Podcast
unCovering the Birds with Jeff McLane
Hosted by Audacy · EN
Hosted by Jeff McLane, unCovering the Birds brings you stories you might not have heard about the football team that makes you bleed green. McLane has spent the last decade and a half breaking news, digging up scoops, and delivering readers of The Philadelphia Inquirer award-winning Philadelphia Eagles coverage. On unCovering the Birds, he’ll take you behind the scenes and into the world of the Birds beat with exclusive access and insider perspective.
unCovering the Birds is presented by Wawa. The podcast is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts.
You can listen to unCovering the Birds on the Audacy app, Inquirer.com/podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow Jeff McLane on Twitter, and read more of his work at inquirer.com/author/mclane_jeff/.
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
From first-time players to new coaches, the earliest of impressions | Eagles rookie camp recap
May 400:45:53Tap to summarizeThe Eagles held a rookie minicamp over the weekend, which means that, for the first time this offseason, there are actual on-field football things to talk about! The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Olivia Reiner were on hand, and share what they learned from practice observations and locker room conversations. Plus, Jeff gives context to the recent departures of two key members of general manager Howie Roseman’s front office staff. 00:00 Eagles rookies report to camp! 01:26 Olivia’s [very brief] takeaways from A.J. Brown’s youth football camp 02:15 Analyzing the Makai Lemon first-round pick and some early indicators of his intangibles 11:33 The intrigue surrounding second-round tight end selection Eli Stowers 19:50 Will the Jonathan Greenard trade pay dividends? 25:08 Loose ends about later-round acquisitions 31:05 What the departures of Alec Halaby and Bryce Johnston mean for the Eagles' front office unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the offseason.
Transcribe →How should the Eagles attack the draft? | Analysis with Devin Jackson
Apr 2000:51:29Tap to summarizeThe Eagles have a solid stash of draft picks (8) and, for a team just one season removed from winning the Super Bowl, a lot of positions that need to be addressed. Several elite members of the offensive line could be on the verge of retirement, while the wide receiver corps appears destined to lose a dynamic member. After bolstering the defense in the early rounds of the draft in recent years, will general manager Howie Roseman pivot this spring? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Devin Jackson combine their reporting and analysis to forecast how the Eagles might attack the 2026 NFL Draft, which gets underway Thursday in Pittsburgh. 00:00 How should the Eagles attack the draft? 03:45 Offensive line priorities and options 12:33 The latest on A.J. Brown and potential trade ripple effects on draft 19:07 Slim chance at top tight end 30:51 But what about the defensive prospects… 41:57 Finding third-day gems 45:38 Could there be…a quarterback worth considering? unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the offseason.
Transcribe →Talking A.J. Brown, the draft, and more Eagles football with the Gov | Josh Shapiro interview
Apr 1000:25:25Tap to summarizePennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is a die-hard Eagles fan, and just like you, he’s got takes on the offseason, A.J. Brown, Jalen Hurts, and stadium plans. By the nature of his day job, however, he’s also ecstatic that Pittsburgh will become the epicenter of the NFL universe in two weeks, when the Steel City hosts the draft. It marks the second time in 10 years the Commonwealth has welcomed the marquee event. Which positions does Shapiro think the Eagles should address? How about whether the team needs to move on from Brown? Shapiro discusses these topics and more, including owner Jeffrey Lurie’s recent remarks about Lincoln Financial Field’s future, with The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. 00:00 Talking Birds with the Gov 02:14 How will a Philly guy be received in Pittsburgh during the NFL Draft? 06:30 What should Howie Roseman do when the Eagles are on the clock? 09:54 “I freaking love [A.J. Brown] wants the ball” 11:27 Jalen Hurts and the treatment he gets from fans 14:29 Special Eagles memories 19:06 Reaction to Jeffrey Lurie’s recent stadium remarks 22:12 Predictions for the Eagles’ 2026 season unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the offseason.
Transcribe →Truths (and half-truths?) from Jeffrey Lurie's annual address | Owners meeting recap
Apr 200:55:32Tap to summarizeThe annual NFL owners meetings has become the only event of year the Philadelphia Eagles formally make owner Jeffrey Lurie available to meet with reporters. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane covered the event, and puts Lurie’s recent remarks - from new stadium speculation to Lurie’s commitment to quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver AJ Brown - under the microscope with columnist Marcus Hayes. 00:00 Truths (and lies?) from Jeffrey Lurie’s owners meeting press conference 02:00 Quick comments about the possibility of a new stadium 05:07 Is Nick Sirianni as safe as Lurie suggests? 12:22 How committed is Lurie to Jalen Hurts? 18:57 What Lurie’s remarks reveal about A.J. Brown’s future? 26:09 Jeff and Marcus react to ESPN’s report about Hurts 34:38 Relitigating Hurts’ impact in the locker room 44:20 Hurts’ fit in Sean Mannion’s offense unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the offseason.
Transcribe →Last ride for the vets on offense? | What the Eagles' offseason strategy is signaling
Mar 2300:43:11Tap to summarizeEagles general manager Howie Roseman has stuck to a steady, mostly predictable formula this offseason: add depth to appropriate places via pragmatic, sensible signings. Whether his strategy stays the same moving forward remains unclear. Just last week, Roseman dipped his toes into a growing NFL trade market, and with the draft weeks away, along with the flurry of transactions that typically comes with it, perhaps he’ll find opportunities to mix up his approach. This storyline is one of several The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane plans to follow during the league’s annual meeting at the end of the month. He and colleague Mike Sielski look ahead to the questions and issues Roseman, head coach Nick Sirianni, and owner Jeffrey Lurie might face in Phoenix, AZ. 00:00 What Howie Roseman’s offseason strategy signals about the offense’s timeline 10:37 Early thoughts on how the Eagles might approach the draft 13:55 Obligatory A.J. Brown update 24:32 Sydney Brown: from 3rd-round pick to trade asset 31:32 Why EDGE rusher and the pass rush have become the biggest defensive concerns of the offseason 38:36 Could Roseman have a trick up his sleeve? unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the season, including day-after-game reactions.
Transcribe →Free agency | What’s happened, what could happen next
Mar 1300:47:12Tap to summarizeNFL free agency is underway, and the first week was kind of...just nuts and bolts for the Eagles. Howie Roseman made sensible, measured decisions, highlighted by a major investment in homegrown defensive talent and the smart, short-term signing of a proven corner back. Compared to past years, though, Howie SZN has been relatively chill. What does this initial strategy foreshadow for the rest of the offseason? Could the roster still undergo dramatic change before spring workouts begin? And how does the A.J. Brown situation affect the Eagles’ personnel approach? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane is joined by colleague Jeff Neiburg, as they evaluate Roseman’s moves and analyze their implications. 00:00 Reading tea leaves from the first week of free agency 02:07 Ripple effects from free agent departures, and the need for depth at EDGE 12:52 The Jihaad Campbell question mark and Riq Woolen signing 21:05 What’s going on with Dallas Goedert? 28:40 More on Davis and what his new contract means for Jalen Carter 39:07 The latest on A.J. Brown unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the season, including day-after-game reactions.
Transcribe →Albert Breer forecasts free agency
Mar 500:49:45Tap to summarizeA year ago, the Eagles’ roster seemed sound and solid. The franchise was coming off its second Super Bowl, buoyed by electric skill position players on offense and young, bruising talent on defense. Following a disappointing 2025 season, the personnel situation feels anything but stable. A.J. Brown might be on the trading block. Key contract decisions loom. Several positions could use an upgrade. In other words, the time is yours, Howie Roseman. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Sports Illustrated’s NFL senior writer Albert Breer offer an Eagles free agency forecast days before the craziness gets underway. 00:00 The most consequential free agency season of Howie Roseman’s career? 01:30 A national view of the Eagles heading into free agency 05:25 Jalen Phillips, Max Crosby, and the edge rusher market 16:59 Dallas Goedert’s value on the open market, and to the Eagles 21:51 Tough choices on Nakobe Dean and Reed Blankenship 25:15 A.J. Brown combine gossip; what are the Eagles asking? 35:28 To extend or not to extend; the Jalen Hurts question 41:25 In hindsight…Milton Williams vs. Jalen Carter unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the season, including day-after-game reactions.
Transcribe →Howie Roseman, Nick Sirianni speak!
Feb 2400:38:53Tap to summarizeAJ Brown’s future, Sean Mannion’s hiring as offensive coordinator, Jeff Stoutland’s awkward exit, the Eagles’ strategy for free agency and the draft. These storylines have dominated the Eagles’ offseason. More than a month after the team’s unceremonious exit from the playoffs, its top two decision makers finally weighed in on these topics as well. Ahead of this week’s NFL combine, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Olivia Reiner participated in a beat reporters-only interview session with general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni. Listen as they discuss their main takeaways. 00:00 Roseman and Sirianni speak! 01:13 Roseman and Sirianni address the AJ Brown situation 10:26 Sirianni indicates the offense will be different under new coordinator Sean Mannion 20:15 Sirianni gives his side of the Jeff Stoutland story 26:34 How coaching changes could affect Howie Roseman’s offseason personnel strategy unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the season, including day-after-game reactions.
Transcribe →A.J. Brown, Sean Mannion's impact, and contract decisions: what the league will be saying about the Eagles at the combine
Feb 1900:55:09Tap to summarizeThe offseason is about to blast into full swing and, unlike this time a year ago, the Eagles are surrounded by question marks. On the heels of the team’s failed bid for another Super Bowl, coaching changes ensued, which are expected to usher in a significant philosophical pivot on offense. But with next week’s scouting combine approaching, the Eagles, along with the rest of the NFL, will start to focus more on personnel decisions. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane has covered plenty of combines, and knows where and how to dig up juicy intel. He and Inquirer colleague David Murphy examine Eagles storylines that figure to be front and center when the league descends on Indianapolis. 00:00 Getting gossip at the NFL’s biggest power broker mixer of the year 02:36 Forecasting A.J. Brown’s future 13:34 Which Eagles free agents could stay, go 20:55 Contract extensions and their implications on the defensive line 29:45 Diving into Sean Mannion and his scheme 37:01 How much will the Eagles change the offense? 44:20 Closing the book on Jeff Stoutland’s exit, Chris Kuper’s hiring unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the season, including day-after-game reactions.
Transcribe →Stoutland, Fangio, Mannion: What Jeff’s been hearing at the Super Bowl
Feb 500:50:24Tap to summarizeThe Eagles failed to make it back to the Super Bowl this year, but, as The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane can vouch for during his trip to the Bay Area, the team is still dominating conversations around the league. That’s because in the past week, the Eagles hired a new offensive coordinator, parted ways with a revered assistant, and, much to their relief, got word from their defensive guru that he’ll be returning for another season. Jeff checks in from San Francisco to talk with The Inquirer’s Olivia Reiner, as the two sift through what they’ve been hearing and what fans can expect now that the Eagles’ coaching staff is rounding into form. 00:00 Jeff Stoutland’s exit, and its “messy” handling 14:55 With Stout out, could Lane Johnson be next? 17:11 Why Vic Fangio came back 27:30 Jeff McLane talks with Klint Kubiak about pupil Sean Mannion 30:15 What Jeff and Olivia know about Mannion and his potential impact on the offense, Jalen Hurts 44:40 How the Eagles’ coaching moves reflect on Nick Sirianni unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes throughout the offseason, including breaking news updates and reactions.
Transcribe →