Former NFL, AFL, and NCAA football greats share unforgettable stories about their lives and careers. An oral history of pro and college football that often features never-before-told stories.
Episodes
Monday Jul 19, 2021
Monday Jul 19, 2021
Willie Roaf shares memories of growing up in Arkansas, his college career at Louisiana Tech, and his Hall of Fame NFL career with the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs. Roaf stands as one of the greatest offensive tackles in NFL history.
This is Episode 50 of The Game Before the Money Podcast. Learn more about The Game Before the Money at https://TheGameBeforeTheMoney.com
Thursday Jun 24, 2021
Thursday Jun 24, 2021
Dick Vermeil shares memories of coaching the Eagles, Rams, and Chiefs. He also discusses winning the Rose Bowl at UCLA, growing up in California, and his friendship with Bill Walsh. Coach Vermeil was an NFL head coach in the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s.
Learn more about The Game Before the Money at https://TheGameBeforeTheMoney.com
Saturday May 22, 2021
Saturday May 22, 2021
Baltimore Colts Director of Player Personnel Upton Bell takes us behind the scenes of Super Bowl 3 between the Colts and the New York Jets. We all know about Joe Namath and the story of the Jets playing for the pride of the entire AFL that day, now hear inside stories about Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom's planned victory party, what was discussed on the Colts bus going to the game, and how Super Bowl 3 was the precursor to modern Super Bowls.
This episode is Part 3 of a three-part series called, "Three Games that Changed the NFL" with Upton Bell. Learn more at https://TheGameBeforeTheMoney.com
Monday Apr 19, 2021
Monday Apr 19, 2021
Lionel Taylor, Charlie Davis, and Vito Stellino discuss the 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Draft class that produced 4 Pro Football Hall of Fame members: Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster. Pittsburgh also signed future Hall of Famer Donnie Shell as part of their 1974 rookie class.
Taylor, a former Denver Broncos star, was the receivers coach for the Steelers. He shares his scouting reports of Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. Davis was the Steelers 9th round pick and shares his experience of making the team and winning Super Bowl 9. Stellino covered the Steelers for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette and tells us what team ALMOST got Lynn Swann.
Episodes of The Game before the Money Podcast are released every other week, except for certain episodes that may take longer to create. The show is produced and hosted by Jackson Michael, author of The Game before the Money: Voices of the Men Who Built the NFL, published by the University of Nebraska Press. Many episodes feature interviews with pro and college football legends. Learn more at https://TheGameBeforeTheMoney.com.
You can donate to support the podcast at FootballHistory (buymeacoffee.com)
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Upton Bell’s father Bert Bell was NFL Commissioner when the Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants in overtime to claim the 1958 NFL Championship Game. The game is often called “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” Hear Upton share his memories of attending the game and how Johnny Unitas’ leadership and poise still inspire him decades later. The episode also recaps the game by recalling lost moments and illustrates how the drama of the 1958 NFL Championship permanently lofted the NFL to new heights and sent the league on its way to becoming the most popular sports league in U.S. history.
This episode is Part 2 of a three-part series, "Three Games that Changed the NFL, featuring guest Upton Bell." Part 1 is Episode 40 of The Game Before the Money Podcast -- "1948 NFL Championship -- The Cornerstone of Super Bowl Sunday." Part 3 will focus on Super Bowl 3.
Episodes of The Game before the Money Podcast are released every other week, except for certain episodes that may take longer to create. The show is produced and hosted by Jackson Michael, author of The Game before the Money: Voices of the Men Who Built the NFL, published by the University of Nebraska Press. Many episodes feature interviews with pro and college football legends. Learn more at https://TheGameBeforeTheMoney.com.
Sound effects and original music produced and composed by 11 Productions.
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Hall of Famer Hugh “The King” McElhenny shared stories via email for this episode of The Game Before the Money Podcast. McElhenny is best known for his years with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1950s and his ability to turn running plays and screen passes into huge plays and long touchdowns. He also still holds school records at the University of Washington over 70 years after his NCAA football career ended.
Learn how Hugh McElhenny got his nickname, “The King,” and about his incredible college career that made him a first-round pick in the 1952 NFL Draft. McElhenny also played for the Minnesota Vikings in their first two seasons and for the New York Giants in the 1963 NFL Championship Game. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970.
Episodes of The Game before the Money Podcast are released every other week, except for certain episodes that may take longer to create. The show is produced and hosted by Jackson Michael, author of The Game before the Money: Voices of the Men Who Built the NFL, published by the University of Nebraska Press. Many episodes feature interviews with pro and college football legends. Learn more at https://TheGameBeforeTheMoney.com.
Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
Hear about three of the greatest defensive plays in NFL history. Each clinched a victory in the NFL Championship Game during the 1960s. Two were made by Hall of Famers.
Episodes of The Game before the Money Podcast are released each week, except for certain episodes that take about two weeks to create. The show is produced and hosted by Jackson Michael, author of The Game before the Money: Voices of the Men Who Built the NFL, published by the University of Nebraska Press. Many episodes feature interviews with pro and college football legends. Learn more at https://TheGameBeforeTheMoney.com.
Wednesday Jan 27, 2021
Wednesday Jan 27, 2021
Did you know that only a handful of NFL quarterbacks have won the Super Bowl? A mere 4 quarterbacks have combined to win 30 percent of all Super Bowls and only 33 quarterbacks have ever won the big game. Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes have both won at least 1 Super Bowl and so the number of Super Bowl winning quarterbacks in NFL history isn’t going to change after Super Bowl 55. In fact, the trend of only a few quarterbacks winning league championships goes all the way back to the 1940s and includes the American Football League and the AFL Championship Game.
The pattern also extends to the AFC Championship Game and the NFC Championship Game. Since 1998, the AFC Championship Game has featured at least one of a select group of six quarterbacks starting the game. Learn more about this QB reality in this football history podcast.
Episodes of The Game before the Money Podcast are released each week, except for certain episodes that take about two weeks to create. The show is produced and hosted by Jackson Michael, author of The Game before the Money: Voices of the Men Who Built the NFL, published by the University of Nebraska Press. Many episodes feature interviews with pro and college football legends. Learn more at https://TheGameBeforeTheMoney.com.
Wednesday Jan 20, 2021
Wednesday Jan 20, 2021
Lamar Hunt founded both the American Football League and the Kansas City Chiefs. He hired Hank Stram as the team’s head coach and the franchise won more AFL championships than any other team. Learn how Hunt and Stram built the Chiefs (originally known as the Dallas Texans) and how connections with two universities played a major role in the team’s history. You’ll also find out how the Chiefs got their name.
This episode is a “Five Minutes of Football History” edition of The Game before the Money Podcast.
Episodes of The Game before the Money Podcast are released each week, except when certain episodes take longer to create. The show is produced and hosted by Jackson Michael, author of The Game before the Money: Voices of the Men Who Built the NFL, published by the University of Nebraska Press. Many episodes feature interviews with pro and college football legends. Learn more at https://TheGameBeforeTheMoney.com.
Wednesday Jan 13, 2021
Wednesday Jan 13, 2021
Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk talks about the Ravens journey to Super Bowl 47 and the famous “Mile High Miracle” in the 2012 NFL Playoffs. Birk takes you onto the field and into the Ravens huddle for the play. He also discusses the veteran leadership that lifted the team through tough playoff defeats in the years leading up to their Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl 47 over the San Francisco 49ers.
Episodes of The Game before the Money Podcast are usually released each week, except for certain episodes that take about two weeks to create. The show is produced and hosted by Jackson Michael, author of The Game before the Money: Voices of the Men Who Built the NFL, published by the University of Nebraska Press. Many episodes feature interviews with pro and college football legends. Learn more at https://TheGameBeforeTheMoney.com.