Hour 1: Harbaugh’s Giants Interview, Ravens’ Big Decisions, plus NFL Network’s Kurt Warner

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1:00Rich Eisen:This is The Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody. Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show? You're in luck. You can find us everywhere. Watch us weekdays on Disney Plus from noon to 3 Eastern. Miss the show? We've got a podcast so you can listen anytime. But here's the best part. Our YouTube channel. Subscribe at youtube.com slash richeisenshow and you'll never miss a moment. Now, on with the show.

1:32I certainly can't seek comfort in the longevity of my career.

1:35Rich Eisen:This is The Rich Eisen Show. You know how I feel about Mike Tomlin. I understand why it is ending. The Rich Eisen Show. Today's guests. Pro Football Hall of Famer, Kurt Warner. Co-host of Good Morning Football, Kyle Brandt. Steelers Radio Network host, Jerry Dulac. Comedian, Adam Ray. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show. Man, I don't need to tell you this, but anything can happen over the next three hours. It's just been a crazy, crazy sports world in which we live, and we're thrilled to be able to bring whatever's happening to you here on Disney Plus or the ESPN app, if that's how you're taking this show in with your eyeballs.

2:23Rich Eisen:You're listening to us on ESPN Radio, Sirius XM Channel, ADR, our podcast. We welcome all of you calling us at 844-204-RICH is the number to dial. We got four guests today. We're four wide. So much to discuss in this world. And as I mentioned, 844-204-RICH, number to dial on this front. Kurt Warner is going to be first up. Last time he was on, I'm like, what do you think of John Harbaugh is firing? Now I'm going to be like, what do you think of Mike Tomlin's stepping down in Pittsburgh? It's kind of crazy. And Kyle Brandt's joining us from Good Morning Football on NFL Network. And, of course, the overtime version on our former place of business, the Roku channel.

3:00Rich Eisen:We're also thrilled to have Adam Ray back here in studio. Wants to crow about a Seahawks. Jerry Dulac to say, what in the world is happening with Mike Tomlin? I figured he should come on the show the day after Mike Tomlin steps down after spending 14 years of 11 years of him being on this program and saying, hey, what's going on with Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh? Good to see you over there, Chris Brockman. Hey, Rich. What's up, man? DJ Mikey Diaz. Morning, Rich. Mike Del Tufo in his spot. Candles lit, is it not? TJ Jefferson. Good to see you over there. Same to you, man. Awesome. So we start with 10 days ago.

3:28Rich Eisen:This is how fast the world changes. 10 days ago, Sunday night football, final game of the regular season, Steelers playing in the Ravens, playing the Ravens for the right to go to the playoffs. Loser goes home, winner goes on. As we know, Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh shaking hands. Harbaugh been with the Ravens for 18 years, and Tomlin, the most tenured coach in the National Football League, being with the Steelers 19 years. And who knew this was a snapshot in time, the last time they'd be shaking hands in their longtime roles, taking on each other. The Ravens got bounced. Their kicker missed a kick with no time left.

4:09Rich Eisen:Steelers move on. Steelers get bounced. And Mike Tomlin bounces himself after John Harbaugh gets bounced a couple of days after this handshake. That actually happened in the National Football League. It's crazy. And now smash cut to today. Mike Tomlin is, wherever he is, wondering or considering his options for 2026. Everybody in the NFL media news and information world is signaling that Mike Tomlin will not coach in 2026. He's under contract for the next two seasons in Pittsburgh. If you want his services, you've got to contact the Steelers, who are holding a press conference right now as we speak with Art Rooney talking to the media, getting ready for his first coaching search in two decades.

4:57Rich Eisen:And Mike Tomlin apparently thinking about the media, I guess. And you need to contact Art Rooney if you want his services and offer compensation. I have no idea how the Steelers are going to value Mike Tomlin's services when somebody else is knocking on the door. I imagine it would be different if it's somebody within division, the conference, out of conference. What Tomlin wants, there's a lot up in the air. And then there's John Harbaugh, who, as I am saying these words, is inside the building of the New York football Giants. And the Giants, in case you're wondering, have gone through all of their coaching due diligence have spoken to candidates that satisfy the Rooney rule.

5:49Rich Eisen:They can hire John Harbaugh today if they so desire. And I would say they so desire, not only because of John Harbaugh's resume, not only because they absolutely could use somebody like John Harbaugh to come in the building and say, bring your sensibilities, bring your program, bring your culture, bring it. Bring it. Because we've tried the last few times with a bunch of first-time head coaches. We've done it. And it's now time for you to come in here, switch conferences, come into the so-called NFC money division, take on the Cowboys twice a year, take on the Eagles twice a year, take on the Commanders twice a year, as you know the DMV area very well from Baltimore, and you come in here and install it.

6:49Rich Eisen:You do for Jackson Dart what you did with Joe Flacco, what you did with Lamar Jackson after you moved on from Joe Flacco. You bring it. We like running the football here too. Let's do it. that's one reason why i'm saying the giants are interested in john harbaugh another is interestingly enough the mode of transportation in which john harbaugh took to this meeting i have been told they got the jet out oh for john harbaugh to come to visit now you might be sitting there saying oh rich you know they're rich people there's there's the jet you know and you know when And the Tish Jet is in town because there's a New York Giants logo on the tail.

7:35Rich Eisen:I've seen it. And so they sent a jet for John. And much was made over the last couple weeks while the Giants were interviewing head coaching candidates. Kevin Stefanski, it looked like there was a photograph of him heading to Newark Airport from Cleveland Hopkins Airport. And these are, what shall we say, commercial. Oh. So the Giants upgraded John Harbaugh to the PJ. We were literally right before the show started. And if you're flying your coach candidate to you via PJ, you want his Jay Hancock on a piece of paper. I'm just saying. Yeah. And it would make sense. Talk turkey. Let's get comfortable.

8:32Rich Eisen:Maybe we get a steak. You know, John, do you like red wine, John? Little Taylor Herb, Egg and Cheese. You know, we pour something for him. Go out to dinner. You think John likes chicken unlike Jim? I don't know if he's a nervous bird guy or not. But right now, in terms of his mode of transport, who's got it better than John? Nobody. Nobody. So I'm excited for Giants fans because if this does in fact happen, and I don't know what it means for Joe Shane, I don't want to get too far. I don't want to put the jet ahead of the runway here. Can't let him leave the building though today, right? No, I wouldn't.

9:09Rich Eisen:No. I wouldn't. The only way I'd let him out of the building is to take him out to dinner. Go home and tell the wife. I don't know. His wife may have been on the jet for all I know. She may be in Jersey looking at Ross. Don't know. Look at a Tony Soprano's house. It's for sale. It is. It actually is again. So that's the latest there. Steelers are holding a press conference talking about Mike Tomlin stepping down, and the Giants are having an interview in person with John Harbaugh after personally sending the jet for him, from what I've been told. Exciting times, boys. Love it. I mean. Now then, back at the old John Harbaugh ranch, Steve Bishotti, one of my favorites.

9:52Rich Eisen:And I'm not just saying that because he plied me with lots of red wine the night before a Thanksgiving game on NFL Network. And we're inviting all the NFL Network people out there. Speaking of a Harbaugh, John Harbaugh versus Jim Harbaugh on that Thanksgiving day. One of the few times I almost didn't answer the bell for a gig on television because Steve was pouring some good juice. He's good people, man. And he also, obviously, he and his wife, Renee, donate to Run Rich Run every single year, generously leading the way. This man's a leader. But you don't hear from him a lot. Unlike your owner and general manager, he's just the owner.

10:37Rich Eisen:Settle down just a little bit. Yeah, you hear from Jerry every week. He's on the radio. He meets with the media after every game. videos last time steve bashotti spoke to a reporter in public i imagine was 2022 last time he held just a general press conference where i'm here for you you got an hour ask me whatever you want ama was 2018 wait what yeah really yeah eight years calendar wise since Steve Bishotti sat down at a press conference, open questions. Why is my uncle like that? And we'll just replay the soundbite that we played going off the air on Tuesday. Him learning of Mike Tomlin's stepping down in Pittsburgh.

11:26Rich Eisen:And it had everything. It had the Bishotti charm, the humor, a little bit of the red ass because he's still pissed about losing. the manner in which they lost to the Steelers, the manner in which Tomlin celebrated beating the Ravens. It's all one big 38-second microcosm hit it. Mike Tomlin stepped down at Pittsburgh. He did? Is it official? That's what I keep hearing. So, is he a candidate here? Holy s***, Mike, wouldn't that be awesome?

12:00Only if John takes the Pittsburgh job.

12:05Wow. Wouldn't that be interesting? I don't know. That thing last week maybe disqualified him from my opening after our kicker missed a kick to let them advance. Good for Mike.

12:25Rich Eisen:It's all in there. It's all in there. They didn't earn the win over us. We had them beat if our kicker had split the uprights. Let them advance. god i'd love this guy again so why fire john harbaugh after 18 seasons steve basciotti said it was his gut fell on my instincts and and whatever i was feeling was right uh i woke up monday and i was pretty sure that you know i was going to do it and uh you know i've got great partners here and spent a lot of time with them and asking them their opinions. And, you know, I made the decision and it was a hard one. And as you all know, in your life, timing is never right.

13:14You can't say that timing is perfect in anything. But I got to the point that I didn't believe that I would feel regret after I made that decision. And that's what instinct is. When you finally get to the point that you're pretty damn sure that you are not going to regret the decision a day or a week later, then that's the time to make the decision.

13:39Rich Eisen:He also pointed out in terms of specifics, the blown fourth quarter leads and the underperformance in the playoffs. He said at one point that when you blow as many fourth, that they led the league in fourth quarter blown leads and winning organizations don't don't have those is essentially I'm paraphrasing what he had to say. Also, not, you know, underperforming in the playoffs. Lamar Jackson, since drafting in the Ravens, have won 86 regular season games, but as we all know, did not have yet to make the Super Bowl. And there's a lot of reasons why, like that they didn't make the Super Bowl, that John Harbaugh could control other things that he couldn't drop passes, fumbles as you're about to get in the end zone to take the lead against the Chiefs.

14:29Rich Eisen:And in terms of his relationship with John Harbaugh and how it ended, because a lot was made of this, that John wasn't in the building, was done over the phone or something like that. this is Bashadi describing their conversation on the phone and how it went. Obviously, it was emotional. And I'll be honest with you. Most of that emotion came from me. I told my brother, I said it was the craziest firing in the world. I was the one choked up and he was the one consoling me.

15:06He said, you don't owe me anything. And you can picture, John, you don't owe me anything. He said, you gave me 18 years. He said, you picked a special teams guy. Who does that? He said, you altered mine and Ingrid's life forever because you took a chance on me. I am happy and content and disappointed, but I love you and I respect you and I respect your decision.

15:34Rich Eisen:And in terms of his resoluteness of making this despite the emotions behind it, leave no doubt, this was over. This was over. And Bashadi had to have been thinking it for weeks going into that game on Sunday night. And this is the answer that left no doubt in my mind that this thing was over. And that wound, whatever he is feeling, is being cauterized by the excitement of choosing someone else. If Tyler Loop makes that field goal, is John Harbaugh still here coaching this team? For a week.

16:20Rich Eisen:As he caps his bottle. And he didn't grin. He didn't laugh. That wasn't a joke. Nope. For a week. This thing was over. I guess the only way would have been if he got on some run for the ages. Kind of like Flacco. Yeah. Yeah. He's like, hey, you want to you want the bag win the Super Bowl and he wins the Super Bowl, puts the bag on the desk. Yep. That's what happened. Wow. And I guess the media there. Well, since we got you here, Steve Bishotti, because you don't speak to the press, you don't speak to us. We might as well ask you, you know, what's the scoop with Lamar and a new contract for him?

16:57Rich Eisen:We want another window, and Lamar knows that. And I think that he's amenable to doing something that mirrors the last deal he did, although the annual number will be a little higher. But I'm hoping that it's plug a new number in the same contact he signed last year and move on. Okay. And will he have a say in who the next head coach is? This, again, sums up Steve Bishotti's style. Collaborative to a point. How much of a say will Lamar have in the head coach selection?

17:42A lot of say, but he has no power. I have the power. They have opinions, and I want them all.

17:52Rich Eisen:I care about my players very much, but I can't give them power.

17:58Rich Eisen:Man, we need to hear from you more, Steve. At least he came through the front door with it. Well, listen, you know, I totally understand that management style. Again, you know the way you've been around me for, well, you, Chris, have been around me for around this show 14 years, Mike. You've been around me for a long time. I didn't have full control of this program until it was you know dropped in my lap in a very stunning manner almost six years ago seven years ago yeah coming up on seven years and I have learned to when anybody asks me something there's no reason to say I'll think about it when I've already thought about it I think people do appreciate the honesty even though it can be blunt and you don't want know what you want to hear but basically hey lamar i'm interested in what you're looking for uh you know you're employee number one but at the end of the day you're number one but the word is also employee number one and i hear you yeah i signed the checks baby i hear you and and again just i'll tell a quick story here um even though i don't know if i don't think he cares about if it's public or not in terms of what this team means to him just as an example um uh sure i'll tell it um you remember the uh stacy keebler she used to be a ravens um former wrestler yeah right she i think she was part of the cheerleading she was right wrestler now she's got her own career doing other things but i think she did dancing with the stars and things of that nature at once upon a time she was dating uh george clooney was okay And so she wanted to bring Clooney to a game.

19:41Rich Eisen:And he adores people who worked in the Oral Ravens organization and her as well. But she asked if she could bring him to the owner's suite. He's like, absolutely, he can come to a game. I'd love to meet him. And then she goes, no, it's the game against the Bengals. And he's like, yeah, no. I'll set you up, but not where I'm sitting. this is my you know this is my job and passion and as much as i love him i love to meet him not today choose another game yeah cloney diehard bangles you know i mean like it's so again i don't know i'm telling the tales out of school but that that that i was told so i mean this is his passion this is what he's about and it had to hurt him to fire John Harbaugh.

20:36Rich Eisen:But at the end of the day, 18 years, and the same thing with Tomlin. He basically read a room. And that's why I always thought it just was sad that Tomlin read the room, you know. Obviously, he created the room, but it's a rough room there in Western PA after all these years of not winning playoff games. And we'll find out if not winning playoff games is what the new coach will do or maybe not make the playoffs at all. I'm curious as to who the Steelers are going to hire next. Rick, 6 ,939 days. This is the first time in 6 ,939 days that Mike Tomlin is not the head coach. Of the Pittsburgh Steelers?

21:20That's great.

21:22Rich Eisen:844-204-RICH is the number to dial. Kurt Warner is going to join us next. We'll ask him about that. The Philadelphia Eagles, as we all know, fired Kevin Petullo yesterday as well. We'll ask Kurt Warner one last time. What went wrong with the Eagles offense? That's coming up. The Rich Eisen Show podcast.

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23:46Rich Eisen:Kurt Warner here on The Rich Eisen Show. Our radio audience returned towards the end of your answer right there, Kurt, as you were kind enough to hop on during our Disney Plus and ESPN app television streaming segment right here on the Rich Eisen show. Let's jump into Aaron Rodgers, what you saw again. You were in the building. Art Rooney, the second saying, you know, he, Aaron, came to Pittsburgh to play for Mike so that it'll probably affect his decision about returning to Pittsburgh. that said you know do you think he should find one more spot clearly no one wants to end a career on a pick six but his career before all that his first ballot hall of fame no question about it type stuff and the the ball still flies out of his hands he was able to protect himself for most of the game against what could be at the end of the day the most ferocious defense that's left in the playoffs obviously we'll see who else like Denver or Seattle or whomever else can affect things what do you think Kurt um yeah I mean I think this is an interesting one like first of all you you know if you do want to keep playing you have to look at options what what are the options to probably go back and play for a year you know you mentioned it I mean from a throwing standpoint I mean he's got plenty in the arm to be able to make every throw um I think this was a different Aaron Rodgers that we saw this year and really coming off the injury in New York, that he's not, he doesn't seem as willing to stand in the pocket, let things develop and get the ball out of his hands.