The Ryen Russillo Show (Barstool Sports)

Episode: Mahomes’ Future and the Super Bowl Favorite w/ Matt Ryan, Plus What’s Next for Michigan w/ Bruce Feldman

Date: December 15, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the changing landscape of the NFL and college football. Host Ryen Russillo, now with Barstool Sports, dives into:

• The Kansas City Chiefs’ stunning fall from playoff contention and what it means for Patrick Mahomes and the franchise.
• The rise of the Rams as his “favorite team in the NFL.”
• A deep dive into the best and worst performances from the past NFL week.
• A robust discussion with Matt Ryan (former NFL quarterback, now CBS/Netflix analyst) on teams, quarterbacks, and Super Bowl favorites.
• Bruce Feldman (The Athletic, Big Noon Kickoff) provides the latest on Michigan’s coaching chaos after the Sharon Moore scandal, and speculates about the program’s next steps amid college football’s broader upheaval.

Throughout, Russillo maintains his signature analytical, unfiltered, sometimes meandering style, mixing statistical breakdowns, personal observations, and candid banter with his guests.

Chief Segments & Key Talking Points

1. The Chiefs: A Dynasty Interrupted

[03:15–19:30]

Chiefs’ Season Breakdown & Mahomes’ Future

• Chiefs out of the playoffs for the first time since 2014; Mahomes tears ACL.
• Russillo explores if this is a true “end of a dynasty,” or simply a brutal blip.
• Detailed breakdown of two pivotal plays vs. Chargers symbolizing KC’s offensive struggles: Mahomes facing a collapsing pocket, O-line injury chaos, and his receivers’ consistent failure to separate against man coverage.
• O-linemen out: Simmons, Taylor, Swing Tackle Moore, Trey Smith—all missing.
• Bron:
  • “I just can’t quit that team. I can’t quit Mahomes. I figured that they are always going to figure it out and now it’s officially not going to happen.” (07:30)
• Next Gen Stats: Chargers blitzed 0 times, pressured Mahomes on 49% of dropbacks.
• KC has lowest explosive run rate (20+ yards) in 25 years, second-most drops league-wide.
• Russillo contemplates if Mahomes is regressing or simply suffering from a failing infrastructure: “Are we seeing Texas Tech Mahomes again? He’s playing hero ball because he knows he has to.” (13:45)
• Contextualizes Mahomes vs. Brady: “The challenge for Mahomes is everything he’s doing is being compared to one guy… no one’s ever changing their mind on that.” (15:42)
• Big-picture: Is this a down year in the arc of a great, or the unraveling of greatness?

2. NFL Storylines: Other Contenders & Notable Games

[19:00–23:57]

Broncos’ and Packers’ Surprising Stats

• Denver’s win streak put under the microscope: “That may have been Bo Nix’s best game ever. And yet every stat says he’s not doing it alone.” (21:31)
• Broncos’ defense: historically poor lately, but they keep winning—Russillo questions the sustainability.

Rams: “My Favorite Team in the NFL”

• Rams come back from a deficit; statistical case for why they’re “the most complete team in the league.”
• O-line transformed, top-8 in all line win rate metrics; defense ranks high in all categories.
• “Their pass rush feels like World War Z.” (20:45)
• Only weakness: red zone production if Devante Adams’ hamstring lingers.

Matt Ryan Joins: Quarterback Insights & Playoff Favorites

[23:58–51:50]

Rivers’ Return and NFL Veteran Mentality

• Matt appreciates Philip Rivers' story but has no itch to return himself.
• “He took a few shots in that game...he’s got to be hurting today, but it was fun to watch.” – Matt Ryan (24:30)
• On veteran QBs’ ability to hop in late: “You can at least go out there and operate… set the protections… keep it moving.” (26:10)

Rams as Super Bowl Favorites?

• Both Russillo and Ryan agree: the Rams are the league’s most complete team right now.
• Matt Ryan: “I think they’re playing the best football of anybody in the league. The defense is really, really good—complete.” (27:37)
• Discussion about the value of coaching experience, healthy skill players, and Stafford’s revived play.

Quarterback Development: Rookie Years vs. Prime

• Matt Ryan describes the gradual mastery of NFL QB’ing: “Year one, you’re keeping your head above water… year five for me was when it felt different. There was a level of confidence, a level of belief.” (35:27)
• Why yards per attempt > TD/INT ratio in evaluating QBs’ true ceiling.
• On the current QB class: “I wouldn’t want to choose yet… I still think the upside for all three of these guys.” (40:13)

AFC Playoff Picture

• Josh Allen’s superhuman ability to solo-carry the Bills, but concerns about Buffalo’s weak defense: “The one guy that can put the team on the back and is a known known is Josh Allen.” – Matt Ryan (43:10)
• Houston’s defense has Allen’s number.
• Jacksonville & Houston compared: both have ascending QBs and outstanding defenses. Special shout-out to backup QB Davis Mills: “The assist of the year...”
• Trevor Lawrence has “looked excellent… best I’ve seen him play in his career.” – Matt Ryan (47:27)

Chiefs’ Outlook Post-Mahomes Injury

• Russillo argues Mahomes is still the best QB—supporting cast let him down.
• “There’s gotta be changes... O-line. Defensive line. Inconsistent wide receiver play. They don’t get stuff in rhythm.” – Matt Ryan on KC [50:17]

Bruce Feldman: Michigan’s Coaching Chaos & the State of College Football

[58:08–89:55]

Sharon Moore Scandal: What Happened & What’s Next?

• Situation: Moore fired after disturbing “inappropriate relationship” and ensuing public incident; culture in program called “dysfunctional.”
• “You have a picture of somebody who was very fragile emotionally and just kind of all over the place.” – Bruce Feldman (58:30)
• Michigan administration likely to see turnover too: AD’s job “hanging by a thread.”
• Russillo and Feldman debate: Did Michigan slow-walk the firing because of football priorities? “I wonder what would have happened had they beaten Ohio State—does this come out?” (64:05)
• Details challenge in reporting: “You can’t just start speculating on this stuff publicly… If you’re wrong, you’re destroyed.” (61:06)

Who Will Be Michigan’s Next Coach?

• Names floated: Kalyn DeBoer (Bama), Jed Fisch (Washington, ex-Arizona/Michigan), Biff Poggi (interim, beloved internally), Jason Eck (Idaho/New Mexico).
  • DeBoer is strongly expected to stay at Bama; family happy, school invested.
  • Fisch seen as a strong “alignment/culture” fit: “If Jed wants it, he’s probably the best option.” – Russillo (77:07)
• Michigan’s challenge: fractured leadership, reputational hit, roster portal exodus.
• Feldman outlines the dominoes in coaching if DeBoer leaves Bama, including why Lane Kiffin isn’t a fit.
• Jobs compared: Michigan vs. Oregon (for Dan Lanning): “Oregon is the better job now—stability, resources, recruiting.”

College Football’s Cultural Shift: Coaching Exodus?

• Discusses the “quality of life” gap between college and NFL coaches in the NIL/transfer era.
• “Every player on your roster is a free agent every year… there is no structure in college football.” – Bruce Feldman (84:00)
• Veteran coaches like Saban, Whittingham stepping away signals job fundamentals are changing, but replacements are always ready.

Breaking CFB News: DJ Lagway Transfers

• Florida’s QB hits the portal; Summerall expected to find another replacement.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Russillo on Mahomes:
  "Are we seeing Texas Tech Mahomes again? He’s playing hero ball because he knows he has to." (13:45)

• Matt Ryan on Chiefs' struggles:
  "There's gotta be changes—offensive and defensive line...inconsistent wide receiver play. They don't get stuff in rhythm in the passing game." (50:17)

• Feldman on Michigan’s internal crisis:
  "You have a picture of somebody who was very fragile emotionally and just kind of all over the place. That level of dysfunction...was glaring." (58:30)

• Russillo on coaching turnover in CFB:
  "If you started off under a certain system, you would hate this system. But younger guys only know this and will adapt." (83:00)

Memorable Moments

• Russillo’s statistical deep-dives on Chiefs and Rams that blend entertainment with analytics.
• Matt Ryan’s QB arc: “Year five was when I felt like I could really do it.” (35:27)
• Feldman’s behind-the-scenes insight on Michigan’s handling of off-field issues and the challenge of “speculating publicly” as a journalist.
• The panel’s shared cynicism—plus humor—about how quickly fortunes and narratives change for coaches.
• “Younger coaches will come in and only know this version of college football and they'll adapt to it.” (83:00)

Timestamps in Brief

• 00:00–02:40 – Intro, headlines, sponsor
• 03:15–19:30 – Chiefs downfall/Mahomes’ arc
• 19:30–23:57 – NFL news: Broncos, Rams ascendance
• 23:58–51:50 – Matt Ryan interview: QBs, playoffs, Rams, AFC picture
• 58:08–89:55 – Bruce Feldman: Michigan scandal, new coach search, CFB coaching trends, DJ Lagway transfer
• 91:30–end – Life Advice (listeners’ questions, recurring emails, comedic banter)

Conclusion

This episode delivers classic Russillo: a sharp, stats-rich breakdown of the NFL’s changing guard, the human drama inside elite teams, and the chaos rippling through the upper crust of college football. With Matt Ryan and Bruce Feldman’s expert insight, it’s a wide-ranging, candid snapshot of a pivotal football December.

For fans of in-depth, no-nonsense sports talk—this is quintessential Russillo.