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"This Is Football" is a digital show and podcast that runs multiple times per week through the NFL season. It's where you'll find fun and insightful interviews with some of the top NFL players, pundits and coaches with stories and nuggets you won't find anywhere else.
310 Episodes
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Kevin Clark is joined by a pair of former All-Pros to help set the table for Sunday's championship games. First, former Broncos CB Chris Harris Jr. joins to discuss the similarities between the current Broncos team and the Super Bowl Champion Broncos from a decade ago. Chris shares his thoughts on how the game has changed and why dominant defenses are suddenly having a resurgence. Plus, his impressions of Seattle's defense and what he thinks Sam Darnold needs to do to get to the Super Bowl.
Then former MVP Shaun Alexander joins to discuss how the Seahawks have been able to return to greatness. Hear what Shaun thinks of the current Seattle secondary and how it compares to the legion of boom. Plus the running backs he enjoys watching the most & incredible stories from his playing days.
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Conference Championship Weekend is set, and Kevin Clark breaks down one of the wildest playoff slates we’ve seen in years.
From Caleb Williams’ video-game miracle throw to Sean McVay’s questionable game management, Kevin reacts to Bears-Rams, the state of modern playoff football, and why defense is officially back in the NFL. He dives deep into the decision not to go for two, what Chicago should feel coming out of the loss, and why this game may define how Caleb Williams is viewed going forward.
Plus:• Why Super Bowl odds for the Broncos don’t make sense• Sean McVay coaching “not to lose”• The Texans’ collapse, and why CJ Stroud’s performance may have permanently changed Houston’s franchise outlook• Why the era of paying every quarterback immediately might be over
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Division Round Night One is in the books, and Kevin Clark is reacting to everything that went wrong, especially for Buffalo.
Kevin breaks down the Bills’ devastating playoff loss to the Broncos, the controversial late call that ended the game, and why this might be the most painful loss of the Josh Allen era. Kevin explains why this loss feels different, and why a full organizational audit may finally be unavoidable.
Plus:
What Buffalo must fix this offseason (and why standing pat isn’t an option)
Seahawks-49ers wasn’t complicated and why Seattle looks terrifying
Initial reactions to the latest NFL coaching hires, John Harbaugh to the Giants and Kevin Stefanski to Atlanta
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Courtney Cronin joins Kevin Clark to break down the Bears’ stunning playoff win over the Packers. They dive into Ben Johnson’s immediate impact, Caleb Williams’ development, and whether the Bears are truly changing as a franchise.
From there, Kevin and Courtney zoom out to the rest of the NFL playoffs, which teams are actually built to make a Super Bowl run, coaching edges that matter, and why some contenders are more fragile than they look.
They wrap with a preview of the national title game between Miami and Indiana. Hear how the alums of both schools are feeling about their team headed into Monday night.
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Kevin Clark gives his immediate reaction to the news that Mike Tomlin is out in Pittsburgh after 19 years. What might be next for Tomlin and why even some teams that have head coaches should be in the market for him.
Then Kevin is joined by Titans First Team All-Pro Jeffery Simmons to discuss what the Titans have to look forward to following a rough season. Jeff shares what he saw from Cam Ward in year one, and why he believes there's reason for optimism for him in year 2.
Jeff gives insight into what makes the remaining playoff teams uniquely tough. Jeff shares what he saw from the Rams early in the season, reluctantly gives praise to the division rival Texans defense, and why 49ers LT Trent Williams is so tough to go against.
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Wild Card Weekend Day 2 delivered fantastic drama and Kevin Clark breaks it all down. Through just four games, this postseason has already featured more fourth-quarter lead changes than any playoff run in NFL history, and it’s exposing something bigger: real parity is back. The era of one or two juggernauts cruising through January is over.
In this episode:
Why the NFL’s elite quarterbacks no longer guarantee dominance
The uncomfortable conversation around Justin Herbert and why he gets treated differently
How the NFC West turned into the old SEC West, and why fading the 49ers might be a mistake
Kyle Shanahan’s best coaching job yet amid a brutal injury season
The Eagles’ troubling vibes, A.J. Brown disappearing acts, and why Big Dom might be the most important man on the sideline
Josh Allen reminding everyone he’s the best player on the planet
What the Jaguars got wrong, and why “young team, they’ll be back” is a dangerous lie
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Wild Card Weekend Day 1 is in the books, and Kevin Clark breaks down a stunning slate of playoff football. The Bears flip decades of trauma on the Packers in one of the most shocking collapses in recent rivalry history. From clock management failures to emotional play-calling, what does this loss mean for Matt LaFleur’s future in Green Bay, and where could he land next?
Plus:
Why Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson just changed the Bears–Packers dynamic for good
How a few missed kicks may have altered the next decade of NFL franchises
The Rams survive the Panthers — but did we just see their ceiling?
What Matthew Stafford’s finger injury means for the rest of the NFC
Bryce Young’s future, Carolina’s brutal loss, and why “moral victories” don’t exist
Kevin’s NFC contender tiers heading into the rest of the playoffs
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Kevin Clark is joined by Ron Rivera to discuss his role as Cal's general manager and the chaos that the transfer portal brings this time of year. Ron highlights the coaches in the NFL that he loves to watch and relives some of the battles with Sean Payton. Plus, why Ron thinks Cam Newton deserves more respect for what he accomplished during his career.
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5-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning joins This Is Football to give his assessment of the Quarterbacks in this year's playoffs. Peyton details what he's seen from the Texans & Browns while scouting for Monday's Manningcast on ESPN2, the lessons he can learn from Sam Darnold's journey, what he's seen from Bo Nix that's impressed him, what the key is to a good marriage between a coach and QB, who he thinks should be MVP of the 2026 season, and how close Jim Harbaugh came to getting him to join the 49ers when he hit free agency.
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Kevin Clark breaks down the biggest winners and losers from Week 18, including why a single missed kick in Ravens/Steelers may shape the next decade for both franchises. From Atlanta’s long-overdue reset, to major questions looming for Baltimore, Las Vegas, and New York, this was one of the most illuminating days of the NFL year.
Kevin digs into:
Why rookie kickers feel more pressure when trailing than when tied
How the Ravens’ long-term outlook may have changed overnight
What Atlanta, the Raiders, and Giants should actually be looking for in their next head coach
Why the “Patriot Way” should finally be retired
Seattle’s rise, Baltimore’s flaws, and Kevin’s biggest miss of the season
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Kevin Clark is joined by Hall Of Fame Defensive Back Rod Woodson to breakdown the matchup that will decide the AFC North on Sunday. Having played for both teams Rod provides unique insight into what we should expect from the Ravens/Steelers.
Rod also shares his thoughts on how he would have to adjust his game if he played present day, why Patrick Surtain II reminds him of himself, and shares a few hilarious stories from his playing days.
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ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler joins Kevin Clark to break down what’s shaping up to be a quieter-than-usual NFL Black Monday. With teams firing coaches earlier than ever, the traditional end-of-season chaos has changed, and Jeremy explains why fewer openings may actually make this hiring cycle more intense.
The guys dive into:
Why Black Monday isn’t what it used to be
The teams already getting a head start on coaching searches
Which jobs Jeremy has his eye on (Cleveland, Las Vegas, Miami, Arizona & more)
Why there could be big changes on the horizon in Baltimore including at the QB position
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Kevin Clark recaps everything from the penultimate week of the NFL's regular season. Was Buffalo right to go for 2 against the Eagles and has Philadelphia established themselves as the favorites in the NFC on the strength of their pass rush? Kevin tackles Myles Garrett's comments on how the Steelers went out of their way to prevent him from getting the sack record and hurt themselves offensively in the process.
Plus, why Tyler Shough has made it clear that he's the Saints quarterback next season. Kevin details why he believes it's time for the NFL to institute a draft lottery in an effort to curb teams taking at the end of the season.
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Former Chiefs All-Pro tackle Mitch Schwartz joins This Is Football to break down what actually went wrong for Kansas City and what comes next. From the evolution (and stagnation) of Andy Reid’s offense, to why Mahomes can’t fix everything on his own, to the importance of schematic advantages in the modern NFL, this is a masterclass in how football really works.
Schwartz explains why under-center offenses are back, how teams like the Rams and 49ers are creating run-game advantages with motion, and why winning on third-and-long is the real separator for contenders.
Plus:
Why elite defensive linemen could still play into their 40s
The best offensive line in football right now
Who deserves “Protector of the Year”
How Tyrann Mathieu changed the Chiefs’ culture
The funniest trash talk Mitch ever heard on an NFL field
What it’s actually like being a Jewish NFL player during Christmas week
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Week 16 is in the books, and Kevin Clark breaks down three wild days of NFL football. From the Bears finally showing signs of real life behind Caleb Williams, to Bryce Young’s growing résumé as one of the league’s most clutch quarterbacks, this episode is about the rise of the quarterback whisperers and why offensive head coaches may be taking over the NFL for good.
Kevin explains why Carolina, Chicago, and Jacksonville are all changing their trajectories, and why Trevor Lawrence suddenly looks like the player everyone scouted at Clemson.
Plus:
Why the Lions/Steelers ending was an officiating mess, and why the NFL needs replay transparency now
What’s gone wrong in Houston despite the win
Why the Giants’ nine-game losing streak is completely indefensible
Kevin’s blunt take on Joe Schoen and the myth of “young talent”
And a reminder that celebrating a big win over age 35 can end in injury
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Kevin Clark is joined by Daniel Jeremiah to take a look at whether the Chargers are legitimate contenders in the AFC and what makes Jim Harbaugh such a great coach. DJ lays out what the plan should be for the Chiefs this offseason as they look to rebound from their worst year in a decade. Plus, an incredible story from Daniel's scouting days about Colts legend Bob Sanders.
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Richard Sherman joins Kevin Clark for a wide-ranging NFL conversation ahead of Seahawks vs. Rams on Thursday Night Football.
The 5 time pro-bowler and Amazon Prime analyst breaks down how Mike Macdonald has rebuilt Seattle’s defense, why rookie Nick Emmanwori has become the engine of that unit. Richard also dives into Matthew Stafford’s arm talent , why he’s playing some of the best football of his career, and how Sean McVay reinvented the Rams.
Plus, Sherman picks which defense he’d want to play in if he were 25 again, revisits the one play he’d change from his career, and shares what fans often miss when watching defense on Sundays.
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Kevin Clark breaks down everything from a chaotic Sunday across the NFL — Patrick Mahomes suffers a torn ACL, the Kansas City Chiefs are eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in over a decade, and the league’s balance of power may have just shifted. Kevin covers historical context (Patriots parallels), and why today may be the clean dividing line between Chiefs 1.0 and whatever comes next. Kevin also covers Micah Parsons’ devastating injury and why the Packers Super Bowl hopes are fading.
Plus: Josh Allen putting on the cape again, Philip Rivers’ bizarre, vintage return, and Giants dysfunction reaches a breaking point
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Kevin Clark is joined by NFL veteran Mitch Morse provides insight into playing center for Josh Allen & Patrick Mahomes, and talks about the time he gave Paul Rudd an AFC West hat & the relationship he's developed with the Chiefs superfan. Mitch shares some incredible stories, inlcuding the toughest players he’s faced to a time where nature called at the worst possible time forcing Mitch to run to the blue medical tent.
Then NFL HOF Joe Thomas & Gatorade HS Player of the Year and fellow offensive lineman Jackson Cantwell. Joe details what he thinks Shedeur Sanders needs to do over the final month of the season to cement himself as the Browns quarterback of the future. Jackson shares what he's learned from Joe about playing offensive tackle as he prepares to play for the University of Miami next year.
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Kevin Clark is joined by Jordan Reid to take a look at how the QB class for the 2026 NFL Draft is shaping up. Hear why Jordan has Dante Moore as the top QB in the class should he choose to leave Oregon and enter the draft. Plus, the prospects worth watching in the upcoming College Football Playoff.
Then Bill Cornerback Christian Benford takes us through his heroic interception Sunday against the Bengals. Christian gives insight into what it's like to go against Josh Allen in practice everyday. Plus, what has surprised him about living in Buffalo.
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Late to the party. Superb takes. in my top 3 Pods. A new mist.