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!

News
Sports News
26
I’d rather die watching pro football…“ Part II
Instead of wealth and politics, Bert Bell’s choice of a football life lead him to being an owner, the second commissioner in NFL history, then induction into the pro football Hall of Fame. The proof would be his poetic end.
43 min
27
“I’d rather die watching pro football…“
There are paths that are chosen for us, and there are those who choose their own. Burt Bell‘s choice was a life of football, one that would lead him to Hall of Fame.
37 min
28
Giants at 100
As the New York Giants celebrate 100 years this season, we take a look back at the origins of this proud franchise that began with a poor kid from the Lower East side of Manhattan that knew nothing about football.
38 min
29
"...wash your hands."
When Pete Rozelle became commissioner of the NFL in 1960, he would take the league to a level it had never seen before. Thing is, he wasn’t even a candidate!
40 min
30
Finding “The Voice”
John Facenda is one of the main reasons I love the history of pro football. But, I wanted to know more about his background, including the details on his famous meeting between he and Ed Sabol that would lead to him becoming “the voice” of NFL films.
26 min
31
The Showman
There once was a man who had an eye and mind for entertainment that would help the NFL innovate and grow through ideas that are still used to this day. Too bad his mindset and behavior got his name erased from the very existence of the team he founded.
28 min
32
3 Peat?
The Kansas City Chiefs are kicking off the 2024 NFL season going for a 3 Peat. Who wouldn’t? Many have tried, all have failed in the Super Bowl era, but, two franchises actually pulled it off pre-Super Bowl…kinda. Take a walk through NFL history with me to see what happened.
30 min
33
Back-to-Back Dawgs
The NFL preseason began with the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio which was the home of the first back to back champions in NFL history, the Canton Bulldogs. How does a team loaded with Hall of Famers go from champions to non-existence in 3 years?
20 min
34
Hollywood Ending
The Denver Broncos’ 5 division titles in 7 years + 3 Super Bowl appearances = 0 titles. John Elway's squad learned how to do math in the 1990s which culminated in a storybook ending for the Hall of Fame quarterback.
61 min
35
With Bias
The NFL MVP award is the most biased award in all of sports. Only three times in its official history has a player outside of a quarterback or running back ever won it, and one winner is still unbelievable!
37 min
36
Jack & Jerry
Two brothers born and raised in Chicago. Each worked for rival NFL teams. One would hoist the Lombardi trophy while the other was responsible for the man whom the trophy is named for. Jack & Jerry Vainisi.
48 min
37
Nothing new
Nobody’s perfect, and that goes for some of the greatest coaches of all time. They all believe they know best, especially the ones that want complete control of their franchise. It doesn’t always end well.
52 min
38
“So, you won the Heisman huh?“
Drafting is an inexact science, and nothing is guaranteed. Caleb Williams could change the Chicago Bears’ failures at the quarterback position, but when you look at their franchise history? It will take more than that.
45 min
39
HBCU Chiefs
There was a time when champions won with multiple HBCU players on their roster, and no one had more than the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs.
40 min
40
Tom and Jerry
We run down a Super Bowl that was won on a play named after cartoon legends, and we reminisce about some of the greatest stories in Super Bowl history!
51 min
41
Long Shots
In the history of the Super Bowl, quarterbacks that have reached the big game, win or lose, you have no idea what their careers were going to be. Sometimes we ought to just enjoy the story.
50 min
42
#AllGrit
It’s been a long time since the Detroit Lions played in the NFC Championship Game…and even longer since they’ve won a championship. Today is a reminder of just how good they were in their early history.
40 min
43
Goats in Cleveland
Two of footballs greatest coaches of all time, Nick Saban retires, Bill Belichick and the Patriots part ways. Both gone within days of each other. We take a quick look back at their careers and their time together with the Cleveland Browns.
50 min
44
Cinderella
Super Wildcard weekend is now over, and we must remember teams with a bye & home-field advantage don’t always win it all. A team from the first weekend has a chance at the trophy too… Just ask the 1980 Oakland Raiders.
47 min
45
America’s Team?
There is nothing new under the sun! Like that team that wins so much, but always comes up short in the playoffs? Sometimes they finally break through!
51 min
46
“Slingin’ Sammy”
Before there was Brady, Manning, Montana, Unitas, or Graham, there was Samuel Adrian Baugh, a quarterback that did more than just throw a football.
45 min
47
The Kardiac Kids
The 2023 Cleveland Browns have won 6 of 8 games decided by four points or fewer! This has conjured up old memories of the Kardiac Kids, the 1980 Cleveland Browns, who had a similar season… And maybe, just maybe should’ve kicked the ball in the playoffs.
49 min
48
40 years of losing
Most of us know the Pittsburgh Steelers' history by two things. One, the dynasty of the 70s, and two the 40 years of losing. The question I wanted answered, was “What happened? Why were they so bad?”
52 min
49
Home Cookin’ Part III
Some teams move into existing venues, max them out, and then they may get something new. For some cities, whether they want an NFL team or not, building a franchise a new stadium doesn’t guarantee they will stay… But if they don’t, they will go.
58 min
50
Home Cookin’ Part II
One minute you’re sharing a stadium with major & minor league baseball, dressing in a high school locker room. The next? You finally get a home of your own. This is part II of our discussion of historic stadiums of the NFL!
45 min