The Pat McAfee Show Live | Wednesday January 14th 2026

Mike Tomlin stepped down as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers after 19 seasons, a move that was 'bound to happen at some point' due to a lack of playoff success in recent years. The hosts speculate he is heading for a 'lucrative, massive TV deal' where he will be 'dominant on television.' The Steelers still hold his coaching rights, meaning if he decides to return to coaching for another team, they could trade him for significant draft capital, referencing the Sean Payton precedent.

Pat McAfee: 'Yesterday huge news came as Mike Tomlin walked into the team meeting room that he had been the head coach of for 19 seasons and told the boys, 'Hey, I'm stepping down as the head coach.' ... We all assume that it's a lucrative, massive TV deal that is awaiting him and he will be dominant on television.' AQ Shipley: 'It's an unprecedented move seeing two guys of the magnitude of John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin all leaving the division in the same year.'

Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, known for being the 'least known owner in all of sports,' made a rare public appearance in a press conference, his first in seven years. He showcased a candid, humorous, and hands-off management style, stating players have 'a lot of say, but he has no power.' His approach is to hire competent football people (GM, coaches) and let them run the team, focusing on the overall health of the organization rather than daily football operations. This makes the Ravens job highly attractive to prospective coaches.

Pat McAfee: 'We need Bashadi on a mic more. That was unbelievable. Did have a little hint of is that Jim Ers up there speaking? And I appreciate the fact that he had to do a presser, I assume. I I think he felt like it. He said a lot of things in there. I'm not passing it down to family. Okay. I made that decision 25 years ago.' Steve Bisciotti: 'a lot of say, but he has no power. I have the power. They have opinions, and I want them all. I care about my players very much, but I can't give them power.'

The NFL is experiencing significant coaching turnover, with three AFC North teams (Steelers, Ravens, Browns) seeking new head coaches. Dan Orlovsky identifies the Atlanta Falcons as the 'best available job when it comes to the ability to win now' due to their talent and division. For offensive coordinator roles, the Los Angeles Chargers are considered the top spot, emphasizing the need for a play-caller who prioritizes offensive line protection, utilizes yards after catch (YAC), and implements diverse concepts to attack various coverages, drawing inspiration from the Shanahan offense philosophy.

Dan Orlovsky: 'I think the best available job when it comes to the ability to win now is Atlanta. I've believe that this football team's got, excuse me, crazy amounts of talent.' 'The best available job as a play caller would be the Los Angeles Chargers.' 'If you're an offense that doesn't utilize yak yards after the catch... you're handcuffing yourself a little bit.'

The Philadelphia Eagles' offensive coordinator, Kevin Patullo, was fired after a season marked by predictability, simplicity, and a failure to adjust. Most offensive players, including Jalen Hurts, regressed under his leadership. While some attempted to 'pawn blame' on Jalen Hurts' passing limitations, Orlovsky argues that Hurts' track record of playoff success and Super Bowl appearances disproves the notion that he severely limits the offense. The issue was a coaching philosophy that failed to maximize player potential and adapt to opponent adjustments.

Dan Orlovsky: 'there is no question the starting point problem was Kevin Patulo. And simply put, this offense was everything that you don't want to or can't be in the NFL. They were unbelievably predictable. They were crazy simple. They didn't make adjustments.' 'everybody on this offense outside of Dallas Goddard got worse this year. AJ Brown got worse. The offensive line got worse. See Barkerley got worse. Jaylen Herz got worse, significantly worse, many guys.'

JJ Watt advocates for NFL head coaches to be 'CEO types' who can relate to everyone on the roster, articulate a clear vision for the entire organization, and set high standards daily. This leadership style is crucial for managing diverse personalities and egos within a team and coaching staff. The current coaching carousel highlights the scarcity of such leaders, leading to extensive shake-ups as new head coaches hire their own coordinators, creating a ripple effect throughout the league.

JJ Watt: 'my personal thoughts on our CEO type. Like I I think it has to be somebody that can relate to everybody on the roster. It can't just be a guy who is good with the X and O's and can make an offense run really well or a defense run really well.' 'there aren't that many good coaches in the NFL to fill these jobs.'

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, a projected top NFL draft pick, announced his decision to return to college for another season. This move sparks a debate on the optimal path for highly-touted college players. While some, like JJ Watt, advocate for entering the NFL early to secure lucrative second and third contracts, others emphasize gaining more experience and developing further in college, especially given the current NIL opportunities and the potential for better NFL transitions seen in players with extensive collegiate reps.

Adam Schefter: 'Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is planning to announce his decision about whether he will or won't enter the NFL draft on Sports Center at 2:30 Eastern Standard Time.' JJ Watt: 'if you're projected to be the number two overall pick, I mean, let's get this train rolling, you know, unless you really don't like the team that's drafting up there.' Tone: 'I was in the camp of the um you know play more football.'

The Houston Texans' defense is described as a 'demoralizer' and 'velociraptors holding machine guns' due to their speed, physicality, tackling ability, and refusal to concede 'cheap yards.' Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke is credited with transforming the unit into the NFL's number one defense after taking over mid-season. Their strategy involves a relentless pass rush, often with overload fronts, forcing offenses to take deep shots against aggressive safeties rather than sustain long drives.

Pat McAfee: 'this Texans defense is a demoralizer. They are gonna come in and they're going to ruin your night.' JJ Watt: 'The Texans defense looks like a bunch of velociraptors holding machine guns. 11 of them coming at you.' JJ Watt: 'Matt Burke has done an unbelievable job. And there's plenty of people that when you bring him up in head coaching conversation say, 'Well, can he bring Will Anderson and Denil Hunter and Derk Stingley with him to the next job?''