The Season with Peter Schrager: NBC's Playoff (and Election) Guru Steve Kornacki

Peter recaps his first few days in Indianapolis at the NFL Draft Scouting Combine, including multiple dinners in one night, the secret spot of Combine week, and plenty of gossip and rumors around the league. He, then, discusses why Caleb Williams and JJ McCarthy are both such fascinating QB prospects.

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Peter starts the podcast with a Combine preview, explaining the "art" and the "science" of Combine week, and how it's so much more than just the drills you see on TV. Then, he welcomes 4-time Super Bowl champion Steve Spagnuolo to the show. "Spags" talks about being the only coordinator in NFL history to win 4 different Super Bowl titles, why the NFL's youngest defense in the league was able to rise to the occasion time and time again, and how past and present colleagues like Tom Coughlin, John Harbaugh, Andy Reid, and the late Jim Johnson helped him become the coach he is today. Specifically, then, Peter and Spags go into preparing for the 49ers offense before Super Bowl LVIII, and just how special Kyle Shanahan is as a play caller. Spags goes into great detail on the crucial 3rd and 4 stop at the end of regulation and how Nick Bolton had as much to do with the play as Trent McDuffie. He also defends Brock Purdy and explains why he was so impressed with the 49ers QB. Lastly, Spags goes through his previous opportunities as an NFL head coach and his aspirations to someday get that chance again. 

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Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo joins Peter for a wide-ranging conversation on the lost art of appreciating football history, Super Bowl pregame shows, the crafting of a memorable "morning after" monologue, and his thoughts on racket sports and the pickleball and padel crazes currently taking America by storm. Then, Peter gives his official Super Bowl prediction. 

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Standup comedian Dan Soder is a die-hard 49ers fan, dating back to his childhood spent as the lone 49ers fan growing up in Denver in the 1980's and 1990's. Soder and Schrager go deep on 49ers fandom, the emotional roller coaster of the 4 years between San Francisco Super Bowl appearances, and what it's like going to the official team party of the Super Bowl loser. Soder is childhood friends with Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, and he discusses what it was like being by McDaniel's side throughout the Super Bowl XLIV ride. Lastly, Soder details where and how he will be watching Super Bowl XLVIII, and how he's feeling as a 49ers fan heading into the big game on Sunday. 

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Peter takes us through his weekend, traveling to and attending the AFC Championship Game with his 7-year-old Ravens fan son. Then, he gets into the Lions’ loss and why Dan Campbell’s decision-making and the heated discourse around it was such a long time coming. Peter goes into the coaching carousel and offers his thoughts on some of the remaining vacancies. Then, Peter has on Brian Basloe, CEO of Concierge Live, and one of the top ticketing experts in the space. Brian says this year’s Super Bowl ticket is the hottest of all-time and this event is unparalleled in fan interest and demand. They discuss the “Taylor Swift Factor”, which is very real. Lastly, Peter lists five ideas for a Bill Belichick step into the media world.

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Peter starts the show recapping another heartbreaking finish to a season for Buffalo, Tampa Bay’s curios clock management handling on Sunday, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s big redemption game. Then, Peter grapples with his ties to both teams in the AFC Conference Championship and revisits his preseason prediction for the Super Bowl. Next, Peter is joined by comedian, Baltimore native, and Ravens super fan, Stavros Halkias. Stavros takes us through his Baltimore roots, the creation and boom of his viral character “Ronnie”, his rise up the comedy ranks, and what it’s like to have his rival fan be Jason Kelce.

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Peter starts the podcast with an analysis on the chilling ends to the Eagles' and Cowboys' seasons, an appreciation for the brain trust behind Detroit’s rise from the ashes, and an emptying of the notebook on all things coaching firings and hirings. Then, two days removed from a heartbreaking loss in Detroit, Rams OC Mike LaFleur sits with Peter to discuss an incredible 2023 Rams offense, Puka Nacua’s record breaking rookie season, and coaching Matthew Stafford. Then, Peter and Mike go deep on the dynamics of Sunday’s Packers-49ers game. Mike worked with Kyle Shanahan from 2014 to 2021 and Matt Lafleur is his older brother. All this, and nuggets on Mike McDaniel, Sean McVay, Robert Saleh, DeMeco Ryans, and more.

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NOTE: This episode originally aired July 11, 2023.

Lions GM Brad Holmes had to take an unorthodox path to his current position as GM, but used the life lessons obtained along the way to empower him on his journey. Holmes discusses his time as an Enterprise Car Rental employee, his work as a media relations intern with the Atlanta Hawks, and the many mentors who urged him to keep going. He also takes us through the first round pick selections of Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell, and why Mock Drafts don’t mean as much as we make them out to. Good stuff on the scouting of Aaron Donald, the toughness of Jared Goff, and the promise of the 2023 Detroit Lions.

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Fresh off his national title win for Michigan, Peter makes the thorough case for why the Los Angeles Chargers are the perfect fit for Jim Harbaugh. Then, Peter sits down for a deep dive with President of the Los Angeles Rams, Kevin Demoff. In the days leading up to LA’s showdown with the Detroit Lions, Kevin shares stories of both Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford, why this particular matchup is so special for both sides, and takes us back in time —step by step—on the then-controversial hiring of 30-year-old Sean McVay as the team’s head coach. Then, Peter and Kevin make the passionate case for why Rams Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris is the ideal head coaching candidate. 

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Peter kicks off the new year with NBC's Election Night and NFL Playoff Scenario Guru, Steve Kornacki. As we look to the final week of the regular season, Steve breaks down a few of the most interesting playoff paths, including the Buffalo Bills, the Minnesota Vikings, and the complicated AFC South situation. Plus, Steve breaks down the complicated tiebreakers that will decide the number 2 pick in the 2024 draft. Peter and Aaron talk Ravens, 49ers, and Bills, and then Peter shares a story of his dinner with a broadcast legend.

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