Backup Plan

After the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced it’s 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 wasn’t 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 he’d have to win a Super Bowl going forward with his backup Jarrett Stidham. (Unfortunately, it didn’t 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 wasn’t 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, playoffs…Before 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 coaches’ collegiate success never carries over to the pro game, some assistants are just assistants, and how the return to college football has very different results…even 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 coaches’ 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. Here’s 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.