Podcast Summary: Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara
Episode: Von Miller Talks Super Bowl Runs, Bills Drama, TebowMania, NFL Playoffs, Free Agency and more!
Date: January 22, 2026
Hosts: Matt Leinart, Jerry Ferrara
Special Guests: Von Miller, Annie Agar
Episode Overview
This episode is a wide-ranging, authentic conversation featuring two-time Super Bowl champ and Super Bowl MVP Von Miller. Matt, Jerry, and Von dive deep into NFL playoff drama, the evolution of Super Bowl teams, open discussion of Bills and Broncos organizational shake-ups, behind-the-scenes stories from Von’s career, and the realities of NFL free agency. They weave in stories of camaraderie, coaching, and raw locker room insights. The latter part welcomes content creator Annie Agar for some lively pop culture-infused NFL trivia.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Von Miller on the Bills, NFL Playoffs & Coaching Changes
- Von reflects on his experience with the Buffalo Bills, reacting to the firing of Head Coach Sean McDermott.
- “Coach McDermott did an unbelievable job. He took the Bills from the seller of the NFL. When I first came in the league, like, we talking about the Buffalo Bills. Yeah. And now they, like, a powerhouse in the AFC.” — Von Miller [00:00]
- Describes the emotional and business sides of team decisions: “It’s Coach McDermott. He was a great coach, great leader of men. But from a business perspective, I get it.” — Von Miller [40:49]
- Matt and Jerry discuss the volatility of NFL coaching, referencing Denver’s similar transition from John Fox to Gary Kubiak that immediately led to a Super Bowl win.
2. College Football Recap & The Insanity of Indiana Hoosiers' Championship
- Matt enthusiastically recaps the historic Indiana Hoosiers football championship, crediting Coach Signetti for a dramatic program turnaround and referencing the impact of NIL and the transfer portal.
- “It is the greatest turnaround, I think, in the history of sports, given where they were… just a shout out to Indiana football.” — Matt Leinart [01:22]
3. NBA Interlude: New York Knicks Rant
- Jerry’s impassioned rant about the Knicks’ struggles post-In-Season Cup is equal parts cathartic and comedic.
- “Stop blaming this cup. We have enough data to prove now three years in a row…your Lakers won the first one ever and then went into the tank after that…the Knicks were…like 15 games over .500...and now have completely fallen apart.” — Jerry Ferrara [06:03]
- Layered discussion about team chemistry, player behavior (including TV appearances), and the changing identity of the Knicks.
4. Von Miller’s Super Bowl MVP Journey and ‘Best Offseason Ever’
- Von tells the inside story of the night and weeks following his Super Bowl 50 MVP win:
- “Right when…the game was over with, watching the game clock 00…as soon as I stepped on the field, confetti started to drop. Like, somebody had grabbed me. And that’s where it, like, started…it was all type of other stuff going on in LA…I was able to live in LA for three months and, you know, really just vibe out…being on Dancing with the Stars…that was something I remember for the rest of my lifetime.” — Von Miller [14:26–16:41]
5. Free Agency, Legacy, and Super Bowl Aspirations
- Von details his free agency process—the emotional letdown of the Bills letting him go, nearly signing with the Seahawks, finally joining the Commanders, and chasing the unique legacy of playing in Super Bowls with three different teams.
- “There hasn’t been a player to play in three different…teams and play in three different Super Bowls…so that’s something that I’ve kind of been wanting to get.” — Von Miller [17:50]
- Honest admission of the unpredictable nature of NFL careers and postseason fates.
6. Locker Room Culture & ‘Lightning in a Bottle’: Broncos Era Stories
- Von relives the deep camaraderie of the 2015 Broncos Super Bowl team: weekly hangouts, infamous celebrations, and how off-field chemistry feeds on-field success.
- “We just kind of found reasons to hang out…Casino Night…watch the football game at the house…you always had like, we always had access to hang out…We won the AFC championship game...it was like 600 people at my house.” — Von Miller [29:16]
7. TebowMania Insider Perspective
- Von’s rookie-year memories of Tim Tebow’s improbable wins (and infamous 65-yard sack), becoming swept up in the “angel in the outfield” feeling of destiny for that Broncos team.
- “You kind of start to, like, believe it, too…especially after that Miami comeback win…like there’s some angels in the outfield stuff going on right now.” — Von Miller [31:23–32:36]
8. Pass Rushing, Mental Edge, and Defensive Philosophy
- Von explains the cerebral aspect of elite pass rushing, emphasizing situational awareness over physical moves.
- “Pass rush moves are like overrated…For me…to be able to get sacks—man, I'm in tune with the game…like I'm just doing all these little calculations in my head…I'm the game manager on defense.” — Von Miller [46:07]
- Shouts out rising and star pass rushers: Miles Garrett, Nick Benito, Max Crosby, Dallas Turner, and others.
- “[Miles Garrett] doesn't have a comparison…he is just Miles Garrett. He's in his own lane.” — Von Miller [43:47]
9. Personal List: Toughest QBs to Play Against
- Von’s four hardest quarterbacks: Russell Wilson (“there was a point in time nobody wanted to play Russell Wilson”), Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and Cam Newton.
- “Cam Newton…was the guy. I'm old enough to remember…he was huge. He was fast. He could throw…he was all over TV, all the endorsement. Like, Cam Newton was like, the guy.” — Von Miller [52:12–53:19]
10. Life after Football & Entrepreneurship
- Von shares the story of starting Greener Pastures Chicken:
- “I took an easy class in college that I needed for my GPA…Nine years later, here we are, Greener Pastures Chicken…humanely raised, pasture raised, certified organic…Our birds live a country club lifestyle...” — Von Miller [54:39]
11. Trivia & Fun with Annie Agar (Twisted Trivia Section)
- The group gets competitive with NFL backup quarterback trivia, friendly banter, and pop culture references.
- Notable Moment: Matt calls his trivia win and mocks Annie and Jerry in jest.
- “I'm pretty much dominating both of you. Why don't you guys let me be the host next week and you guys duke it out for second…” — Matt Leinart [69:08]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)
-
On going from NFL seller to powerhouse:
“[Coach McDermott] took the Bills from the seller of the NFL…now they, like, a powerhouse in the AFC. They expected to go to the Super Bowl every year.” — Von Miller [00:00] -
On the greatest turnaround in college football:
“It is the greatest turnaround … in the history of sports, given where they were. Just a shout out to Indiana football.” — Matt Leinart [01:22] -
On Super Bowl MVP afterglow:
“Being on Dancing with the Stars…that was something I remember for the rest of my lifetime…all the other stuff like the ESPYs, the Grammys, the Oscars…Dancing with the Stars was that moment in time.” — Von Miller [16:41] -
On locker room culture:
“We just kind of found reasons to hang out…It was like 600 people at my house…till the Sun came up the next day.” — Von Miller [29:16–31:03] -
On TebowMania:
“After that Miami comeback win…hey, we got Tim. We going to the Super Bowl. There's some angels in the outfield stuff going on right now.” — Von Miller [31:23] -
On pass rushing:
“Pass rush moves are like overrated…I know how much time is left…I’m the game manager on defense.” — Von Miller [46:07–48:56] -
On toughest quarterbacks faced:
“There was a point in time nobody wanted to play Russell Wilson…He struck fear in, like, defensive coordinators.” — Von Miller [49:57] -
On NFL coaching shake-ups:
“From a business perspective, I get it…I played there. I understand the type of coach that [McDermott] was. … But sometimes you got to make those tough decisions.” — Von Miller [41:21]
Segment Timestamps
- 00:00 — Von Miller opens with thoughts on Bills’ turn-around and McDermott
- 01:22 — Matt’s college football/Indiana Hoosiers monologue
- 05:34 — Knicks/NBA Cup/chemistry rant (Jerry)
- 10:34 — Guest introduction for Von Miller
- 13:31 — How playing for others led to Super Bowl MVP performance (Von)
- 14:26 — Super Bowl MVP afterparty and “best offseason” stories (Von)
- 17:50 — Free agency journey, Super Bowl legacy chase
- 29:16 — Locker room culture, Broncos off-field bonding
- 31:23 — TebowMania rookie year memories
- 43:37 — Pass rushers Von admires; evolution of position
- 46:07 — His approach: mental edge, game management as a defender
- 49:57 — Hardest quarterbacks to face
- 54:32 — Greener Pastures Chicken entrepreneurial journey
- 57:26 — “Twisted Trivia” with Annie Agar
Tone & Style
The conversation is raw, uplifting, and heavy on football authenticity with frequent good-natured ribbing, self-deprecating humor, and moments of heartfelt storytelling. Von Miller shares wisdom as both a current player and seasoned vet, while Matt and Jerry keep the energy fun and relatable for both hardcore and casual fans.
For Listeners Who Haven't Tuned In
This episode is a must-listen for NFL fans who love hearing how the game is lived at the highest levels—on and off the field. You’ll learn what it feels like to ride playoff waves, hang out at “party central” after clinching AFC Championships, and how today’s top pass-rushers carve out their edge. Von’s honesty, humility, and football IQ shine through, providing value for fans, young athletes, and even entrepreneurs. Plus, you’ll get bonus banter about NBA drama, comic trivia segments, and the business of pasture-raised chickens thrown in for flavor.
Next Week:
More pass rushers, pop culture, and football deep-dives, as Pass Rush Week continues on Throwbacks.