifting landscape. Laced with signature humor, cultural insight, and notable asides, the conversation is both lively and deeply informed.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Coaching Carousel: “Black Monday” and Its Implications

• Waiting for Firings in Real Time (00:00–02:00)
  • Bomani admits recording as Black Monday unfolds, humorously noting the anticipation:

    “I was watching the TV before we came in here. Adam Schefter had to get up and get off the set and, like, go take phone calls…whenever he come back is real disappointing if somebody ain’t get fired.”

• No Sympathy for Rich Coaches (02:00–03:00)
  • Firings are softened by huge buyouts; Bomani jokes, “The problem with getting fired isn’t getting fired…it’s where my check at?”
• Current Firings and Likely Departures (17:58–25:20)
  • Raheem Morris (Falcons) and Kevin Stefanski (Browns) fired.
  • John Harbaugh (Ravens) and Mike Tomlin (Steelers) discussed as possible next exits.
  • “If the Steelers had lost that game, it would have been really hard not to fire Mike Tomlin.” (07:09)
  • The coaching cycle is impacted by lack of appealing candidates and the unattractive state of several open jobs—“it’s going to be bleak out there. However, bleak for a job that pay you like 8, 9, $10 million. It could be worse.” (30:29)

2. Ravens vs. Steelers: The Playoff Collision & Franchise Futures

• Ravens’ Star-Crossed Reputation (03:33–06:10)
  • Bomani recounts painful Ravens moments:

    “Ravens…got a long track record of everything going wrong at the end—when Lee Evans dropped that pass…Billy Cundiff missed the kick…Zay Flowers fumbled up the game…”

• Lamar Jackson’s Playoff Struggles — The LeBron Parallel (04:12–09:53)
  • Compares Lamar’s “tightness” in playoff moments to early-career LeBron James, quoting:

    “That version of him reminds me a lot of what we’ve seen in Lamar Jackson in a lot of these playoffs where he’s come up short, where you’ve seen the stress…he gets tight. I think enough has happened for us to say that with a measure of confidence.” (04:42)

• Locker Room Tensions—Harbaugh vs. Jackson (10:12–13:53)
  • References Mike Preston’s reporting on Lamar falling asleep in meetings and friction with Coach Harbaugh.
  • Cites rumors of Miami interest for Lamar, ballots for Lamar over Harbaugh if a decision comes.
  • Offers perspective: “You get 22 years in this business, I congratulate you on getting 22 years…John Harbaugh has worked that job for 18 years. Congratulations to you, big dog.” (12:28)

3. Steelers Playoff Outlook & Mike Tomlin’s Security

• Steelers Fans and Tomlin’s Status (15:36–17:58)
  • Despite outside speculation, Pittsburgh’s ownership is slow to change coaches without real reason:

    “Every time we thought the block was hot on Mike Tomlin, it wasn’t.”

  • Tomlin isn’t a schemer, more a leader and managing a changing, aging roster.
  • Cautions for the upcoming playoff matchup: “Mike Tomlin is not beating you with scheme…They are going to be out-talented in this game…and their quarterback is a million years old.” (15:34–16:01)

4. Other NFL Coaching Notes & The Importance of Context

• Too Soon or Not Soon Enough? (25:34–29:43)
  • Discussion of coaches on the hot seat: Sean McDermott, Ty Bowles, Matt LaFleur, Kevin O’Connell.
  • Bomani critiques fan memory and expectation: Even Super Bowl trips don’t secure job security if culture, player management, or development wane.

5. Transfer Portal Madness & The Changing Face of College Football

• Overwhelming Movement, Loss of Tradition (33:43–39:20)
  • Over 1/3 of Division I players in the portal; impossible to track.
  • Bomani offers advice and critique:

    “The long money for you is to stay at one place and build some relationships with some rich people and those people will take care of you…But this…the game is to get into that network and to have some people who look out for you.”

  • Nostalgic for the era when players built legacies: “There is a certain charm…of, like, going to Senior night and being like, yo, I remember what it was like when he first got here. And this is what it is now. That’s a big part of the appeal of this. And that’s gone, man.”

6. Indiana Smokes Alabama: The Rose Bowl Upset

• Experience Over Talent (39:28–43:45)
  • Indiana’s veteran roster physically dominates Alabama, prompting commentary on how parity and player dispersal, especially of “big, strong, fast defensive linemen,” erodes the historic SEC advantage.
  • “They made Alabama tap. Like by the time the third quarter came around, Alabama tapped, they quit, they gave up.” (40:20)
  • Bomani finds humor in message board lament:

    “We are being abused by three star whites.” (42:23)
    and notes, “White people have such low self-athletic self-esteem.”

7. NFL Playoff Quarterback Talk

• Sam Darnold—Still Not a Believer (44:14–46:33)
  • Despite the stats, Bomani isn’t buying Darnold as Seattle’s savior:

    “Nope. My brother sent me a text…said, ‘Sam Darnold is, dare I say, cold.’ And I was like, hey, big dog, I can’t even let you get out in the streets talking like this, man.” (44:14)

  • Acknowledges Shanahan and Seattle’s resilience but won’t “trust no Sam Darnold,” choosing “belief is a choice.” (46:33)

8. Culture, Lexicon, and Listener Q&A

• The Origin of “Itis” and Cultural Borrowing (46:38–49:06)
  • Call-in question about non-Black folks using “the itis;” Bomani explains the origins and warns about careless borrowing of Black vernacular:

    “Never forget that they can hear you when you talk. And they…be learning. They be soaking up game. Now, don’t get me wrong, they use it in clumsy ways that might make you want to throw them out the window, but they can hear you.” (48:12)

• Player Hater's Ball: Who Makes the All-Hate Team? (51:13–54:39)
  • Callers ask which historical figures would fit best in a Player Hater’s Ball:
    • Joe from Missouri City, “Rest in peace to Billy Packer,” and J. Edgar Hoover top the list.
    • “Joel does not do it for recreation. Like when Joel get to hating, it’s Cause Joel mean it.” (52:24)
    • Comic banter about the endurance of historical haters.
• Running Bit: Annoying “Happy New Year” (54:39–56:51)
  • Bomani prank-calls a friend who hates late New Year greetings, playing out an ongoing joke with Larry David-style escalation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Losing a Longtime Job:
  “You get 22 years in this business, I congratulate you on getting 22 years…John Harbaugh has worked that job for 18 years. Congratulations to you, big dog.” (12:28)
• On Modern College Football:
  “You’ve just basically reduced it [college football] to a television show or that is what we are in the process of doing. And I don’t think that’s good business.” (39:20)
• On the Steelers’ Identity:
  “The identity of this franchise is not a byproduct of Mike Tomlin. That’s coming from up top.” (17:02)
• On Transfer Portal Chaos:
  “A third, nearly a third of D1 players would be in it.” (37:07)
• On Sam Darnold Hype:
  “My brother sent me a test…’Sam Darnold is, dare I say, cold.’ And I was like, hey, big dog, I can’t even let you get out in the streets talking like this, man.” (44:14)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• NFL Coach Firings Overview: 00:00–03:00 & 17:58–26:07
• Ravens-Steelers Game Analysis: 03:33–09:53
• Lamar vs. Harbaugh Dynamic: 10:12–13:53
• Steelers Playoff & Tomlin Job Security: 15:36–17:58
• Black Monday (Coach Hot Seats): 17:58–30:29
• Transfer Portal/College Football Free Agency: 33:43–39:20
• Indiana vs. Alabama in the Rose Bowl: 39:28–43:45
• Sam Darnold & Seahawks Playoff Outlook: 44:14–46:33
• Listener Calls: "Itis" and Player Hater’s Ball: 46:38–54:39
• Running “Happy New Year” Joke: 54:39–56:51

Summary Tone & Style

This episode features Bomani’s trademark blend of wit, cultural critique, and deep sports insight. The conversation is relaxed, at times irreverent, but always sharp—focusing as much on the stories and personalities behind the headlines as the on-field action. Listeners are rewarded with both laughs and food for thought about the ever-changing sports and media landscape.