with the LA Times relates to his desire or lack thereof to
coach long, enough
to become
the all-time winningest coach and I really hope because we
spent weeks,
is he going to go to Amazon
is going to keep coaching, is going to walk off into
the sunset. Is he going to leave for a while and come back?
Like, Dick Vermeil did.
And I really hope that At this doesn't become our new Brett
Favre style Obsession where after every given year we spent
a certain chunk of the offseason speculating
on the future of Sean McVeigh,
but he was asked the question. About coaching long enough to
catch the likes of Don Shula and Bill Belichick. He's 328
winds behind Shula. But
you know, I
he says he has no desire and at this stage of his life, he's
36. He's just getting married said in the past, you know,
he's got a family and stuff. He's not going to be wanting,
he's not going to want.
To be spending as much time away from home. As you have to,
if you're a successful NFL, head coach, but also good luck
taking it out
of your blood. Once it's in your blood and it's who you
are. Right? And you look at Bill Belichick. It's who he is.
So many. People were dismissive of this idea that you know,
he's got no chance. He's got no chance. Well,
he's 36 and he's got 55 win. Yes, right. Bill Belichick
wasn't a head coach until he was 39, right? Of course. He's
got a chance if he's ready to give his life to it. Is
the real question exact, are you willing to continue to give
your life to it? The way that you have the last five
years? If you are indefinitely,
then you will catch those guys. If you averaged 11 wins a year,
especially with 17 regular season games eventually to be
18 regular season game, right? Yeah. I mean, it's these type
of guys that break these records. I mean, that's Don
Shula. He was a young
head coach when he started
and that's why he's the all-time leader. I mean, he
believed George Halas. He even got a pretty good or pretty
early head. Art himself. So
yes, I mean it's set up for him to make a run of that if he
wants to continue to grind away. And again with some of
these guys to that's the oh, yeah, I don't I have no
ambition to do that and all the
sudden they look up 12 years later and
you know, it's like, whoa. Okay, I'm 48. I'm 50.
Well, what else am I going to do? I guess I'll keep doing
this. That's how we can kind of happen, but I will say,
I think, with his like new age group. I don't know, you know,
the, the,
the new, the young regime
that we got in the NFL, right? Right now, just to name a few
between McVeigh Shanahan LaFleur. And I don't feel like,
I never felt like they were the type of guys that were going to
do this until they were like 75 years old. I
didn't. I think there's a little bit of a love for life
from these guys to a point where
they know they're missing out on some things right now
and it's pedal to the metal and their work hard as hell and
they live hard as hell. But man, I I know that it takes
a toll on these guys. It's why I've heard McVeigh in the past
talk about and we heard rumors about, you know, is he going to
be burned out? Maybe he
steps away, the TV stuff, all of that and it's crazy as 24/7
365. All of that and I think this is a group that. Yeah,
I look at McVeigh and Shannon look for in that group of guys
to where I know I think they're going to go
as hard as they can
and then they'll like crap out needle
will hit red and the engine bus somewhere, you know, in
the next 10 years and they got to step away for a few years.
That's kind of how I Envision that, that crew really
altogether. But remember what you noticed this year. Yeah,
I know about Sean.
I know you're right.
Yes. What, when your quarterback isn't Jared Goff,
right? And it is Matthew Stafford. Yes, life is a hell
of a lot less stressful for Sean McVeigh. No doubt a lot
less Stroud down. I noticed. So yes, that's a big factor as
well and maybe he's learning that
as long as I have a great quarterback.
Yeah, easier said than done. On.
But as long as I prioritize taking care of the most
important position on the field and have somebody that will run
the offense, the right way and can make all the throws that
need to be made for this offense to be successful.
I can keep doing that
indefinitely. And the other question, these guys have asked
themselves. Yeah,
if I'm not doing
what I have spent my life, doing, what am I going to do?
Especially with the broadcasting seats?
You know, this this game of musical chairs
that we have witnessed this offseason, maybe once in
a generation, it's not like every year. The number one job is
going to be available at Fox
and ESPN and Amazon and this bidding war breaks out
and Tom, Brady money gets thrown in someone's Direction.
It's not going to happen. It's just not now to be interesting
if there's a guy like McVeigh who morphs into the
white whale, All of broadcasting. If one of these
other networks would just throw somebody overboard and buy out
their contract to get McVeigh, but
for the most part, you're not going to have these
opportunities come around and you're not going to have
an easy plan. B.
Okay. I'm done. Doing the thing. That sucks up all my
time, but I still love football. How do I stay
involved in it? What's my plan B? Because for a lot of these
guys, it's all or nothing. Yeah, no doubt about either.
Coach
my life completely into this or
I retire and I Golf
and I drive kids around to all their activities and I raise
African Geese. I mean, there's no middle ground
unless you land in one of these broadcasting gigs. So I it's,
you know, it's easy to say
I know
that these guys aren't going to do it for 40 years. But what
else are they going to do? Once they've reached the level where
they can do this and succeed. Why would you stop?
Yeah, unless you just physically become worn down.
I listen, I hear you. I do. I Oh, the challenge flag on all that.
You're right. I mean as far as what, you know
the thought I've had the conversation with Shanahan
before a little bit, you know, and yeah, I do. I know when
that time comes like, you know, you talk about yeah, maybe be
in 46 48. 50 years old. Oh, I might step away a band going
out of this.
I mean yes to all these guys, they're psychos and a good way
and the fact that,
you know, they're not comfortable unless they have
a task or a job or something. They got to worry about and
a group. Group of people, they got a coach and get them
better.
You know, you get, they get used to
not only just the adrenaline and the work and everything
like that. But I think with a lot of these guys to you get
a little addicted to the power as well.
I mean, you're the king of the castle,
so, yes, it's fun. It's action-packed. I mean, on
a weekly basis. You don't know what the hell you're going to
get. It's impossible to replace that intensity
and really, any other job in life. Really?
That's where the NFL is exciting as hell. The adrenaline rush.
On a week to week basis,
it's Irreplaceable your Irreplaceable for sure.
And I hear you Mike. That's like yes, you know, I went
McVeigh says that I go. Yeah, I get it I get it. And could
I see him maybe getting burnt out and then stepping away for
a year or two, maybe three at some point. Sure,
but I could also I think to your point if we were sitting
here 15 years from now still doing the show and going man
mcveigh's still going and there's no sign of stopping.
I'd go well. I'm not shocked by that either
like you said, and especially with like a guy like McVeigh.
It's not, it's in his DNA. It's part of the family business
a little bit to to where, you know, I think it's, it makes it
even a little harder to let it go. It was his whole life. This
was a Target that he wanted to get to and
I hear him. I don't know if he can, just give that away either.
I just have to be alive in 15 years.
I don't know how I feel about the possibility of still
working for you and 15. Yeah, you with you in years. I'll be
working for you in 15 years.
But and it's funny because my wife and I have his
conversation 857
coming up big chive seven coming up. Whoo. Whoo.
No, I won't shut up. You're going to be 57 Wednesday. All
right, so
it's funny because I think 15 years into the Future Boy.
That's really a long time. But then I think 15 years in
the past and it's not long, right? I'm gonna write you go, man.
That was 42. That seem like a few weeks ago. I know. It is
weird. How it works like that and like, 72 come
on. That's the new 62.
You can do it. If y'all that don't make it anymore PL,
I mean the question. The only question is
the only question is is like when you're 72, and we're doing
this show of the, you know, 15 years from now.
Will you have left the house yet? Will you have actually not
on your pool by that time?
Possibly. I almost went in the pool this weekend. I almost sat
on the edge of the pool
and and stuck my fault.
Do you in there so fast, I would do anything to be walking
behind you. I once got I once got thrown. Into my pool with
jeans on
and there is nothing that goes from
like, you know, several ounces to 75 pounds dragging you in
a pair of jeans that get wet. My god. I've been addressed. It
would they were dragging me to
the bottom of the deep end of my pool. It was terrifying for
a few seconds.
So if you're ever here, which you never will be, don't throw
me into the pool with my jeans on, okay.
I think you better way point with your quarterback McVeigh
thing though. That's where I wanted to get to at the end and
I lost Backtrack a little bit. I do think you're right, you
know life is a lot more stressful. When
oh wait, it's I gotta
find out all these cute ways to make the offense work because
I can't call some of the traditional 20-yard 30-yard
throws. I wanted with Jared Goff and oh my gosh, I'm
pulling my hair out.
How am I going to find another way to get Robert Woods or
somebody behind the line of scrimmage? So we can throw it
four-year-olds in the flat to where you had this year. I'm
sure to your point. He was energized. It was going. Oh
man. I haven't been able to run this.
And while I've always wanted to try this, this guy go that way.
And this guy go the other way. And hey, you just throw it as
far as you can Stafford
that I'm sure made. Life more fun for him this year. It did
he told me to my face and you can see that, you know, in
the day I spent with them at
at the Super Bowl that he talked about. He had a new
energy. He was saying that, you know, many, many times
throughout throughout the day.
And and really between him and and Kyle Shanahan. Yeah,
Kyle seems
even though McVeigh has had periods where he seems
tormented. I think we've a goes out of his way to sell
the glass half-full thing all the time. Everything's fine.
Everything's great. Everything's awesome. Even if
it isn't, right,
Kyle, Kyle just at times, looks like he's beaten down and
weathered, like he's been out to sea for nine months by
the time, the season's over.
You know, what Jim? Well, Jimmy Jimmy, garoppolo's been his
quarterback.
That. Yeah, I know. You're right. There you go. We got
guys who can get us to a certain level but can't pushes
through the top her. You feel like you're banging your head
against the wall. If you're the guy's head coach. And
and again, there's a certain
message we get publicly and then privately, he's got to be
beside himself at times with some of the things that he does
to set the table and Jimmy G. Can't sit down and eat
the meat. Right? Right. I think that's exactly right.
And, you know, I think ultimately that what you're
talking about there.
You know, I'm sure there was probably a few other
hair-pulling moments in between there that we don't know about
led to a crazy.
Let me get a trade, drastic decision for a quarterback to
do that because of what you're talking about. I think to,
I think so, especially in the year where it was the covid
year. They struggled, you know, they had just lost them,
a homes in the Super Bowl that year and the
year of the covid year. They're playing in Arizona, and a play
Buffalo and Josh Allen. They got Good. Look at some of that
and another guy to go. Holy crap.
How do you defend a human being like this? This is unbelievable.
I really think that was kind of the jump-off point or the point
without hit Shanahan, like kind of in the face to go. Like
I need to get one of these. I got to get one of these guys that,
you know, it's just doesn't have to be about me
drawn up the perfect, play
every time and yes, that's what a great quarterback could do.
We could take pressure off of everybody that way you just
the the, the Playbook is Limitless
and then you Don't ever have to worry about, you know,
orchestrating cheap little ways to make the quarterback look
good. And
I think you're spot on there. Mike. I think it's why they
made the move to get trail ends.
And this I believe has to be tormenting Kyle
tormenting. Not that I'm happy that he's tormented. I'm not.
But I know if I were in his shoes, what would be bothering
me is the idea that
The way the dominoes fell 2021 offseason Brad, Holmes goes
from grams to the Lions and lays the foundation for an easy
easy deal to be done offload, Jared Goff, pick up Matthew
Stafford, right? And next thing, you know, the confettis
in the air, just think if they had hired, somebody from
the 49ers front office to be
the GM of the Lions.
Think about that. Yeah, right. That
if they had heart Adam Peters. Yeah to be the GM of the
once
and once Peters gets settled in. Next thing, you know,
Stafford's looking for a new place Garoppolo for Stafford.
I mean, same trade know, doesn't feel better. I mean
better for Detroit, you know, you'd rather have Garoppolo
than Madrid golf in my opinion. So, yeah, I hear you.
That's how crazy the league is. I mean, it's how close it is and
I would think, yes,
that's a real rivalry there. Then the Rams, the Niners,
Shanahan McVeigh, they're both whiz kid genius guy. They came
from the same.
Coaching tree Shanahan, you know, was
in the Shanahan's were there and Washington, McVeigh was
there under him and I was so, yeah, I got, that's got to eat
at him. No doubt about it. And the fact that, you know, to
like you're saying
the 49ers were one of those teams where
that tried to jump in,
you know, by anybody, you talk to in the NFL who tried to jump
in on the Matthew Stafford thing, once they realize. Whoa,
like this is really real, he's available, you know, there was
a number of teams and Carolina Panthers. There's a few others
that,
you know, once they
Realize, whoa, whether they're really trading him there.
As far as Detroit
teams, tried to get involved. But like you said, it was
already kind of baked in because of the relationship
with Brad homes and coming from the rims.
I think one of the reasons why the Washington commanders moved
as quickly as they did to get Carson Wentz, they were. Yeah,
they're now dealing last year, right? From the fact that, yes,
remember, because
people were goofing on the Commander's for calling every
team. Right to see if the quarterback was available. Oh,
they called. Can you believe those morons called the About
Patrick Mahomes, but you know, what?
After
you miss the boat completely
on Matthew Stafford,
of course, you're going to call every team. Of course, you're
going to make sure. Let's make sure let's turn over every
Rock, even the Rocks. So we know there's nothing under.
Yeah, we're turning over every Rock.
So we miss nothing,
we do not want to get caught like we did last year, but
the difference was, it was basically an inside job. It
was,
they need to get rid of that golf contract without it being
a brock. Wyler trade, they couldn't just trade Gulf to
somebody and send a first round pick, which is what they did,
but it wasn't as obvious.
When you send to ones in a 3-4
Matthew Stafford and you throw in Jared Goff. It doesn't
scream out Brock Osweiler trade, even though it was they
gave up a first round. Pick to get rid of the god-awful Jared
Goff contract at three years ago. This month. I was
shouting, don't give it to him, don't give it to him and
they're acting. Like I was crazy
and McVeigh was all dismissive
and they gave it to him.
Yeah, and then they couldn't wait to get rid of it, too.
Two seasons later. So
I don't think anybody was getting Stafford other than the Rams,
but I do think that that's still reverberates. And if I'm Kyle
if there is a quiet moment that I have this offseason. I'm
thinking my God if they had just hired one of my guys and
I could have gotten Stafford. I'd be doing the victory tour. I'd
have the Super Bowl and it does, as you said to your
point, it shows how close
it all is. Yeah, how close it all? Is, how tightly packed and
it's a play here of play there. A development here, development
there that can change everything.