Behind Tha Mike Podcast: Recent Episodes
Belly Up Podcast Network đ
Presented by Belly Up Sports! Michael Neal Jr shares his love of NFL history by discussing stories, games, NFL draft, Super Bowls, team origins, and more!
After the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced itâs 2026 class, former San Francisco 49er running back Roger Craig finally got in as a senior member. Known for his wide eyed high-stepping running style, Craig became the first running back in NFL history to have over 1000 yards rushing and receiving in a single season. At one point, he wasnât even the best running back on his team at the University of Nebraska and it goes to show all careers are not created equal.
There once was a quarterback on his fifth team that got his squad to the Super Bowl just like Sam Darnold. By the end of his career, he played 21 seasons, mostly as a backup. Ultimately he played a huge role in winning two championships. This is the story of Earl Morrall.
After the Bo Nix mystery broken ankle in the divisional round, Broncos head coach Sean Peyton knew heâd have to win a Super Bowl going forward with his backup Jarrett Stidham. (Unfortunately, it didnât work out.) Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles offered a not so subtle reminder of his role back in 2017 against the Patriots⌠He wasnât the first backup to win a Super Bowl.
The playoffs brings about a certain nostalgia for me because of the love of my favorite video game all time. Today, we revisit the first NFL video game that featured every player and every team. A 17 week regular season, stats, playoffsâŚBefore Madden, there was Tecmo Super Bowl!
In our final show on coaches that went back to school at some point in their careers, I found interesting connections between the states of Florida and Alabama. Some of which produced some of the greatest coaches and coordinators in the history of football.
We continue to talk about coaches that have gone between the NFL and college football. There are more examples of how a coachesâ collegiate success never carries over to the pro game, some assistants are just assistants, and how the return to college football has very different resultsâŚeven if you end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Watching Bill Belichick struggle at the University of Carolina made me think about other coaches that left the NFL for the college ranks, or vice versa. We examine these coachesâ success or failures.
The Cleveland Rams were the FIRST major professional team to leave a city after winning a championship a YEAR later, the Dallas Texans were the second. You know them as the Kansas City Chiefs. Hereâs why.
Question. Who messed up last week thinking that the Cleveland Rams were the only professional franchise to move after winning a championship? This guy! Yes the Cleveland Rams were first, but the Dallas Texans also did it in 1962 before they became the Kansas City Chiefs the next year. One thing about the Rams though, there was a lot of innovation about this team, and they made it OK for the NFL to move out west.
Question. Who is the only professional sports franchise to leave a city after winning a championship? Give up? The Cleveland Rams. Yes, the CLEVELAND. Rams.
Many know about the greatness of Sean Taylor between the University of Miami and the four years with the Washington Commanders (then Redskins). Before his is untimely death at the age of 24, we tell you how he got there.
November 14 of this year the NFL world lost Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Kenny Easley. His career was short, but he proved itâs not how long you play but what you do when you play.
It is been 50 years for the Seahawks and the "12sâ! A franchise that has seen more success than failure, three Super Bowl appearances, and a Lombardi trophy. And to think, it all started with a couple of shoe salesman.
I have learned by doing this show that the origins of an NFL franchise isnât so cut and dry. You buy the team you own the team right? 50 years ago, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became the NFLâs 27th franchise, and the man that ended up owning them? Letâs just say the league made it difficult, and it blew up in their face. @bellyupsports #NFL #NFLhistory #WeAreTheKrewe #Bucs #PewterPirates
Every Hall of Famer has a different story, a different path that helped them reach Canton. One of the greatest wide receivers in the history of the league played behind someone who was clearly better than him during the early years, and at one point couldnât even catch a cold! Not every career ends the way it begins.
Facing your old team in professional sports happens a lot, especially with players changing teams like they change draws! (In college too!) How did they leave? Money? Age? Injury? Whatever the case, whether itâs revenge or just another game, sometimes itâs sweet, while others? Letâs just say not great.
All of a sudden, (and for good reason) the Kansas City Chiefs are the favorite to win the Super Bowl after beginning the season 0â2. They are now 4â3. Not the most impressive record in the world, but it made me think of other teams left for dead that reached the Super Bowl. And, win, or lose, left their mark, reminding everyone that thereâs always a chance.
Ohio State has a fine history of NFL alumni at every position. Right now, there are five really good wideouts that were all there at the same time four years ago, continuing a long lineage including some of the best in league history.
This week had to be shortened and we deliver our week five rundown! After watching more come from behind victories, some teams lose in some of the most comical ways and some players will never learn to hold onto the football.
The Cincinnati Bengals have a quarterback problem, and one sportscasters idea could be at least a short term solution. We look back at other quarterback situations in pro football history, whether it ended in a trophy or not.
After the week three rundown, weâre going to do a little something different. Itâs trivia time!
There are some athletes who are defined by their sport, and then there are those who are not. There are also those who were forced to retire, and there are those who had other plans. For some, their plan was to get out before it was too late.
Sterling Sharpeâs induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame was long overdue, and Iâm glad he finally got in! You must know that these kind of accolades were not why he played, and he could care less, but the road getting there as well as how his career ended made so much sense.
Hard to believe itâs been 20 years since hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, both impacting and taking lives along the way, especially in the city of New Orleans. Five years later, the New Orleans Saints hoisted the Lombardi trophy, the cityâs first ever championship in professional sportsâŚThe road was not easy for the city or its franchise. @BellyUpSports @BellyUpMedia #NFL #NFLhistory #NewOrleans #Katrina #WhoDat #Saints
At his introductory press conference, Aaron Rodgers said the Jets Super Bowl III trophy was looking a little bit lonely. Rogers made no guaranteesâŚbut the first quarterback did, and those results were step one in changing the league forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
No doubt about it, the NFL is a passing league. The running back that carries his team from start to finish, has slowly faded. What happened? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Pro football Hall of Fame coach, Bill Parcells once said he wants a Sr QB grad that started 3 years, won 23 of 30 games, with a 2 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio, and completed 60% of his passes. Was he right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When mentioning great defenses or defensive lines like the Steel Curtain, Fearsome Foursome, or the Purple People Eaters, very seldom mentioned are the New York Sack Exchange. If you donât know youâre going to learn today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ever wonder why certain NFL teams wear the colors they do? Some were obvious, but others? Well, just listen to the show. Itâs the NFC's turn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ever wonder why certain NFL teams wear the colors they do? Some were obvious, but others? Well, just listen to the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Football has undergone many changes over the years, and some positions didnât even exist. One of those positions is only 63 years old and has evolved beautifully. The tight end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What did a former Negro League shortstop and the Los Angeles Rams have in common? If you listen, Iâll tell you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My first trip to New York City was everything I expected. The food, the traffic, the people didnât disappoint, but, I never realized just how many different places pro football was played! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Injuries are a part of sports, but, there is a point in an athletesâ professional life that they have to ask themselves âHow bad do I want it?â Here are some of the greatest performances with injuries in NFL history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On December 20th, the NFL world lost a legend days before his jersey was retired and the anniversary of one of the NFLâs greatest plays in history. This oneâs for Franco.
Every December 23rd, former Raiders linebacker Phil Villapiano gets a call from former Steelers running back Franco Harris. The question? âWhat were you doing on this day X years ago?â Iâm guessing itâs the 50th year Villapiano has gotten this phone call.
I have no proof, but I believe that Chuck Taylor had a major role in the New York Giantsâ first ever NFL championship.
When a star player leaves his former team, it can be for many reasons. They could be cut, traded, or even wanted out. Whatever the reason, itâs always fun watching them play their old squad.
Football isnât always played in perfect conditions, but itâs always amazing to see how players adjust to âfootball weather.â
Buffalo got 77 inches of snow last weekâŚthatâs 6 feet! It got me to thinking, what were some of the worst weather games in the history of the NFL? Iâll start with my favorites.
Could Tyreek Hill become the first 2,000 yard receiver in NFL history? I donât know, but this I do know. Pass receiving has come a long way!
There are teams that are overlooked. It happens every year. Iâm talking about that squad that makes the playoffs and come so closeâŚbut their window closes quickly. The 1980 and 81 Buffalo Bills were one of those teams.
We know about the Don Shula led Miami Dolphins of the 1970s. Two Super Bowls in three tries, an undefeated 1972 season, but, what happened in the 80s? Hereâs what I learned.
The San Diego Chargers of the late 70s and early 80s were ahead of their time, setting records along the way. Why didnât they ever win a Super Bowl? Some would say because of their defense, but thatâs not entirely accurate.
As we continue our tour through the 1980s, I always wondered why the dominant Chicago Bears never won more than one Super Bowl? What happened after that magical 85 season?
I know Denver paid Russell Wilson a lot of money, I know this, and Broncos fans arenât exactly âMile Highâ today! We fans are offensively spoiled these days, but Broncos Country, it could be worse.
As we say goodbye to the Pro Bowl, we trace the history of All-Star games in pro football.
Some owners whisk their teams off in the middle of the night. Some will just tell you right to your face⌠âIâm leaving!â
What would you do if your favorite team moved? With all its history, championships, Hall of Fame players and moments. What if they just packed up and left?
We look back on the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and both the NFLâs reactions to some of the biggest events in US history, and how it learned from its mistakes.
John Elway + the 4th highest winning percentage in the 1980s + 5 division titles in 7 years + 3 Super Bowl appearances = 0 titles. Eventually, the Denver Broncos learned how to do math, just not in the 80s.
In honoring the life and career of Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Len Dawson, some coaches didnât know what they had until it was gone.
Not every great team thatâs won a Super Bowl (or two) had a bunch of Hall of Famers on it. Business decisions had to be made to get good and stay good. Some head coaches had a front row seat.
From players supposedly too small, coaches that kept winning, and the Hall of Fameâs first official inducted. We review the careers of the eight newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2022!
Of all of the ways a successful dynasty or great franchisesâ success can end, sometimes it comes down just one guy.
Thereâs always that team that people only talk about when they lose. Whatâs ignored is how good the team actually was, and then sometimesâŚthey break through when you least expect it.
The Minnesota Vikings were the first to lose four Super Bowls. OK, but itâs so easy to forget how good those teams were to even get there! How great were the 70s Vikings, and what happened?
The Raiders are one of the greatest franchises in NFL history. Period. Their greatest teams played in the 70s, and itâs a shame it produced only one trophy.
They say that money is the root of all evil. Although that may not always be the case, it can sure mess up a good thingâŚEspecially in sports.
Albert Einstein once said, âThree great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear, and greed.â Iâd add to that impatience, all of which can come back to bite you!
Itâs easy to say a team got old and somebody retired, but, the details of a great franchises demise can be a lot more interesting.
The NFL has a long history. Within that history, there are some franchises that have since fallen off from greatness. There are others you had no idea were great at all!
The NFL has a long history. Within that history, there are some franchises that have since fallen off from greatness. There are others you had no idea were great at all!
Age, injury, and infighting between coaches and owners arenât the only way dynasties end. Sometimes, there are just more important things than sports, like serving your country.
To continue a dynasty, sometimes the answers are right under your nose, and you have no idea. And sometimes history has a way of repeating itself.
When we speak of dynasties, we only talk about how they were built and how long they lasted. But we never talk about how they end.
The 2022 NFL draft is over, and we have no idea how any of the picks are going to do. Still, the stories behind these athletes are amazing. Whether your team got it right or wrong, we shall see.
NFL player evaluation has gone from simple newspapers and magazines to poking and prodding from scouts (both mentally and physically) in combines and pro days. Here is its genesis.
In his life and career, Burt Bell not only played the game, coached the game, and was the second commissioner in NFL history, he gave us the NFL draft. Why is that so special?
For four seasons, the AAFC was a threat to the NFL. But, a great man once said that no one can run a business losing money every year, no matter how many people are coming to your games.
By the end of the first All America Football Conference season in 1946, the new league would learn three things. Have a good owner, a good coach, and good talent on the field. Some teams didnât have enough of any of those things.
Between 1926 and 1945, five professional football leagues tried and failed trying to keep up with the NFL. One did, ultimately producing some of the greatest teams, players, and coach in NFL history.
As we wrap up our March continuation of NFL black history, weâve seen many teams go on to greatness after bringing in black players⌠except for one that blatantly refused. The Kennedy administration would have something to say about that.
Being a black athlete in the late 19th and early 20th century took a strength I canât even begin to understand. Yet, there are plenty of success stories during the re-integration of pro football in spite of the odds against them.
So, who came after Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Bill Willis, and Marion Motley? The first African-Americans to play pro football in 13 years? More. Many more, and they showed the NFL what it had been missing.
The 1939 UCLA Bruins made NCAA history by playing four African Americans on their football team. If not been for their fame and undefeated season, NFL history would not have been made in 1946.
For a 13 year period, there were zero African-Americans in pro football. That all changed in 1946 as we highlight the NFLâs âForgotten Fourâ.
I absolutely love NFL stories, and those from the Super Bowl are among the best! After picking six of my favorites I have learned a couple of things. Security needs to tighten up in the locker room and you can almost win MVP with a hangover.
In the history of the Super Bowl there are the haves and have nots. Winners and losers. But you canât ignore the games that were âalmost wonâ. We take a look back on the Super Sunday history of the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals.
As Super Bowl 56 is set, we continue on our journey on some of the greatest playoff games in NFL history!
The NFL Playoffs! The greatest one-and-done tournament this side of March Madness! On the way to the Lombardi Trophy, there are some games coaches, players, and fans love to relive. Others, well, they leave a scar that never heals.
Not every great coach has a championship under his belt. Three of 22 coaches in the Pro Football Hall of Fame are without a championship. But, if a coach takes two different teams to the Super Bowl four times, isnât he Hall of Fame worthy?
On December 28, 2021 the football world lost a Hall of Fame sportscaster and coach. A husband of one, father of two, and both coach and friend of many. We honor the memory of John Madden.
Itâs hard enough to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player, coach, or contributor. But, there are some out there that should be inducted twice. Let me tell you about one of them.
Being a Pittsburgh Steelers fan can be tough in Nashville Tennessee. Why? Because of the roots of a long-standing AFC Central rivalry that dates all the way back to 1970.
Some NFL executives that are hired lay the foundation of a franchise, setting it up for long term success. Then they are gone. Others not only lay the foundation, but they close it out.
The climb from scout to general manager in the NFL can be a story in itself. That story carries with it learning experiences that could take you straight to Canton.
A Hall of Fame coach argued to select the best players, or "groceries" for his team. Normally, scouts find the talent and general managers (sometimes coaches or owners) select the players. We take a look at some of the greatest grocery shoppers in NFL history!
On Thanksgiving, sleeping in, getting hurt playing in the "Turkey Bowl", and eating until you pass out is every American's God given right...oh, and watching football all day. Thanks Abe Lincoln!
Kansas City hired Lloyd Wells, who became the first black scout in pro football history. His scouting of HBCU talent helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl IV in 1969. In 1967, the Pittsburgh Steelers' hiring of the second black scout in NFL history lead them to a dynasty.
The AFL was formed in 1960, and unlike the NFL, this league slowly opened the door of both scouting and drafting HBCU players. Lloyd Wells kicked that door wide open!
Good teams, great teams, dynasties, all credit goes to the players and the coaches. But what about the scouts who evaluate the talent on the field? Few people know whom they are.
After five years of collective bargaining bliss, the NFLPA went on strike again. This time the owners were ready, and their "replacement plan" brought out the worst in both players and fans.
A great man once said "Show me the money!" At one point, NFL players said "Show me the money and the benefits!" When the league drug their feet, players refused to clock in.
Some NFL stars we only associate with football and only football. But maybe, just maybe, they were pretty good at something elseâŚ
As fans, itâs hard for us to understand why a professional athlete in his prime would just walk away from the game. When they do, it often leaves us wondering âWhat if..?â
Football is a violent game and injuries come with it. Some of the best of all time made a choice when injuries impacted their careers⌠And sometimes that choice was made for them.
NFL greats can come from anywhere, from colleges great and small. Not just drafted in the first two rounds, and some not drafted at all!
In the beginning, the NFL was not as popular. Television changed all that, but itâs about when you play. Two words. Prime. Time.
Opportunities opened up the gates to greatness at the quarterback position for athletes of color. Records have been set and history has been made, but there is still a long way to go. Their story continuesâŚ
Last season, there were 10 starting quarterbacks of color in the NFL. Once thought of as not intelligent enough, black quarterbacks have persevered. This is their story.
We take a historical walk through of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and in the return of Storytime with Uncle Mike, an apartment from Hades!
The NFL had come a long way in popularity since 1920, and had finally become cool. But how? Why? The answer lies with the athletes themselves.
Founded in 1920, the National Football League was born during college footballâs âgolden ageâ. Believe it or not, it wasnât every kids dream to become a professional football player during the early years. Side note, Wayne Gretzky, Iâm sorry.
After a shaky decade in the 1980s, the NFL began to truly rise to prominence in the 1990s. Meanwhile, other sports, although great, didnât always come to work.
Every professional sports league goes through a period where they struggle. For the NFL, it was the 1980s.
From humble beginnings to having the worldsâ most recognizable athletes and brand, we continue exploring the NFLâs rise to becoming Americaâs most watched sport.
Baseball was Americaâs pastime and college football was King. So, how did the NFL get so popular? We explore the history behind the rise of Americaâs most watched sport.
Out of the many great coaches in NFL history, there are very few that were men of color. There is a reason for that. Opportunities.
Head-coaching greats can not only change and maintain a franchise for the better, but they can also overcome adversityâŚEven if itâs of their own doing.
Great head coaches do two things; they change the culture of a franchise and maintain that culture. We continue our journey of the greatest NFL coaches of all time.
Disciplinarian, teacher, innovator, tactician, motivator, winner. These adjectives (and more) describe what it means to be a coach. We begin a three part series on the greatest coaches of all time!
Lions and Cowboys and Bucs, oh my! We take a 32 team journey to find out how every NFL franchise got their name!
In the beginning, the American Football League was a joke. It didnât help that itâs professional football teams practiced in schoolyards, played in run-down stadiums, and wore bad uniforms. But, by its 10th and final year, the AFL had more than earned the respect of both the NFL and the sports world.
The NFL schedule has added more regular season games over the years, but the best part are the stories behind those games.
Ever wonder how we got to NFL free agency? At one point it didnât exist. We also take a look back at un-drafted Hall of Famerâs as well as the best and worst free-agent signings in NFL history.
Aaron Rodgers wants a divorce from the Green Bay Packers (allegedly). We take a look at past examples that actually left their teams for another... not all by choice.
We take a deep dive into the history of African-Americans and minorities in the NFL. In Storytime With Uncle Mike, a tale of a narcoleptic football player.
Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence is expected to be the first pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. We take a look back on quarterback prospects from all levels, and where they were selected in the draft. In Storytime With Uncle Mike, we examine three QBs that the Pittsburgh Steelers let get away. Here's a hint, two of them were born and raised in Pittsburgh.
The show transitions itâs focus to the history of the NFL! With the 2021 NFL draft two weeks away we focus on its origins, and one team ownersâ impact that saved the NFL in its infancy.
Big money goes down hurtâŚagain, a slight rant on the Brooklyn Nets, and a not so surprising number on wide receivers drafted in the first round.
More old-heads return to the boxing ring, the importance of where you land as a NFL prospect, why doesnât totally matter where you go to school, and what Arbyâs can teach you about winning in the NCAA tournament.
Episode Notes
The NCAA tournament Sweet 16 is set, but not before setting every bracket in America on fire! LeBron James is hurt for real this time, and what it means for the LA Lakers. In Storytime With Uncle Mike, there once a blind dog that wandered into a FedEx station...
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The NCAA Tournament is on after a year off, the latest on NFL free agency, and the reality for paying a franchise quarterback. Also, the time I aided and abetted using black olives...In Storytime With Uncle Mike.
Episode Notes
Dak Prescott finally gets his money, the NBA All-Star weekend confirms who the NBA âs most influential player is, and my personal review of Coming 2 America.
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Episode Notes
The Boston Celtics canât spell consistency, Captain America signs with the Arizona Cardinals, and Russell Wilson along with the Seahawks offensive coaching staff may need to take notes from James Harden. Storytime with Uncle Mike features a Jerk Move from a coworker.Â
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Episode Notes
We talk Big Ben, Cam Newton disrespected at his own football camp, and what it would take to get a 14 year $340 million contract. Now that football is over, we get you caught up on the NBA just before the All-Star break. Also, there is no loyalty in sports, and in Storytime With Uncle Mike tells of how desperate people are to get a package from FedEx.Â
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Episode Notes
We play catch-up with a Super Bowl review in this weeks rundown. In the aftermath of a loss in the big game, it is hard to get back...Kansas City fans, this is for you. Also, Russell Wilson isnât totally wrong. In Storytime With Uncle Mike, while people are getting stuck in the snow this winter, I actually got stuck on dry land.
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