The Ringer Fantasy Football Show

Episode: “Harbaugh(!), Pete Carroll, and Stefanski Fired. Plus, DK's First 2026 Mock Draft.”
Date: January 7, 2026
Hosts: Danny Heifetz (A), Danny Kelly (B), Craig Horlbeck (C)

Episode Overview

In this bustling and news-packed episode, Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, and Craig Horlbeck react live to seismic NFL coaching changes while unveiling DK’s first 2026 NFL mock draft. The hosts grapple with the surprise firings of legendary coaches—including John Harbaugh, Pete Carroll, and Kevin Stefanski—and debate the effects these moves will have on the league and fantasy football. Along the way, the guys break down the “Black Monday” carousel, analyze organizational dysfunction, discuss the future of top prospects, and bring their signature blend of insight, inside jokes, and unfiltered banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Massive NFL Coaching Firings ("Black Monday")

• The episode launches straight into the wave of coach firings that overtook the league after the 2025 season.
  • Pete Carroll (Raiders): Fired after just one disastrous year, with ownership and fans both eager for a fresh start. Carroll’s repeated poor decisions, overreliance on family in key coaching roles, and an inability to adapt his schemes to the modern game are roundly roasted.
  • Kevin Stefanski (Browns): Despite winning two Coach of the Year awards and making the playoffs twice, Stefanski is axed after six years. The hosts argue he overachieved with a carousel of quarterbacks and dubious front office support. They paint the Browns organization as perennially chaotic and likely at fault for the lack of sustained success.
  • Jonathan Gannon (Cardinals): Gannon never gets the defense off the ground in Arizona. The Cardinals chronically lose in division, regress while rivals improve, and even the built-in injury excuse doesn’t save him.
  • Falcons, Giants, Titans: Additional firings and front office moves dissected, with specific attention to the dysfunction in Giants ownership and Atlanta’s sweeping housecleaning.
  • Breaking News: John Harbaugh (Ravens): The firing breaks live during recording, prompting immediate, honest reactions from the hosts. They reflect on Harbaugh's long tenure, understanding the franchise’s need for a new voice but recognizing the gravity of moving on from a 15-year pillar.

Notable Quotes:

• “Every decision Pete Carroll made was wrong.” —Danny Heifetz [07:14]
• "He was a good coach, but he did not show at all that he wanted to adapt to what's happening in the game now."—Danny Heifetz [11:40]
• “Coach of the Year twice, period, is, like, incredible… on the Browns, like, recently.” —Danny Kelly [13:32]
• "It's hard to make two hit shows, you know what I mean?" —Craig Horlbeck [10:05], comparing Carroll’s Seahawks run and Raiders fiasco

Timestamps:

• Raiders/Carroll: [05:30–11:57]
• Browns/Stefanski: [12:16–19:33]
• Cardinals/Gannon: [23:17–25:43]
• Breaking: Harbaugh Firing: [55:48–64:42]

2. Coaching Carousel Fallout & Organizational Dysfunction

• The hosts stress how ownership meddling (Giants, Falcons), financial mismanagement (Raiders), or lack of vision (Cardinals, Browns) contributes to instability—and how it affects fantasy and real football value.
• The Browns’ QB injury misadventures, and the resulting cap credits from insurance on Deshaun Watson, are used as a teaching point for fantasy drafters and fans.

Quote (on the Browns):

"In those 26 years, the Browns have had 10 GMs, 12 coaches, and 42 quarterbacks in 26 years. So like, it’s probably the Browns’ fault." – Heifetz [15:32]

3. Which Head Coach Openings are Most Attractive?

• Giants, Titans, Falcons, Browns, Raiders, Cardinals: Each situation broken down for prospects, ownership, talent, and front office interference.
• Consensus: Giants are the best job, due to a promising young QB and more solid on-field pieces.
• Raiders and Browns: high risk, high pressure, multiple head coaches being paid at once, and unresolved QB nightmares.

Timestamp: [28:56–30:23]

4. DK’s First 2026 Mock Draft

• DK (Danny Kelly) walks through the logic, positional value debates, and prospect quirks of his first mock draft, highlighting a “meat and potatoes” class heavy on trench players and edge defenders.
  • Raiders: Take QB Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) at #1; described as a “rhythm timing passer” in the mold of Matt Ryan or Jared Goff.
  • Jets: Whether Oregon’s Dante Moore will enter draft (or "pull a Manning" to dodge the Jets).
  • Positional Value Tangent: The group debates the wisdom (or folly) of chasing “safe” non-premium positions, e.g., safeties or guards, high in the draft. Caleb Downs (Ohio State) singled out as a rare safety worthy of a top selection.
  • Chiefs at 9th overall(!): The bizarro 2026 draft order prompts a reconsideration of how the mighty are falling.
  • In-depth talk on arm length, trench play, and the new athletic trends—like players showing more skin and less padding.
  • Mock Draft rundown and player comps interspersed with raucous banter.

Selected Quotes:

• “The ultimate bell curve meme… In the beginning, you just think DK Metcalf’s ripped… In the end, you just agree the Seahawks took him because he’s ripped!” —Heifetz [33:43]
• "Caleb Downs is obviously the best defender at any position in America… Caleb Downs is like, you know, Craig, you always joke like, we could probably do a better job with the draft in January if we just stopped it right when the games ended and we just watched the games and we're like, no more information, please, outside of tell me if their knees are fucked up." —Heifetz [53:37]
• “I'm thinking of abandoning positional value altogether.” —Danny Kelly [54:35]

Timestamps:

• Mock Draft Segment: [32:23–91:19]
• Chiefs “at 9th overall” discussion: [82:20–84:55]

5. Harbaugh’s Firing (Live Reaction)

• The hosts process the shocking live news; speculate on his most likely landing spots (Giants strongly rumored).
• Discuss what his tenure means, why the Ravens felt it was time, and the dangers of letting organizations stagnate for too long under one regime.
• The comparison to Pete Carroll’s fate and franchise “voice fatigue.”
• Jokes about the Mara family, AI-assisted coaching searches, and the economics of trading for a coach.

Quotes:

• “I mean, I, I, I mean, the Giants are gonna hire John Harbaugh. I’m telling you that right now.” —Heifetz [58:49]
• “Your voice at some point… just gets stale.” —Danny Kelly [60:05]

6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If Ty Simpson doesn’t declare for the draft, I think he wouldn't start at Bama…” – Heifetz on QB musical chairs [47:35]
• “The idea that a safety like as special as… Caleb Downs, if he succeeds, it's unquestionably worth the top 10 pick.” —Heifetz [75:23]
• “Palindromes are fun.” —DK, after learning 'Cub Buck' is a palindrome [95:27]
• “It gets people going… It’s like under boob.” —B (on the new lineman fashion of tucking jerseys/pads) [89:04]
• “Lose control… I don't like when… Yeah, Lose Control. I guess that the. I'm embarrassed to say that if that song's on, like, a Starbucks or something and I'm talking to someone. I actually was like, in my head, I'm like, I wish you would stop talking so I could listen to this controls.” —Heifetz, in a sidetracked ending about earworms [98:26]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |------------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Raiders/Pete Carroll Firing | 05:30–11:57 | | Browns/Stefanski Firing | 12:16–19:33 | | Cardinals/Gannon Firing | 23:17–25:43 | | Black Monday Overview / Atlanta / Giants | 28:46–31:31 | | DK’s Mock Draft Deep Dive | 32:23–91:19 | | Harbaugh Firing Live Reaction | 55:48–64:42 | | Palindromes and End-of-Show Banter | 93:48–97:34 |

Final Thoughts

This jam-packed episode blends up-to-the-minute NFL drama with sharp analysis and patented Ringer comedy. The crew’s fearless takes on legendary coaches getting the axe, the real reasons behind perennial losers, the quirks and chaos of draft season, and honest barroom philosophy (plus a live Harbaugh bombshell) make this an indispensable “state of the league” listen. Whether you’re a fantasy diehard, a draftnik, or just love NFL schadenfreude, this show was a wild ride.

Listen if you want:

• Football gossip dissected with realities for fantasy, drafting, and team futures
• Laugh-out-loud analogies and tangents about everything from NFL fashion to palindromes
• To understand why the 2026 NFL offseason already feels like madness

End of Summary