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The Rich Eisen Show - Episode Summary
Episode Title Hour 2: Live from the NFL Combine with Mike Macdonald, Dan Quinn, and Ryan Poles
Episode Description This episode features live coverage from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where Rich Eisen interviews key figures in the NFL, including Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles, Washington Commanders HC Dan Quinn, and Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald. They discuss player evaluations, draft priorities, offseason goals, and the significance of leadership and team culture.
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Key Segments
- Interview with Ryan Poles (Chicago Bears GM)
- Role of Ben Johnson: Poles emphasizes head coach Ben Johnson's significant influence in player selections, ensuring that the players fit their system and vision.
- Caleb Williams: Insights into Caleb Williams' growth and future potential as a quarterback, highlighting the importance of efficiency and leadership development.
- Offseason Priorities:
- Key needs for the Bears include reinforcing the safety position.
- Financial management of the cap situation is critical for active participation in free agency.
- Interview with Dan Quinn (Washington Commanders HC)
- Evaluating Last Season: Quinn discusses the impact of injuries on the team's performance and expresses optimism for the upcoming season.
- Quarterback Jayden Daniels: Quinn believes Daniels will have "something to prove" after a challenging season and emphasizes the importance of such a mindset for a quarterback.
- Coaching Changes: Quinn explains the rationale behind changes on the coaching staff, including adjustments made to both offensive and defensive coordination.
- Interview with Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks HC)
- Super Bowl Experience: Macdonald shares the journey of leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl, the team's camaraderie, and how they dealt with the pressures of the playoffs.
- Emphasis on Team Culture: He underscores the significance of connectedness within the team and how it contributed to their success.
- Prepping for the Super Bowl: Describes the unique challenges of preparing for the Super Bowl without extensive prior experience and trusting the process established within the organization.
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Key Themes and Takeaways
Leadership and Team Culture
- Importance of Coaches: Strong emphasis on having coaching staff that inspires and connects with players.
- Player Development: Growth and maturity of players like Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels are critical for long-term success.
Draft Strategy and Player Evaluation
- In-depth Evaluations: The necessity of combining scouting reports with personal interactions with players during the combine to make informed draft choices.
- Team Needs: Each team's specific needs and how they plan to address them during the draft and free agency.
Challenges of the NFL Season
- Injury Management: The ongoing impact of injuries on team performance and strategy.
- Expectation vs. Reality: Balancing ambitions with the realities of the NFL season, including maintaining morale after losses.
Fan Engagement
- Connecting with Fans: Coaches express excitement for the upcoming seasons and how fan support plays a role in motivating the team.
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Conclusion The episode captures the dynamic and strategic discussions surrounding NFL teams' preparations for the upcoming season, highlighting the intricate balance between player development, coaching, and fan engagement. Each guest provides unique insights into their respective teams' aspirations and challenges, setting the stage for an exciting offseason in the NFL.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOIntroduction of Ryan Poles
1:24 to 2:15
Ryan Poles joins the show to discuss his experiences at the NFL Combine.
“Live from the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.”
Memories of Early Combines
2:15 to 3:19
Ryan shares his experiences from his first NFL Combine and how it has evolved.
“You've got to put your towels down on the chairs and the beach for you and your family.”
Evaluating Draft Choices
3:19 to 4:49
Discussion on how recent draft choices are evaluated at the Combine.
“I think he was the last player in Lucas Oil doing the short shuttle to finish and complete.”
Coaching and Player Fit
4:49 to 6:36
Ryan explains the importance of player-coach compatibility in the Bears' system.
“You sat down with him when you had him into Chicago, right?”
Growth of Caleb Williams
6:36 to 7:40
Insight into Caleb Williams' development under Coach Ben Johnson.
“Yeah, I think the unique one there is we had Eric Bandemi in the building at the time.”
Bears' Season Reflections
7:40 to 11:15
Ryan reflects on the Bears' season and the unique challenges faced.
“This is what you were imagining, envisioning when you first drafted him.”
Future Plans for the Bears
11:15 to 13:59
Ryan discusses the Bears' upcoming strategies, team needs, and free agency.
“Did you see that in him when you hired him?”
Ryan Poles Discusses Bears' Season and Expectations
14:02 to 15:58
Learn about the Chicago Bears' last season and what fans can expect moving forward.
“How many people come up to you thinking that you're in charge of this?”
Dan Quinn Reflects on Last Season and Team Changes
18:30 to 21:33
Hear Dan Quinn's insights on evaluating the past season and looking forward to the future.
“Dan Quinn, DQ, the HC of the Washington Commanders here as our radio audience has returned on our television stream on Disney Plus and the ESPN app.”
Coaching Philosophy and Draft Strategy
21:33 to 25:32
Explore Dan Quinn's approach to team building and the significance of the draft.
“and we added Durante Jones, you know, who has been in Minnesota the last few years.”
Show all 22 chapters
Bobby Wagner: A Leader on and off the Field
25:32 to 28:00
Discover the impact of Bobby Wagner as a player and leader in the NFL.
“And I can even remember going to his pro day and people saying their person line, everything.”
Bobby Wagner: A Leader in the NFL
28:00 to 29:20
Learn about Bobby Wagner's impact as a leader and his journey in the NFL.
“And he makes our entire building better by who he is.”
Dan Quinn's Coaching Philosophy
29:20 to 30:20
Explore Dan Quinn's thoughts on coaching and the importance of elite standards.
“Thanks for taking the time whenever you zoom into the show.”
Mike McDonald: Preparing for Success
32:44 to 34:22
Hear Mike McDonald discuss the Seahawks' journey to the Super Bowl.
“And so what ended up happening, apparently, and we'll talk with John Schneider about this, is they tried to expend Gino Smith.”
Personal Moments and Family Memories
34:22 to 36:02
Mike McDonald shares personal moments from his Super Bowl experience.
“on the program just like you were in santa clara a couple weeks ago good to see you man we're here live on disney plus and also on the espn app and espn radio great to see you man how How are you?”
Understanding Championship Teams
36:02 to 37:00
Learn how Mike McDonald identified his team's potential for greatness.
“And so looking back on it, give me your thoughts on when you realized this team had a real shot to win it all during the playing season, Mike.”
Inflection Points During the Season
37:00 to 39:28
Mike McDonald reflects on key moments that defined the Seahawks' season.
“So then looking back, now that you know what a Super Bowl winning team is, when did you, like what was that moment where you thought, okay, it changed at this point in time?”
Preparing for the Super Bowl
39:28 to 41:30
Gain insights into the Seahawks' unique preparation for the Super Bowl.
“Going for two was a big moment for you, I think, that you won, that you win this game.”
Game Strategy and Adaptation
41:30 to 42:00
Explore how the Seahawks adapted their game strategy for the Super Bowl.
Coaching Philosophy and Team Dynamics
42:00 to 43:38
Discover the unique coaching approach and team culture that fosters success.
“and how many reps do you take, and what intensity.”
Reflections on Past Achievements
43:38 to 45:58
Explore the significance of past games and how they impact current teams and fans.
“because we're going to win a championship this way.”
Personal Journey to Success
45:58 to 47:41
Hear about the host's personal memories and experiences related to coaching.
“Do you realize what you've just done for the 12s?”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Dan Quinn:Kayak gets my flight, hotel, and rental car right, so I can tune out travel advice that's just plain wrong. Bro, Skycoin. Way better than points. Never fly during a Scorpio full moon. Just tell the manager you'll sue. Instant room upgrade. Stop taking bad travel advice. Start comparing hundreds of sites with Kayak and get your trip right. Kayak. Got that right. We're leaving today and entering a world of Mickey Mouse waving, princess meeting and greeting, lightsaber clashing, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror dropping, banshee flying, space mountain launching, galaxy rewinding, what's the whole network galaxy rewinding, fireworks igniting, world of other worlds for whatever you love.
0:51Dan Quinn:infinite worlds await at the most magical place on earth Walt Disney World Resort 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 Rich Eisen Show and you'll never miss a moment. Now, on with the show. Live from the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. This dude is a freaking animal. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Earlier on the show, Broncos head coach, Sean Payton.
1:39Dan Quinn:Coming up, Bears general manager, Ryan Poles. Commander's head coach, Dan Quinn. Seahawks general manager John Schneider Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni And now it's Rich Eisen
1:58Rich Eisen:Hour number two of day number two of the Rich Eisen show here in downtown Indianapolis For the 2026 NFL scouting combine kicks off Right here on Disney Plus and the ESPN app and ESPN radio With the general manager of the Chicago Bears, Ryan Pulse how are you ryan good to see you man yeah good to see you too what combine is this for you i think it's 17 17 yeah so you first showed up here wearing the chief's gear right yeah shoot
2:27Ryan Poles:going back and back in the day you had to save seats for all the executives and the head coaches so you're up at you were in charge of the seat oh yeah 3 30 in the morning you'll be over here the convention center holding down holding on the fort yeah it's part of uh it's part of the deal
2:42Rich Eisen:Sounds like you're on vacation. You've got to put your towels down on the chairs and the beach for you and your family. Yes. So no kidding. Yeah. And so who were you saving seats for back in that day?
2:54Ryan Poles:Oh, that was, yeah, I think it was Scott Pioli, Todd Haley. Yep. Trying to get that whole setup going. Okay.
3:02Rich Eisen:So is there, I didn't ask, is there now a seat saver on the Bears staff for you?
3:08Ryan Poles:Nope. They've eliminated that part of the job.
3:11Rich Eisen:They've eliminated that part of the job.
3:12Ryan Poles:Yeah.
3:13Rich Eisen:it's amazing how has this changed since you first showed up yeah it's it's continued to grow
3:18Ryan Poles:um a little bit more intense i think i think there's a lot more focus on on the players and and everybody did i feel like everyone performed you know everyone threw everyone did every drill it was just part of the deal so it's a little bit more selective now right but i think one uh getting the medical is is really important to understand what structure and systems we've got have in place for these players are coming into our building right um and then spending time with them in these interviews i'm getting to just know the man a little bit and comparing that to the scouting reports we got from our scouts that gathered information all fall and the on-field
3:54Rich Eisen:drills how do you how do like give me an example of one of your draft choices in recent years yeah for the for the bears yeah that you saw here and you go okay that kid is now on my board better or more solidified and now he's performing for your team right now yeah oh man i have to think back it's interesting last year i mean you you nailed a lot of draft choices last year yeah i'm just
4:19Ryan Poles:running out of guys that have done a whole lot i'd say roma dunze was probably the big one yeah um he was a unique one that did every i think he did every single drill um and i know there's some teams that actually track guys that do every drill and actually success rate is really high I think it's just a mentality that those guys have. But I remember Rome doing everything. I think he was the last player in Lucas Oil doing the short shuttle to finish and complete. So that's probably the one that stood out the most.
4:49Rich Eisen:And then he checked boxes every single time. You sat down with him when you had him into Chicago, right? Yep. Pretty much? Yep. Yep. Yeah? Go through the whole process. And then how much does Ben Johnson have a table pound in your system right now?
5:03Ryan Poles:Big time. At the end of the day, we want to make sure that we're giving our coaches players that fit our system, their DNA fits, and then there's a clear vision. And one of Ben's many strengths is creating clarity in terms of how he would use a certain player. So if you go back to last year, a lot of discussions about Colson Loveland, and it was very clear how he was going to use him, and we saw that come alive. and from an evaluator gm that gives you a ton of confidence and conviction when you select a guy you're going to get the most out of them because there's belief in a vision from the coach and
5:38Rich Eisen:and ben does an amazing job at that drill let's let me drill down on this for a little bit if you don't mind ryan um because you're saying he's got plays like he would he he comes to the floor with an actual play and like this is the way i'm going to use colston loveland or or i I would say concepts.
5:58Ryan Poles:Okay. Concepts. We had Cole Comet. We have Cole Comet. Right. So what does it look like? What does the playtime look like with both Cole and Coulson in the game? Right. Because you want to make sure both guys are being utilized and there is clear vision. And there's a track record of how he used that setup and 12 personnel in Detroit as well. So I think that's a great thing to have as a front office is that clarity.
6:22Rich Eisen:And then when you, you know, it's not just day one. It's not just day two. Kyle Manungai played such a massive role for your team this year. Did you first meet him at the Combine last year? Or walk me through that process, how he goes from Rutgers to your team through all of this.
6:41Ryan Poles:Yeah, I think the unique one there is we had Eric Bandemi in the building at the time. There's a little bit of a parallel with Pacheco, same coach at Rutgers. Then they both have EB. and it was a mentality in how they played the game on top of their intelligence, on top of their overall culture fit in terms of what they bring to the locker room, their work ethic. So spending time with him really more in our building was the important piece and we knew that we had a fit for us and it was cool to see his progression through camp and then obviously coming alive in the season. So when did you realize you got the right guy in Ben Johnson?
7:20Ryan Poles:it was it was quick um i would say by the end of training camp not only did we know we would have a clear tactical advantage um in terms of our offense but from a leadership standpoint his ability to inspire him and move our our team uh was very clear at that time and i knew we got more than just offensive mind uh this guy's a leader he's consistent um there's a level of uh holding the standard of how we're going to operate that he's very consistent with and the players appreciate that consistency and he did that every single day so by the time we got into training camp i knew uh we're the right man and and i'm excited to see him grow too every single bears fan i know
8:02Rich Eisen:ryan poles is just out of their skulls because it's it's not it's not the way Caleb Williams came on, but it is the sustainability that appears to be at heart right now. This is not a flash in the pan. This is what you were imagining, envisioning when you first drafted him. Absolutely. And the thing that I find really impressive about him is I know there are times where there might have been a mistake. I don't know whose it was, but every single time he made it his. Yeah. every time and you know tape doesn't lie things don't lie right i'm i'm wondering where he has he always had that in him or or has ben helping bring that part out of him as well i'm trying to
8:54Ryan Poles:get under the hood here of that relationship yeah i think that's that's the relationship between an offensive-minded head coach and a young quarterback if you just hear caleb talk now he's like a different person there's a level of maturity that happened in professional that he has. He understands the expectation of being a professional quarterback. And when you're a leader in an organization, and that includes a quarterback, there's times where you got to go up there and take it head on and make it yours. And then you can make those corrections in the back. So just seeing his growth and development, I think that's been directly, you can correlate that to Ben and that impact that he's had on Caleb.
9:34Rich Eisen:And I know what the narrative is as to what Caleb needs to improve upon, but what does he need to improve upon from your perspective, Ryan?
9:42Ryan Poles:Yeah, I would say just the efficiency. I mean, he learned a lot through the season. I think it's taking what's given to him, being a little bit more efficient, and then obviously holding on to that special thing that he has when the game's on the line, or it looks like it's ebbing away from us to capture that back and bring a win back to the table. So, yeah, just the, you know, starting fast, coming out of the halftime, a little bit more efficient is going to put us in a situation where we should be in those crazy moments too. So, yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing his growth.
10:18Rich Eisen:Do you have a cardiologist in Chicagoland? Yeah, you needed a lot of them. Oh my gosh. Yeah. Were there ever times where you're like, I would love to be in a rocking chair here or you're like this is just the way we clearly are doing football this year it happened
10:35Ryan Poles:so many times it's interesting to feel your own emotions you know throughout that season you don't show them though ron yeah you try not to but as this game went along you're like we'll be okay we'll be okay and and the kid would just bring us back and put us in a situation and that pairing between our defense taking the ball away and him finishing it off and and putting us in a position to win games was critical. And it really took everybody, but it was great to see that he has that critical gene that you need to, I think, that you need to win championships.
11:07Rich Eisen:And your head coach taking his shirt off to give the good people of Chicago a free wiener circle, hot dogs. Did you see that in him when you hired him?
11:19Ryan Poles:I did not see that. You did not see that? I did not see that, but listen, the guys respect it. Hey, if I could look like that, I would do that. I would do that, too. You should see that guy in the weight room. What do you mean? He moves weight. He does? A lot of weight. Like what?
11:35Rich Eisen:How many 225? How many reps do we got?
11:37Ryan Poles:It's a lot. The guys talk about it. I mean, you walk in the gym and you hear the bumper weight slamming around. He's in there cleaning and snatching and front squatting. No kidding. Yeah, he gets after it now.
11:48Rich Eisen:Well, he also gets after the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. You cool with all of that stuff? Right.
11:54Ryan Poles:He's competitive. I love the competitive fire rubs off on our team. So, yeah, I love what he's made of. And I always want him to be him. If that's the case, we're in a good situation in Chicago.
12:06Rich Eisen:All right. In the few minutes I have left with you here, what's on your to do list over the next three weeks? Walk me through what what you're willing to share about what you need to do. Yeah. As you generally manage this situation.
12:19Ryan Poles:yeah do generally manage it i would say um the first thing the first thing is the guys that are here so we gotta we gotta you know interview the players collect their information in terms of the medical to help clear our draft board up right um and then the next thing is financial um we got some cap things we got to clear up uh to put ourselves in a position uh to build this team you're currently over it right yeah currently over so we got some big decisions um that are always tough. Anytime you have success in a season, your relationships and your bonds with the players get deeper. But the way this is set up, you got to make tough decisions.
12:54Ryan Poles:So we're gonna have to do that over the next few weeks and then build the team back up and fill some of the needs that we need.
13:00Rich Eisen:Okay. And then what positions are you willing to share that you think you need to address for the Chicago?
13:06Ryan Poles:I think the clear one is our safety position. Yeah.
13:08Rich Eisen:Vired on your radar?
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13:09Ryan Poles:Yeah, all four guys are up, and Kevin is one of the leaders of our team. Right. So he's a guy that we're interested in bringing back. And then there's, you know, from there it's a domino effect of what we can and can't do. But we'll start with our own and build up into free agency.
13:25Rich Eisen:Okay. And then free agency hits, and how active do you expect yourself to be, even though, you know, right now the cap is not your friend right now. Yeah. But that could be massaged.
13:35Ryan Poles:Yeah, we'll be active. It'll just be in a different space of free agency. We'll have pretty strict guardrails on what we can and can't do, and that dictates what the next move is. We'll also be opportunistic in any trades with the guys coming or going. So if there's anyone coming in that maybe has a bigger contract, then that'll create another set of transactions that got to happen to make sure that we're in a good spot cap wise.
13:58Rich Eisen:And while you're here in Indiana, you're learning the state tax system? Yeah, learning that. How many people come up to you thinking that you're in charge of this?
14:05Ryan Poles:All the time. I just went on a very quick, like, 48-hour vacation with my wife, and I was out of the country, and people were bumping up to me in the pool being like, are we going or not? And they were asking questions. I went, listen, I'm just focused on the football team right now.
14:20Rich Eisen:You're building a roster. Exactly. You're not, you know, that's Kevin Warren's dad and everybody else who's in ownership. But people think you're in charge of that, right? They do. They do. Okay, so we've cleared that up. We've cleared it up. All right. Do not just ask Ryan Poles about that. So what's your message to Bears fans coming off of that remarkable season?
14:41Ryan Poles:Yeah, we need that same energy from the very beginning this upcoming season. It's nice to have a very good head coach paired with a very good young quarterback. We expect to continue to improve. But that atmosphere that we had down the stretch was the best that I've ever seen in Soldier Field. And we need to pick that up where we left off. that'll give us a huge advantage as we start the season.
15:06Rich Eisen:And then watching back, your favorite Caleb throw, what was it? I know the one. Obviously, I know you wish you made it further than you did.
15:16Ryan Poles:Yeah, the one late touchdown on the Cole against the Rams was the one that I just couldn't believe actually happened.
15:24Rich Eisen:What was your reaction? I know that, but what was your reaction? I know I was cursing on the couch. I actually said a curse word. I'm like, oh, you know, fill in the blank.
15:33Ryan Poles:Yeah, I was lost for words. I didn't understand exactly how that happened. The fourth and eighth throw. Yeah. That throw was ridiculous. But the one of my favorite ones, the walk-off to DJ, that was a really cool moment that I'll never forget.
15:48Rich Eisen:Okay. So you're entering that for a tour. Yeah. Okay. Ryan Pulse, thanks for coming here. Appreciate it. Thanks for having me. Always great to catch up with you here at the Combin. That's Ryan Pouls, Chicago Bears general manager right here at the 2026 NFL scouting combine back. More here on Disney Plus and ESPN Radio in a moment. The Rich Eisen Show podcast.
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18:30Rich Eisen:Dan Quinn, DQ, the HC of the Washington Commanders here as our radio audience has returned on our television stream on Disney Plus and the ESPN app. How do you evaluate what your team did last year? Is it feasible to do that based on everything that happened injury-wise for you?
18:48Mike Macdonald:Yeah, and I think you want to go back and look at everything, and the injuries are part of that. You don't ever like to use anything as an excuse, but some of them are reasons. And so a lot of changes with our team this year, both on and off the field. And that's what excites you, man. As a coach, although the changes are hard, you have these bonds with coaches and players that will be moving on to other teams. But at the same time, there's an excitement that goes into putting it all together. And at this today and being here this week, like that's a big step in that, who you're going to add to the team.
19:22Mike Macdonald:How do they fit in? Right. And the right style and attitude of players that you love coaching. And so I like this process. It's a part of it for sure.
19:31Rich Eisen:Well, not to have you speak for your quarterback, but I'm going to ask you to. Sure. You don't mind. Caleb Williams breakout year. He was outstanding. Drake May makes the Super Bowl. The guy in the drafted in between him who had a unicorn rookie season injury wipeout. yep how's he how's he he's doing this you know like it's uh it's hard you know like jay only
19:51Mike Macdonald:getting about you know six or seven starts in this year like he didn't get to fully express who he is yeah and uh take that step forward i wanted to see it yes and it's gonna happen like he is an absolute savage competitor man like we love everything about him and so he's putting in that work right now to get ready with he and his teammates but uh i love that he has things to prove and those are good moments to be in as a player and as a coach and so we can't wait to get rolling.
20:20Rich Eisen:I know the answer to the question but I'm going to ask it anyway. Why is it advantageous for you to have him feel like he's got something to prove?
20:29Mike Macdonald:I think everything can get elevated and one of the things about great quarterbacks and Jaden being part of that they also can multiply and elevate others around them. And that's what you see people do going from year ones into twos and threes and four, where early on they play good at their position, be a great teammate, and now they're able to expand and raise the standards of others around them. Think of all the great quarterbacks, Rich, that have done that, and Jaden's going to be right into that conversation this year as well, just by what he brings not only to him but to the guys around him.
21:04Rich Eisen:Why did you make the moves at coordinator that you did?
21:07Mike Macdonald:Yeah, those are tough, man. And what happened at the start where things went well, sometimes you have to adjust and you have to change even when it's hard. And that's what we had to do on both sides of the ball. And going into it, having a vision for how we want to play in 25 and beyond, that's what drove the decisions. And both Cliff and Joe are excellent coaches. And so we've added David Blau, who is on the staff here, and we added Durante Jones, you know, who has been in Minnesota the last few years. And both these guys, Rich, are excellent coaches, man. I can't wait to get started with it.
21:43Rich Eisen:But you're calling the defensive plays? Durante will. Durante will. Yes. Okay. So do you like delegating? I do. Do you like it? I like it. Why do you like it?
21:51Mike Macdonald:I love, one, I know I can help on the leadership of everybody. And so I like being in other meetings and being around the players in different spots. I felt for me personally, when I was just doing the play calling, I felt more segmented from everybody else. And although that model works great for some people, for me best, I love when I'm able to help lead the entire group and provide the support that both the coordinators need. I know that's how I do it best.
22:18Rich Eisen:What's your approach to having a very important draft choice, not just for your organization, but right there in the first round where there could be some movement. If somebody wants a certain player, you've got optionality, which is, I know, what you like to have going into a draft. It is. This is not that, you know, you don't want to pick this high where you're at
22:39Mike Macdonald:when you're here on that time. Okay, you know there's going to be some really, really good players, Rich, that can help change, you know, and change your team, change how you play. And so Adam and his crew, man, they're on it. They've got a vision. and they know what to do. I like seeing Adam on game day, which is draft weekend, to see those decisions. And as a coach during the game, that's go forward, don't punt, kick, all of those want to go. And during draft weekend, you get to see that same space that he's in. And it's kind of this great balance that we have together,
23:15Rich Eisen:and I certainly enjoy it. Pardon me for asking about a specific player, but I'm going to do it anyway. Jeremiah loves sitting out there, and obviously you've got some you know decisions to make on the offensive side of the ball yep the dynamic running back you could see what you you as a defensive coordinator in this league know how difficult it is to stop somebody who can do it from that position is it where are you on the philosophy of taking a running back as high as you're drafting yeah i think the best thing man
23:43Mike Macdonald:like who are the guys that can help impact your team right and uh i think our league has changed a little bit rich over the last few years into that way when you see guys who can absolutely make impactful plays to do things. That's really what you're looking for. How does somebody impact the team in a great way? And sometimes that's through running back. And we've seen the players over the last four or five years who have done that, and they deliver. And so what happens, I like him and him and him. When you get into that spot, there's so many guys that you like, and you start putting them into rankings and where do you go.
24:17Mike Macdonald:But like I said earlier, Adam and his group, they've got a really good process, man, that they go through. I'm still learning a lot of the guys now from the college side and just getting done free agency and going through a lot of those evaluations. I'll learn more over the next few weeks for sure.
24:34Rich Eisen:Do you have a guy in your career at any point, current head coach, previous head coach previous coordinator that you spotted at the combine and you're like i dig this kid we need to do some more digging yeah check boxes and turned into somebody significant
24:56Mike Macdonald:yeah somebody um yeah i'll go way back into my file here one name that popped into my mind was Jarrett and um you felt the competitiveness the effort and now he added skill and learn more as a rusher and how he could go affect things so he was definitely I think he might have been a fifth round pick but there are certain players and man you'd love to coach that guy you definitely want him on your team what it means how he would do it um and they're not all first round picks so like some of the ones that you were talking about it wasn't rolling through as first round but that's
25:31Rich Eisen:by the way, great name, great player, and what he's become. What was it? Is something in a meeting? Was it an on-field drill or something? What was it? I felt his energy to lead it.
25:44Mike Macdonald:And I can even remember going to his pro day and people saying their person line, everything. He wasn't missing a thing. There was a chance to express how he wanted to compete. He did it. And that was lifting. That was competing. It was in the drills. when people come here and just want to work out and just win the drill, the workout, like it just shows they love to compete and battle for it. And those are things that I look for, not necessarily what the inches are, the time, but just seeing how hard they want to go after it and like express that competitive nature.
26:16Rich Eisen:Okay. So what's your message to Commanders fans who are just so out of their skulls giddy with your first year and the results of that year and seeing what Jaden Daniels is going to do? And then this year, you know, you're back picking in the top 10 for various reasons, many of them out of your control. What do you say to that fan base that's looking to see what year three for you is?
26:40Mike Macdonald:I would say for them, one of the things that's very, you know, one of the most cool parts about being the coach in Washington is like the heavy hitter fan base, man. This fan base has experienced success, you know, from a long time, you know. And so for me, coming up and watching that and seeing that, we can't wait to uphold the standards they've set for the organization. Guys like Gibbs and others from coaching that have done it, we can't wait to go prove it, man. Just like we were talking about our QB, we love to battle and compete. And man, we cannot wait for that to be expressed.
27:14Rich Eisen:Okay. And then I lied one last one. the Walter Payton Man of the Year, somebody you've coached for a very, very long time at various spots as well. I'll give you the floor on Bobby Wagner, who I think is the first ballot Hall of Famer. Clearly, I'm not out on a very thick limb here. Very thin limb. But bottom line is, he's amazing. Yeah, he is amazing. And so what does he like coaching?
27:39Mike Macdonald:Yeah, the easy part when You see on the field the tackling, the performances, and he is elite at that. He'll go down as one of the best tacklers that's ever played. But what you don't get to see is who the man is and this consistency and the discipline of who he is. So as proud as I am of what he's accomplished on the field, to see that take place that night because then everybody else got to see, you know, the man behind it. And he makes our entire building better by who he is. And that was true in Seattle. And it was also true here. And I'm certain the year he spent in L.A., it was true there as well.
28:18Mike Macdonald:For sure. Because we're talking about multiplying people and standards. And I think Bobby Wagner lives that at one of the highest levels. So he's an incredible leader. And so to see that happen early in his career and then me now seeing that, you know, in this part of his career, it's been very cool to see.
28:37Rich Eisen:Pardon me for not knowing, but were you there when you when he was drafted? The year after. Year after. Yep. So you get there. Yep. And here's some year two linebacker named Bobby Wagner, right?
28:46Mike Macdonald:First call, he wanted questions, scheme, what can he do to do better. Is that right? Oh, absolutely. And, like, in the meetings, I can remember just staring at me, writing things down, like, you know, over and over. He was not going to miss it. Like, he had standards that were so elite early. Same now, right? Same now. Same now. Now it's, can people come in early to train with him, as much work as he puts in to study? You've heard the word pro is pro. And then there's a whole other level of elite beyond that. And that's what Bobby represents.
29:19Rich Eisen:Thanks for the time here, Dan Quinn. You got it. You're the man. You're the man. Thanks for taking the time whenever you zoom into the show. And I always love chopping it up with you. Yeah, same, man. You bet. Thank you. That's Dan Quinn, the head coach of the Washington Commanders, right here on The Rich Eisen Show, live from the NFL scouting combine. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.
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31:17Rich Eisen:Back on ESPN Radio on our Disney Plus and ESPN app feed, Mike McDonald, the Super Bowl winning head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, is just behind this monitor talking to local reporters. He just went from the podium over there just behind me as soon as he's done chatting with the Seahawk beat writers who are here at the scouting combine. He's going to come around the corner and sit right here in this chair. And then after he gets up, John Schneider, the general manager who hired Mike McDonald, will kick off our number three. Then we'll have Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles joining us. And then we'll play an overreaction Monday on a Wednesday here at the Combine to finish things up.
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32:35Rich Eisen:Visit Pella.com slash eisen today. that's Pella.com slash Eisen and again John Schneider is going to be joining us here at the top of the next hour we'll hit him on the subject matter of building this roster that Mike McDonald honed into Super Bowl champions this past year and how at this point last year at the combine the question was who uh how are the Seahawks going to address their quarterback position with Geno Smith are they going to extend them are they going to give them more money What does he want after a season in which Mike McDonald Seahawks won double digits but did not make the playoffs double digit in terms of wins?
33:17Rich Eisen:And so what ended up happening, apparently, and we'll talk with John Schneider about this, is they tried to expend Gino Smith. But Gino wanted a bit more cash. And what they decided to do is flip Gino to Vegas and then get into the Sam Darnold sweepstakes. and it's always just amazing how you take a look at the way a team can be formed the way a team can be put together and how when you look back on it like oh yeah that was a no-brainer this is what you do then you you send Gino along and then you give Sam Donald a contract you bring him in and off we go we got ourselves a Super Bowl championship but these things are very tenuous and they're not guaranteed and you can have a plan um and that's one of the things that i want to talk about uh with john schneider when he shows up here at the top of the next hour um you can have the plans all you want but they've got to go down and then you've got to execute them and the man who's helped execute it please come on in coach mike mcdonald we're live we're live on the program just like you were in santa clara a couple weeks ago good to see you man we're here live on disney plus and also on the espn app and espn radio great to see you man how How are you?
34:33Rich Eisen:Yeah, you too. This is cool. Hey, I'm so happy for you, just to start things off. The video that I saw that I just couldn't get out of my head was you and your wife and your son, right? Your son, how old is he? 14 months. 14 months, right there on the field, right? Yeah. Your wife said something along the lines, how was your day? Right? Yeah, it was good. It was a little inside joke. It was great. What do you mean, inside joke? Well, it's just an inside joke.
35:02Ryan Poles:I mean, her and I just, you know, it's like an intimate moment that we shared. You don't realize that the camera's on you. And then it's like, oh, well, now we have that for the rest of our lives. Right.
35:14Rich Eisen:Yeah, that was special. How was your day? Pretty cool. And then you said something along the lines of your son, like, one day you're going to understand what this means right now.
35:22Ryan Poles:Yeah. We came off the stage, and I was having, like, visions of Drew Brees with his son. Right. With the confetti in the background and, you know, his eyes of wonder and the whole thing. and then we saw Steph and Jax, you know, he didn't want to leave his mom and so he wasn't very excited about me grabbing him. So he grabbed a Lombardi and Steph. Yeah, so he was a little upset. And so, like, the only thing he was interested in was just, like, grabbing confetti and trying to save some confetti and put it in Steph's bag. And you're just thinking, hey, like, how special this is. And one day he's going to have this memory that he can look back at and see what he was a part of.
35:57Ryan Poles:The confetti, so you saved that?
35:58Rich Eisen:Yeah, we got a bunch of the confetti. So awesome, Matt. And so looking back on it, give me your thoughts on when you realized this team had a real shot to win it all during the playing season, Mike.
36:14Ryan Poles:It's interesting. I don't – I've never been to a Super Bowl before. So it's like in your mind you don't really – like what is a Super Bowl caliber team? Sure. I don't really know the answer to that. Now you do. Now we know. Yeah, now we know like what the standard is. You have a feeling what the standard felt like every day. And what I can tell you is our guys nailed all the challenges. We fell short sometimes, but they would respond, answer the bell. And so it was a team that we believed in, given whatever the circumstances were. And we start stacking some of those wins, saying, okay, we should go into games expecting to win games if we bring our A game.
36:56Ryan Poles:And at that point, it's kind of like circumstances don't matter. and you can pull off winning a Super Bowl.
37:02Rich Eisen:So then looking back, now that you know what a Super Bowl winning team is, when did you, like what was that moment where you thought, okay, it changed at this point in time?
37:13Ryan Poles:I think there's a couple probably inflection points throughout the season. Camp, you know, we had some great practices like in the tough parts of camp where guys were just into it, you know. We didn't have any drag in camp. Going to play against the Packers, seeing the connectedness of the team, the practice. Probably after we—I forget who we won after the Saints game. But being able to stack plays later on in games, we're not letting teams going back into the games. That was critical. Losing to the Rams. Losing to the Rams. Yeah, I mean, just feeling the guys fight, the connectedness of the team, the physicality that we were capable of playing with, the resilience, all that type of stuff.
37:58Ryan Poles:But so losing is something. Yeah, I remember telling the team in the locker room after the game, I said, look, I know we're really disappointed to lose the game, but you guys are a championship team.
38:08Rich Eisen:You told that to them? Yeah. When did you learn what Ernest Jones had said about the quarterback? When did that hit you?
38:17Ryan Poles:it was uh i'm pretty sure it was after i did the media i think i think ernest went after me and then that's when i heard about it so i might be wrong on that right so that that's when you learned what he had had to say about dave just yeah dave told me yeah walking back to the locker
38:33Rich Eisen:room so it was great he nailed it yeah it was awesome i know when you say when he nailed it because that he did i mean because that listen i deal in narratives you don't you deal in x's and know, is you deal in personalities, you deal in culture, you deal in finding matchups and exploding them in real moments. I deal in narratives. And narratives about your quarterback is that, okay, he keeps hitting his head on the ceiling against the Rams. And to come out of that and maybe be a closer unit, be a closer team, and realize that, okay, we damn near pulled this thing off anyway yeah um i imagine week 16 was another inflection point that's the thursday nighter that you were kind enough to zoom in after that we win over the rams i mean it was i was in i think
39:21Ryan Poles:it was really great for the 12s like being able to play a big game at home feeling their energy throughout the game also you know winning a you know quote-unquote big game throughout the season i think that was awesome for like our home field advantage and like them seeing what type of team that we were capable of, but I think we kind of knew who we were at that point as a team, you know, and so we just kept proving it, so it's pretty cool.
39:44Rich Eisen:Going for two was a big moment for you, I think, that you won, that you win this game.
39:51Ryan Poles:Well, if you look back at it, yeah, that was a big part of the season.
39:55Rich Eisen:Right. It determines home field to a certain extent. Yeah, you couldn't, if you tied, you'd be 1-0-1, and you, that's not what you, 0-1-1, obviously, against the Rams.
40:04Ryan Poles:Well, that was part of the decision criteria on going for it.
40:07Rich Eisen:So it actually kind of made it a little bit easier knowing what was at stake. And what was it like for you? I know we chit-chatted, and I appreciate that when you zoomed in with me for a chat for the NFL Network pregame show. What was it like for you prepping for a Super Bowl, Mike McDonald? What was that like?
40:25Ryan Poles:I think what made this experience unique was we really didn't have a lot of, on our players, like our coaching staff and our player side, we didn't have that much Super Bowl experience. And, like, John's been there, and he was able to guide us, and a lot of other people that were in our organization, you know, Eric Kennedy, Mo Kelly, had great, like, things to draw from. But what made it unique for us was, hey, look, we're entering this experience together. There's going to be some things that are different than we're usual. You know, we're so, like, process-driven that, hey, we can't just bang our head against the wall and stick to our process every day because there are going to be some different variables.
41:01Ryan Poles:but let's just call it out now on what's going to be different. Let's have a plan for it. Let's attack it together, and let's go experience this thing together as a team rather than saying, hey, look, this is what's going to happen, and this is what we have to do every day. It's like that's not really how we roll. And so we kind of took our MO and our kind of way of life and translated it into that whole two-week process, and I'm really proud about how we handled it and what the guys' attitudes were.
41:25Rich Eisen:What were you able to, now that we've seen what happened in Super Bowl 60, what you prepped going in saying this is the way we can win we saw the way that you won can you walk us connect those dots of what you wanted to affect and what you were able to think it starts
41:40Ryan Poles:with having a like a confidence and belief in who we are and what we were capable of so the focus was how can we go put ourselves traditionally play our best football so all the process behind that was really just the like the principles of how we applied every week just kind of within the Super Bowl setting. There's some decisions you've got to make, like how do you handle the bye week, and how many reps do you take, and what intensity. Guys get banged up like Nick with his ankle, and as a head coach, you're losing your mind. Hey, we shouldn't have practiced that way, or maybe we practiced too hard.
42:11Ryan Poles:But at the end of the day, you've got to trust why you built it that certain way. I think the guys feel that, that we have their best interests at heart, and we're going to do what we need to do, what the Seahawks need to do, and not necessarily what the conventional wisdom says or it's always been done this way. We're going to do what we feel like is unique to us and let's go rock and roll.
42:31Rich Eisen:What about rattling the cage of the kid quarterback? Rattling the cage of the kid quarterback and then also the left side of that offensive line for New England. It looked like you identified a way through and hit the crap out of that
42:46Ryan Poles:all game. I think one thing that doesn't get talked about enough is how we play out on early downs. in some of those run or pass type of situations where we're able to force and maximize the amount of times that they needed to drop back. And so it's tough to do that in the NFL at a certain frequency throughout a game. And the way our guys played on first down to create those opportunities was what our guys asked for because now they can come to life and execute their rush plan and dial up blitzes, things like that. Okay.
43:19Rich Eisen:So what's the secret sauce? about what worked and what you were able to say, okay, because we had John Schneider coming up next, what you're able to say in the meetings before you got hired, then you get hired. Then you show up and you're like, this is the way we're going to do things because we're going to win a championship this way. And now it has been affirmed. What is the it? What is the it that we can ascribe to you, Mike McDonald, and this organization for Seattle and this copycat league. What do you got for me on that?
43:53Ryan Poles:I think, I mean, I don't want to sound cheesy, but it's the power of the synergy of doing it together, the connectedness from the top down, from Jody throughout Chuck and the business side to all of our support staff being bought in on how we want to operate. Ultimately, on a daily basis, it's my responsibility to make sure that we're on track and we're hitting those things. But I think, again, what makes us unique to us is I'm going through these experiences, and our coaching staff are doing it with the players in real time. So I think everybody feels like we're all in this thing together. We're all growing.
44:32Ryan Poles:We all have each other's best interests at heart, what we're trying to create. And that's something that you can't fake. Yeah, how do you affect it? Yeah, right. I guess it takes an authenticity. But how do you do that? Well, you realize really quickly what you don't know as a head coach. There's a lot of things you don't know you don't know. and you realize that you have a lot of talented people around. You're like, hey, well, let's unlock all these people. You know, let's rock and roll. Let's use everybody's talents, and how can we create it? Hey, you know, so-and-so can do this, and how do we build it?
44:59Ryan Poles:And, you know, hey, you go take this project and make it come to life. And what happens is all these, like, little cool organic things happen that are unique to us, inside jokes. Yes. You know, and then you're creating an atmosphere where I feel like, one, it's fun to come to work, and people can, like, be the best version of themselves. They can just kind of be them and focus on playing great football and winning games.
45:21Rich Eisen:And I know you're still relatively new to the area, right? Yeah. Certainly, you get the longevity in your career that you hope for. You're just getting started. Hopefully, yeah. Right? And do you realize what you've just accomplished by going through San Francisco and the Rams to cauterize the wounds of Super Bowl XLIX against the Patriots for the 12s? Right. To win in the home of the San Francisco 49ers and maybe have them think about ripping up the carpets and changing things in their locker room because you celebrated in there. Do you realize what you've just done for the 12s?
46:02Ryan Poles:probably not to the to the extent which um as justified is how they should feel you know like take a lot of pride in in in delivering that to our to our fans into the 12s um i i think it take take me and the coaches out of it but what our players did this this team you know michigan we would like number the teams teams 142 i know about 144 yeah you were on 142 yeah i believe so and so like the the 2025 2026 seattle seahawks um i think deserve to be one of the recognizes one of the all-time um great teams great performances i mean find me a stat and compare it to everybody else not that but that's important you know in the history books and our
46:46Rich Eisen:guys deserve that recognition i think but the number of times we saw malcolm butler picking off russell wilson in the weeks leading up to this game yeah i mean that's now history it's now truly
46:56Ryan Poles:history it is i mean and also you know what was i doing in 2000 i was a i was a ga at georgia our guys are right you know they're probably 10 years old like well you said you told me for them
47:06Rich Eisen:you were watching that game you said at your sister's house or something yeah and the ravens
47:11Ryan Poles:watching that game is what you were saying that was 24 yeah so that was the 2014 season it's actually yeah i was in la and uh i remember exactly where i was my little nephew charlie watched the halftime show. He was digging Katy Perry.
47:27Rich Eisen:Yeah, that was cool. Yeah, and now you're the Super Bowl winning head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. Yeah, pretty well. Couldn't be happier for you. Couldn't be happier for you. Thanks for joining me here. Yeah, you got it. On the program. My pleasure. Yeah, and John Schneider's about to join us next. So that's Mike McDonald, the Super Bowl winning head coach of the Seattle Seahawks helping us wrap up our number two. We're back on the ESPN radio feed in just a moment. The Ridge Eisen Show podcast.
47:54Dan Quinn:monster energy everybody knows white monster zero ultra that's the og it kicked off this zero sugar energy drink thing but ultra is a whole line i'm now you've got strawberry dreams blue hawaiian sunrise and vice guava and they all bring the monster energy punch so if you've been living in the white can branch out ultra's got a flavor for every vibe and every single one is zero sugar tap the banner to learn more Thank you.
From the publisher
Live from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis where Bears GM Ryan Poles tells Rich how much of a say head coach Ben Johnson has in which players Chicago selects in the NFL Draft, why the sky is the limit for Caleb Williams’ in the QB’s third year in the league, and maps out the team’s biggest offseason priorities to ensure a deeper playoffs run next season.
Commanders HC Dan Quinn tells Rich that QB Jayden Daniels will be playing with “something to prove” coming off his injury-riddled second NFL season, why he parted ways with Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and removed himself from calling Washington’s defensive plays, says why LB Bobby Wagner is a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and more.
Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald and Rich revisit the key moments from Seattle’s Super Bowl season and why that squad deserves to be recognized as one of the NFL’s all-time best teams.
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