Behind Tha Mike Podcast

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!

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1
Free Fall
In light of the Shedeur Sanders draft saga I give you my thoughts, plus, other quarterback free falls that went well and not so well
43 min
2
The Trade
50 min
3
“You took the wrong guy.”
Entering the NFL draft every team has needs and they do their best to try and fulfill them. Whether you are a dynasty or a team trying to have a winning season, in the words of ESPN 30 for 30 narrator and actor Tom Selleck, “There comes a time after every draft when names on a page become careers on a field, and teams must face the consequences of their choices.”
34 min
4
Too small, slow, and skinny.
It’s almost time for the NFL draft once again, ladies and gentlemen, and we should all know by now we have no idea how selections and signings will pan out. In 1974, the Pittsburgh Steelers may had been on the rise, and Chuck Noll, his staff of coaches and scouts were no different from those of today. They didn’t always agree on who to pick, especially when when you have selected players, as Noll put it, that were supposedly too small, slow, and skinny.
35 min
5
The Forgotten Orangeman
I had never heard the name Wilmeth Sidat-Singh before this past weekend. His story is amazing but tragically short. The first black star athlete at Syracuse, he’s one of few to have their jersey retired. This is why…
31 min
6
Burl Toler
You know how we tell our kids to 'go to school and get your degree', especially with athletes because you never know how long it’s gonna last. For some, it takes them on a path of greatness no one saw coming.
42 min
7
“If you’re not first, you’re last!“
Part of the dark side of NFL history is the reason why it is full of firsts… And in this case, lasts! The NFL that we watch and enjoy today would be unrecognizable if certain mindsets had not changed and certain people had their way.
57 min
8
Moon
Of all the African-American pioneers to play quarterback in NFL history, one persevered on all levels to become one of the greatest of all time. Warren Moon.
56 min
9
Rematch Bonus, Fly Eagles Fly!
As we congratulate the Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles, we take a look back at the franchises’ past championships and Super Bowl appearances in a long form rundown to close the 2024 NFL season.
37 min
10
Rematch! Part II
As we continue revisiting past Super Bowl rematches, David slays Goliath twice, the coach that just can’t get over the hump, and the franchise that saw the beginning and end of the greatest Dynasty in NFL history.
56 min
11
Rematch Part I
The ninth rematch in Super Bowl history will take place on next Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles meet for the second time in three years. Today is part one of two as we review some of the stories in and around the previous eight games.
59 min
12
Five Guys
The conference championship games are now set, and Jayden Daniels has the Washington Commanders in the NFC title game for the first time in more than 30 years. In my search for my next show, I ran up on the fact that Daniels is only the sixth rookie to accomplish this. The five guys before him didn’t fair so well.
47 min
13
2K
It was nice of Saquon Barkley to sit during the final week of the regular season, a little over 100 yards away from Eric Dickerson’s all time single season of record of 2105 yards. Still, Barkley became the ninth running back in NFL history to eclipse the 2000 yard mark.
45 min
14
Triple Crown
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase made history this season by becoming only the fifth wide receiver since the 1970 merger to win the triple crown in the Super Bowl era. Key phrase being, Super Bowl era… There have been others.
40 min
15
Dual Threat
On Christmas day, Lamar Jackson broke Michael Vick’s all-time rushing yardage record of 6,109 against the Houston Texans. We take a look at the history of the dual threat quarterback in pro football.
51 min
16
Playoff Origins
We’re down to the last three weeks of the season with teams fighting for playoff positioning, or, just to get in the door. There was a time when there were no playoffs and a champion was simply crowned. What happened? Well, it all started with Curly Lambeau…
37 min
17
"Both."
Travis Hunter of Colorado became the 89th recipient of the Heisman Trophy this past Saturday. Hunter has made it known he wants to play both sides of the ball in the NFL, and tonight, we look at the NFL’s history of players who played multiple positions, and a little bit more. Some of which I had no idea!
41 min
18
“A long time ago in a Motor City far, far away….”
The 2024 Detroit Lions are the best team in the NFC with a 12–1 record if not the best team in football. We take a look back to the last time the Motor City was championship worthy in a remastered version of an earlier show, revisiting the Lions of the 1950s and the supposed curse of Bobby Layne.
42 min
19
Family Trees Part IV
We close our series with two of the greatest head coaches of all time. One, a pioneer of the league while the other was the ultimate innovator. Their roots lead to multiple championships, 15 current head coaches, and seven Hall of Famer’s…with one on the way. Part four of Family Trees!
47 min
20
Family Trees Part III
The old AFL played a very vital role in shaping the way the game is played today, and we have two franchises to thank for that…the LA Chargers and the Oakland Raiders. Also, how one coaches’ old habits actually opened the door for the Pittsburgh Steelers Dynasty of the 70s. Part three of Family Trees!
41 min
21
Family Trees Part II
Apparently, the NFC East is responsible for a number of our current NFL head coaches. And that coaching tree, which traces all the way back to 1926, is directly responsible for ending the AFC’s 13 year Super Bowl drought. Part two of Family Trees!
43 min
22
Family Trees Part I
With all the movement in the coaching realm today, it’s not hard to see where most head coaches come from. Know this, head coaches and assistants got their start somewhere, and sometimes it traces all the way back to NFL legends. Take a four-part journey with me to find out how the coaches of today are connected to some of the greatest head coaches in NFL history.
34 min
23
“To fire or not to fire…?” Part Deaux
Coaches get fired early and some right on time. I’ve always asked myself if Hall of Fame head coaches were coaching today, how fast would they been fired because of early failures and impatience of ownership? The stories of those who were fired early, and the benefits of those who stayed. Part deaux that asks the question “to fire or not to fire?“
44 min
24
“To fire or not to fire?” Part One
In the aftermath of what happened with former Jets head coach Robert Salah, I know there are some coaches that get fired too early and some right on time. I’ve always asked myself if Hall of Fame head coaches were coaching today, how fast would they been fired because of early failures and impatience? The stories of those who were fired early, and the benefits of those who stayed. Part one that asks the question “to fire or not to fire?“
47 min
25
“There’s nothing new under the sun.”
Future Hall of Fame QB Patrick Mahomes is having the worst statistical season of his career, yet his team is undefeated. If the Kansas City Chiefs win the Super Bowl, he wouldn’t be the first quarterback to play this bad and still win. It has happened before.
40 min