Truly don’t understand how adding time stamps for every pod is difficult. I don’t want to listen to all 5 hours of a free agency breakdown, I want to listen to the guys talk about my team.

Hello love the show! I was looking at some of my old stuff in my room and I found this paper that had an exercise that I want to share. Me and my grampa drafted the starting qbs on 5/13/2024 for the next three years I picked: MaHomes, Cj stroud, Lamar, Jalen Hurts, Dak, Tua, purdy, anthony Richardson, Jayden Daniels,Hebert, Caleb Williams, Will Levis, Adrion o Connell, drake Maye, Jj McCarthy, and Kyler. He picked Jared Goff, baker mayfield, Kirk cousins, Josh Allen, Jordon love, burrow, geno, Trevor Lawerence, A rod, Russ Wilson, Dashawn Watson, Derek Carr, Matt stafford, b.young, Danny dimes, and Bo nix. What do you think who did better? why? And why were some of these guys replaced?

I don’t understand how you guys continue to make JJ McCarthy out to be a simple bust in the NFL! This is insane!

If you love the Bears, you will like it. If you like Football, check out Nate Tice Show instead of this one

Wasn’t planning on listening to it. I’ll listen to Mays. Someone actually described Mendoza as a ‘goofy white guy.’ White? Everything and everyone in this country needs to be seen through a white lens? Really?

I don't even know if you guys check Apple Podcasts but i have a hot take I'd love to hear yalls opinion on. I think that due to a crack down on defensive penalties (late hits, def pi, targeting, etc) offensive skill positions players have become less skillful over the past 20 years and inversely defensive players have become more skillful out of necessity. i don't think this applies to the line of scrimmage because it seems like the team that wins the line of scrimmage wins the game 75% of the time and I pray it stays that way. obviously players like JSN, mahomes, and CMC would succeed in any era but I think it is way easier to plan an offensive skill position that it was 20 years ago. whereas safeties, corners, and linebackers have it way harder. Imagine if you dropped freaks of nature like fred warner, derwin james, or nick emmanwori(definetly not seahawks homerism) with their current cell skill set into the 2008 season and they were able to hit and grab to their hearts content.

I’ve been listening to The Athletic Football Show since its inception, and I’ve been listening to Robert since his time at The Ringer. There are many things I could say about this show that I enjoy, from the banter, to the approachable football insights provided, to the weekly and offseason structure of the show itself, but if I had to pick one thing, I appreciate the clear thoughtfulness that goes into every aspect of making this show. I love football, and I love talking about it and hearing people I respect talk about it, and it’s incredibly rewarding as a listener to feel like my time is being respected by the way the hosts and producers go about making this show. One quote that will always stick with me is when Robert said last summer, “I’d rather be curious than right.” It’s an attitude towards life I’ve been trying to cultivate in myself and my students, and it’s something that goes far beyond trying to understand and appreciate football. I’ve been meaning to write this review for a while now, so thank you to this show for the enjoyment it’s brought to me for the last 6+ years. I look forward to my Bills finally, someday, maybe this year, winning the Super Bowl, and to many more episodes in the years to come.

Mays said that phrase 36 times in the January 12 wild card recap show. Not figurative, I counted. On a 70 minute podcast with two other people and a ton of commercials! How is that even possible?

Good podcast usually but someone has to loop Derrick in on news. Multiple times mentioning not having Milton Williams is a problem for the Pats when Williams got off IR two weeks ago, played last week and did not get hurt. Doubting if Rhamondre Stevenson would be healthy when he has been off the Injury report for over a month. It’s big league but like there are 6 teams for this podcast you could have googled…

They cover the games on a deeper level than some other pods, but in a fun and accessible way

Wish Nate was still on. THERE ARE SOOOOO MANY ADS. Ik you can fast forward through them but it feels like every new segment is prefaced with a 2-4 minute ad break. The tecovas ad is the most corny boring thing I’ve ever heard I will never buy those boots because of this ad. Robert knows ball and gives great breakdown. Would be 5 stars if there were less ads

I started listening during the 2024-2025 offseason and don’t think I’ve missed an episode since. It’s my first listen every morning. I really enjoy the different styles and perspectives that Robert, Derek and Dave all bring to the table. Overall, just a great combination of informative and fun. Thank you guys for all the great work. It’s truly appreciated!

Love this podcast. Would be 5 stars if they retired the phrase “you have my attention.l

This used to be my go-to podcast where I had to check it out every day as soon as I woke up. While I’m happy for them that they have the studio and YouTube channel, the rest of the changes have turned this into an occasional listen. When Nate left, I was bummed but I think Derrik has done a really solid job. Dave, on the other hand, has a different approach that I find a bit jarring. Robert and Derrik do an excellent job at stating an opinion, giving multiple points of evidence to back it up, then explain the actual football impact or basis behind the schemes, strategies, or abilities that add context to that evidence. Dave does a good job at stating his opinions, but they always lack context. If I were a producer I would be in his ear saying “explain that more” or “provide actual data to support your opinion”. Additionally, I’m not normally one to complain about ads but as a paying subscriber to the Athletic, especially with them almost doubling the price, why do I have to sit through at least 10 minutes of ads per episode?

Top 3 podcast for me. A lot of great football knowledge on this show and they keep it fun. Could do without Robert’s 10 hour intro but you can just skip it.

“…in this game.”

I cycled through NFL podcasts for years. Lots of “provocative takes” and impossible psychoanalysis relating to what’s going on inside the locker room. I started listening to this podcast approximately 3 or 4 years ago, and was immediately impressed by the intelligent conversation. Robert Mays, the most interesting, but I really like Derrick as well (and also Nate before Derrick). David Hellman is not up to the standard of the first two but still contributes some interesting stats. My one criticism has to do with the Dane Buglar subsidiary show. David Hellman talk way, way too much in my view, mostly, and understandably taking minutes to agree with whatever Dane says. I think David should speak a lot less, should not a conversation, and question Dane, on his views, at least make Dane justify his views (I am sure David is smart enough to do just that rather than nod along with Dane).

I’ll give you $20 if you include the Seahawks one time in your weekly recap. My god.

There is no better NFL pod than TAFS! As a self described “NFL nerd,” I love the depth and breadth of this show. They avoid the “hot takes” and offer an objective analysis for all 32 NFL teams. Moreover, Robert Mays is the absolute best; he carries the show.

LOVE this podcast. Not the usual analysis with zero supporting insight (Robert and team actually watch the games as well as the all 22).

Boring and monotonous listen.

…the timestamps for the show are always wrong. It’s a 4 star show with 3 star production, wish I could give it 3.5. Fix the timestamps guys!

Robert Mays is the man and has been since Grantland . A “responsible” mix of X’s and O’s with a splash of popular narrative stuff too Robert is especially good with providing context and nuances with contracts. Nate is the OG and I miss the days where it felt like Nate and Robert were just sort of choppin’ it up, but Klassen is good as well, a little harder to impress maybe hahaha but I like listening to him

I love this show and Robert is one of the best to do it. But I miss Nate and the league of legends commentator is irritating. All he does is glaze the cheese dicks. He hates the lions and the bucs and it’s apparent. I get having takes and picking sides to make things interesting, but maybe we talk about them more when they stop losing to the browns and kissing their sister.

First: if the show can contain the current core of Robert, Dave, and Derrik, please let’s make that happen if at all possible. This current iteration has been a blast. The “takes” culture has infested airways for a while now and it’s just so good to hear a show that is supported by careful thought, data, and actual analysis. These guys all clearly know ball but, most importantly, they do their homework. I come away learning something new about football every week and this show is an absolute staple in my podcast menu. I primarily listen to the pod through the Athletic app but felt the need to sing my praises. These guys are the absolute best in the business and I’m excited to see that the Athletic has clearly noticed evidenced by the continued investments into the show. 6 stars out of 5.

Robert Mays is the best football podcaster out there. Dave Helman is not. I understand wanting to bring in a third voice that has a different perspective than Robert/Derrik, but Dave doesn’t have a perspective. He hasn’t had an original or intelligent thought through a quarter of the season. Instead of a meathead, maybe try an oline or defensive analyst for the third perspective. I fast forward whenever Dave talks now and skip the episodes he does without Robert.

Look no further. This is the best NFL podcast out there and I've listened to a lot of them. There's not enough time to consume all of the NFL content available to football fans, but if you can only listen to one podcast, make it this one. You won't regret it. Robert, Derrik, and Dave are top-tier co-hosts. Unbiased and insightful football talk. Doesn't get any better than these three.

Klassen was an incredible replacement for Nate and I think even upgraded the show. Derek always has unique insights and perspectives that serve as an always insightful complement to Mays’ opinions.

This would be a great show if Robert wasn’t so personable and open about his personal life. The fact that he is makes it the best NFL pod in all of NFL media for my money.

Robert Mays is the best nfl journalist in the world right now. Between an understanding of statistics and the stories told by those numbers, the connection between individual team history and their GM’s recent decision-making (for all 32 teams), and the breakdowns of emblematic plays revealing the hundreds of mini-games played simultaneously on every football play, there is no commentator as complete as Mays. Derrik and Dave are excellent co-hosts providing draft knowledge and film expertise that makes a conversation among the three multi-faceted and informative. I think both will grow in their roles, with the new draft podcast with Dane and the film review work on youtube. I do wish they would spend a summer session bringing on a statistician to talk about the relationship between natural variance in a random sample and how it interacts with a game that has so few data points. We make stories about player and team trajectories on events that our often quite random; in some cases this is warranted and the observed result will repeat, in other cases we build a narrative about “not being able to close out the win” that actually hinges on DPI call, a TE drop, or a softly tipped ball. Are these a real expression of failure on part of the player or GM? Or are they just a natural expression of randomness which then informs our understanding of NFL history and player legacy? Last year they had on a salary cap expert, which was a stellar conversation. I think so many people misunderstand the nature of randomness as it applies to NFL games, and it would be great to talk it over with an expert. That’s more a wishlist request. The show is great

Love the show and have listened and read Robert’s stuff since the grantland days. Derrick is a Bucs hater full stop.

GOATed

Love the chemistry and 5 day structure. Nitpick is this show rarely have timestamp which is hard to listen to team interested. Keep adding the timestamp like others. Also Please upload the Thursday and Monday instant reaction to Apple Podcasts

I don’t miss an episode. Their insight and passion is next level. Robert’s training camp series is dynamite. Hearing the perspective of the local athletic reporters for over 20 teams was riveting. Appreciate all the hard work gents!!

Been following Mays a long time at this point and don’t plan to change. Enjoying the new dynamic of the 3 headed monster. Almost got rid of my subscription to the Athletic, but the commercial free Football Show opportunity was too sweet to give up!

Robert is the friendliest voice in NFL podcasting but hiring his friends hasn’t worked out well and I don’t think he is “coachable” in terms of producing a more well-paced show — his pods now all feel SO LONG and giving us more with the same white guy voices hasn’t helped.

Really miss the old format and shows with Nate Tice and Mike Sando. The draft show was much better without Helman too. Nothing personal I just don’t find his or Derek’s content interesting or engaging at all and miss listening to the older shows. The quality of analysis and depth of knowledge/experience has plummeted.

Please repeat the name of the person you are talking about a few times during your discussions so we don’t need to rewind a long way to catch who the subject is, thanks.

One of the very best pods out there for NFL content. But please please no Dave. He’s hacky and not a fit. Derrick and Robert only please

The next original insight from Dave Helman will be the first. But seriously, for a 3 man dynamic, it’s surprising and kinda boring how much the same ideas are echoed. I’m sure it’s hard to come up with 3 different ideas for each offseason topic, but I hope there are more conflicting opinions being discussed once real football is being played. I’ve been listening for years and trust Robert to improve this over the course of this season

Look this is the best NFL podcast there is, but for gods sake please no pods with Helman, dude is unlistenable and lacks the insight and seriousness of mays/klassen

This is the best pro football podcast that exists. Period. I was heartbroken when Nate Tice left, but Derrik Klassen and now Dave Helman have made this a three man weave of straight takes, great info, and humor but without the stupid gags of other podcasts. Please keep up the good work, boys!

There is some good content here but, can get far fetched and giddy/geeky/nerd central pretty quickly.

So if your team falls in their approved list and follows their approved team building strategy, great. If you don’t mind the host misprouncing et cetera ad nauseam, great. I really wanted to keep liking this show as really, these are wonderful, high football IQ guys. They nail it most of the time. They just have teams they believe do it right and teams they don’t. I’ll bet they could even tell you exactly who my team is. They’d probably follow that up with, “That’s fair.” I’m sorry guys. I just couldn’t do it anymore. It just got too painful to listen every week, despite your mostly correct analysis on 70% of the teams out there, Ecksettera.

I started listening to TAFS when ATN broke up (shouts to NFLD and HTC). This is a really great resource for all things NFL without the dumb, bro energy I found while looking for an ATN replacement. Just talking ball in an articulate way. Also, I am absolutely loving the new addition of Dave Helman. I wasn’t familiar with his work before but he’s a great hang, shoots straight, and brings a ton of levity to the pod. 10/10

If you like insightful, in-depth commentary about the AFC/NFC south and occasionally the NFC north, this podcast is for you! The quality of insight is high, just never about teams that matter.

The Podcast is great, but there is way too many details. Also Saquon is really good!!!

I listen to many NFL podcasts and this one is a tough listen. I know Robert does his work and is a smart football commentator but I feel like he and his other hosts talk down to the listener like they know more than everyone else and their opinion is gospel. Listening to the NFL QB discussion they don’t mention leadership once as a necessary attribute when an argument can be made that is the most important one. It is tough to listen to these “smart” football podcasters and feel like I am gaining any constructive knowledge.

I’ve enjoyed Robert since his ringer days, I think he’s one of the best nfl podcasts hosts, and I think Derrik has really come into his own taking over for Nate, but even though I keep trying to come back to it I find that I can’t stick with this show for long. I couldn’t really put my finger on why that was until I listened to Robert’s appearance on Bill Barnwell’s show last week. Robert and Derrick agree way too much. Sure they’re smart football guys, but the podcast space is full of people giving smart football analysis and audio format really isn’t that conducive to having deep discussions about a game that’s so visual. Because Robert and Derrik agree way too much their opinions never evolve and the discussion always ends up being the same. And that’s the problem I realized I kept having with the show, after one or two episodes of hearing the same ideas over and over again it just became boring.

As an avid podcast listener who listens to anywhere from four to eight hours of podcasts per day on topics ranging from sports to Christianity to Joe Rogan to movie reviews, this is THE BEST PODCAST. Robert is a simply incredible host. He and Nate had amazing chemistry. Derrik is great too. Robert is a Bears fan but he’s grounded. He’s smart. They do fun topics. They don’t want to just be right. They want to learn. I’ve listened to every podcast for at least the last five years. A+ work. Keep it up.