The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Jets Robert Saleh on Zach Wilson's growth, interning for Texans, "keeping receipts"

Episode Date: November 9, 2022

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh talks to Mike Silver about how the Jets got to a 6-3 record in the loaded AFC East, then discusses Zach Wilson's steady improvement, the highs of the 2022 NFL draft, the realities of "keeping receipts" for the media members who criticize him, and the difficulties of rebuilding a team in New York after winning only 4 games last season. Saleh also takes us back to the reason he changed careers from finance to coaching football, the thing that made Kyle Shanahan the most angry at him, and his days as an intern for the Houston Texans. #volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me.

Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled of conversations with athletes,

creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Cliford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes,

follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The volume. All right, we're here on Open Mic, and my next guest, he arrived as the 49ers defensive coordinator for the 2017 season, and for two years,

I heard fans and people in my business just crushing this guy. I thought his first name was fire because I just, could not hear anything other than this guy is killing us. And then in year three, suddenly the Robert Sala sideline experience took the NFL by storm. And now he is the toast of the big apple. Hello, Mr. Sala.

What's up, Mike? How you doing, man? I'm great. And you are in your by week and kind enough to join us. And I'm still trying to process all this because you and I, sat together back of the spring in Morris Town, New Jersey, had a great meal and talked about some of the challenges you were facing. If we had been sitting there that night and I had told you no Mackay Bechton, no Elijah Vera Tucker, George Fant would go out. You'd draft a guy

named Breece Hall who was tearing it up and then he was out and you'd be sitting here six and three. Would you have looked at me funny? I would have taken it. But guys have been doing a good job. You know, and it's a testament to all the coaches, all the players. It's been a good first half of the season, but we got to find a way to keep it rolling. You took a high-profile job in a big place. And year one with a team that was kind of reeling from past years. You went 4 and 13.

And, of course, it's New York. So nobody reacted very strongly or anything. And, you know, you have quarterback, Zach Wilson. You drafted last year, who's still growing into it. And so you had challenges. You came out after the opener, which didn't go well, and started talking about all the criticism you guys have been getting and the negativity.

Was that intentional? And kind of what was your thinking when you talked about that? It was kind of, it was in the moment. But trying to really just trying to keep, the attention off the locker room, the negative attention anyway. Positive attention, I mean, have at it. Give, don't worry about the coaches. Give it all the players, please.

But from a negative standpoint, especially with such a young roster, I think why it's so hard to build in New York is because it's instant coffee. Everybody wants it now. And so just the appreciation of growth isn't always recognized until the growth actually happens. It's like, don't, I don't want to see the baby. I want the adult right now, right?

And in that moment, it was just, you know, trying to find a way to give breathing room to such a young roster so they can play free, mentally free, and have kind of a positive atmosphere tool. When Robert makes a kid analogy, he and his very amazing wife have seven children. So you know what you're talking about there. Seven blessings, man. That's amazing.

You got any big by week plans, by the way? I mean, first of all, you have seven kids, so there's a lot going on. Secondly, are we going to need, like, to get you some bodyguards if you go out to Manhattan? Well, first off, so seven kids, big family. My wife has a list about 10 miles long. And so I've got to clean out the garage. I got to get my office up and run in. I got there's some odds on ends.

I got to go through the punch list for the contractor to make sure we get one more, one more walkthrough. And so I'm working. I don't get to go anywhere. Maybe my wife and I will be able to do something better for date night on Friday. We go dates every Friday, so hopefully we can do something good. But she's got me grinding. I want to offer you a chance. You are six and three, so it's a work in progress.

There's a long way to go. But you did say that you were taking receipts and that, you know, when things turned around, you might be cashing in on some of those receipts. Do you want to cash in on something? There's nothing to cash in yet. I've said it before. We've got to win a heck of a lot more than six games, one game. You know, one of my, you know, the ultimate receipt,

the entire New York media or the whole NFL world has on me is that our goal is me and my opening press conference saying that we want to win championships. So hopefully we can cash in on that receipt first. before anything else. Have you had one moment, though, where you're just like, I can't believe this person is crushing us this bad, or I can't believe this was said?

You know, I do my best to stay away from it all. Our media guys, they do a really good job, just keeping us abreast of what's happening with our players. I think that's so much more important to me with regards to us to see where the mentals of our athletes. But, you know, the only time I ever know anything happens is if it's brought to my attention. So I think the only one was when Rex had the big one. But Rex is awesome.

He and I have had a lot of conversations since then. And he's awesome. So it's, but other than that, I really don't, I really don't know who's saying what. Yeah. And if I recall Rex Ryan, former Jets coach went on the radio and said, don't, or TV, said, don't ever compare this guy to me. you responded by saying, dude, you know where to find me. I'm right here.

And then he called you and you guys got to a better place. Yeah, we got to sit at the senior bowl too and has had a really cool conversation and we've had a lot of conversations. He's helped a lot too. You know, he's been a head coach at two different locations

and he's been able to share his experiences with me and he's been an awesome resource for me with regards to just how to adjust better at my chair, the chair that I'm in now, him being in this chair, this exact chair, has been very helpful for me. So he's been, he's been awesome. I mean, it is true. One thing I told my kids is they were growing up playing sports and that I use

often as, you know, losing just sucks and everybody, you know, it just tears everybody up and people react differently. And so I can see, I can see some of that. You guys are both emotional guys, but. Oh, yeah. It's euphoria and disaster. I mean, shoot, I come home after a loss and you think we're in the middle of a funeral. My wife and kids are just all laid out, you know, but it's, it comes with the territory.

It's why it's also the cool thing about our profession, right? Every week, the emotions you feel, I always tell my wife, even after loss, like, think about it, honey, we're living life. Like how many people get to experience the emotional roller coaster that we get to experience, we're so blessed? And that every week, it's just like we're living life. We get to experience all the human emotions that God bless us with. And we're very fortunate. And, you know, you chose a profession that is very taxing. And from what I understand, it kind of traces back to 9-11 and your brother being in the South Tower that day.

Yeah. You know, you have one of those aha moments. And, you know, the unfortunate part is that it was tragedy that triggered the aha moment for me, but through tragedy, you know, there's always stories. And I'm not the only one. There's a lot of stories in this world that I've been able to connect myself to where have been told to me of success stories that have stemmed from 9-11. And obviously there's all the tragedies and lives that were lost to. would. But, you know, it's just one of those moments, you know, where you're, you know, you're just having one of those self-reflecting, look in the mirror, are you doing what you want

to do moments? And I've, I'm very fortunate to have, to have the family that I have who supported me through it. Because it's, it is not easy being a GA, and it's very, it's not a cost-effective life. Yeah, so your brother had made it out of the South Tower, thankfully. Yeah. And I was in that Comerica Bank World Headquarters, downtown Detroit. I was a credit analyst and making good money, fresh out of college, and just trying to get into the commercial real estate business. And it was sitting in a cubicle.

It's not for me. It's like I just said, you know, you go to work, you leave and it's like, okay, what is, what's the emotional charge? And it just wasn't triggering. And so just, like I said, I was very, fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to pursue coach. Trying to envision the solid fist pump in a cubicle after like a successful loan. I added the numbers right.

But there's a lot of people that, you know, they get a lot of success out of that too. So there's a million ways to make money in this country. That's for darn trip. And then all of a sudden you're working at Central Michigan with Matt LaFleur and you get invited to a party famously at then head coach Brian. Kelly's house. You know, that story, it was, it was,

I don't want to say it was taken out of context, but, because I said what I said, but that's not what I meant. You know, it was, we, you know,

we were at Brian, it's a, it's a rite, you know, and you're at GA, you go get laundry, you go make coffee, you make the,

do the food run. That's, that's just what you do, at least back when I was a GA. You know, it's, you know, and the comment I made,

you know, which got blown out, was made it sound like I was And it was just, you know, I was going to do something different. That doesn't make it right or wrong. But Brian was very good to us. He was. And I'm really happy for him and the success that he's having an LSU.

And I know that article got a lot of attention, but it wasn't like anything I was mad at with BK. It was just, it was funny, you know, I was just telling a funny story about the things we have to do is GAs. I mean, I have one story when I was a GA. I'm not going to say who coaches. I'm not going to put anyone on blast. but I'm sitting at my desk. I'm working. And he comes in sweating his bra.

Come here. And he's in panic. And we grab a laundry bag and he gives me football gloves. And we get in this car, I'm like, where are we going? He goes, you'll see. And we drive to this parking lot. There's a squirrel with a yogurt cup stuck on its head. And he can't get out.

And he goes, go get the cup off the squirrel's head. I was like, really? He goes, yeah. And he gives me the gloves and the, and I'm chasing the squirrel with a cup over his head. And I got the squirrel, got the cup out, bit at the glove and took off. I was like, what the heck just happened? So this was a coach who was concerned with the welfare of a squirrel? Yeah.

Yeah, it's a good thing. But the stuff you do is a G-I, I was like, you couldn't do this. You ran all the way back to the facility to get a- to get you, the G-A. So did, were you concerned that the squirrel was going to give you rabies or something? Yeah, you're like, you know, it's just, you know, If a squirrel starts chasing anybody, I don't care how big you are, how tough you think you are. But squirrel starts chasing, you can run.

I don't care what anyone says. Oh, yeah. But it was just, you know, an example of all the things that GA is throughout the country. And I'm sure it still is today that you have to do. Not that you have to, but you're asked to do. And it's, you know, it's a right of passage. It's a cool thing, not necessarily a negative thing. I feel like there's a squirrel who has like a little mini Jets hat who's going around going,

and hey, coach of the Jets, that guy got a cup off me one time. That's awesome. So, yeah, so you and Matt LaFleur, I can just pick, because the story is that Brian Kelly invited you to a party at his house. You guys are thinking, like, awesome, we're going to the party. And in fact, you were the snow shovelers at ballet parking people. But I can also picture Matt being such a warrior, like, stressing out about getting the cars parked right or, you know, doing the assignment.

That is to perfection. So Mike McDaniel, another mutual friend of ours, who's now your coaching rival in the loaded AFC East, by the way, he told a story recently about arriving in Houston where Kyle Shanahan was coming in, and Dom Capers had been leaving, and Gary Kubiak was coming in as the head coach. And he described you as a squatter,

or someone who just refused to leave his office. And I think you were making five bucks an hour at a time. You know, what was going on there? So, you know, I was an intern. You know, before the quality control was a quality control. You know, Houston needed a guy to kind of do all the phone breakdown, all that stuff. So it was right before the season. I got hired with Dom Capers, Vic Fangio, was the defensive coordinator.

So I was his assistant. And this office was huge. It was an enormous office. and for the staff in the stadium at Ben Reliance Stadium. And I was in one corner all by myself. And so when the staff got fired, I had made a really good impression on Charlie Castile just in conversation.

And so I couldn't get fired as an intern. I wasn't technically I wasn't a coach. So my internship wasn't going to end until like the end of February. And Gary comes in and I walk in the building because I wouldn't fire you. And I just hung out. And like Mike said, I was squatting. I popped in his office. Coach, you need anything?

He had to take these boxes, go throw him away. Coach, go work out. Just I was, just any questions he had about anyone, any person in the building personnel, watch some tape. And as Mike recalls, you know, he comes in and, you know, I'd offer Mike's, hey, Mike, can I do anything for you? I'm just kind of sitting there, you know, just trying to find a way to keep my job. And, you know, to be honest,

Coach Kubiak could have kept me as an enter and I would have been excited. And, but he gave me that my first coach's contract is the defensive quality control. I love it. It's kind of like a George Costanza move, just like, I'm just going to keep coming to work and see what else. Like that was the guy from office space.

Yeah. That was me. That's amazing. So you had a really cool career with Pete Carroll in Seattle and a Super Bowl and then going with Gus Bradley to Jacksonville, kind of seeing the other side of that. And then your 49er experience was interesting because they locked you in when Kyle got the job as the linebackers coach, but you were still, you know, trying to stay in the running for the DC job. Yeah, the transition with Kyle, you know, we built the top five defense in Jacksonville.

And it's well documented. He went after Vic, went after Gus Bradley, and Gus Bradley and I were going to be kind of like a little package deal. And he was just really worried about hiring a first-time coordinator. And the guys that he really wanted our system, that whole Seattle system. Long story short, I was going to go to the Chargers. I don't know if people realized that Gus Bradley went to the Chargers. I was going to the Chargers.

And Kyle promised me a legitimate interview if I, if I committed to him as linebacker's coach. And that's all, I just wanted to promise it. And I know everyone knows Kyle. Kyle is, he's a man of his word, and he's always going to, if he promises you something, he's going to live up to it. So I know it wasn't going to be a sham.

At the same time, I felt like it was time for me to kind of branch off. You know, because everyone knows how close I am with Gus. He's such a phenomenal man. But did the interview, and I guess it did something right. What's the angriest Kyle ever got at you on the sideline or in a media group or anywhere? There's a lot of times. I think the ain't one of the, so there's a, I've told the story before, but my first year is a coordinator. It's our first game, Carolina Panthers.

And they're winning. They're beating us. You know, it's like 20 to 8 or something or six or whatever the heck the score was. We have no chance. It's like the game's pretty much over. And they're in four minute mode. It's third and six. And they put 11 personnel on the field.

And I was like, ah, shoot, because I wanted a different personnel grouping. And I was like, Kyle, and I was stuck. And I couldn't find Kyle. So I called the time up. And Kyle. And so we get the personnel grouping we want. And he still, they still get a first down.

They're up QB power with freaking Cam New. And they get a first down. I was like, head down. And Kyle is just absolutely going. nuts on the sideline. I've been a coordinator for 10 years. I've never called the time out. I just going, and you know, Kyle Reddner just, I was like, oh, my God.

He still gives me crap for it to this day that I call the time out. But he's, but I've, I've pissed him off a lot. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing huge. human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having

trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clipper Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Somebody, please!

But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian, and recently I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike! I'm a comedian! I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man.

If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Cream a chicken suit. Hey, cream, cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Coutura Podcast Network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All deserve probably so.

You mentioned Gus. He's a great coach. it's such a tough business. Frank Reich just got fired mid-season abruptly by the Colts. I kind of looked at that for a couple hours and was like, well, Gus is the logical guy on that staff to be interim.

And interim's a tough job. Were you thinking Gus would end up getting that for a couple hours? Yeah, I thought maybe Gus or Dodd Fox, even too very well-respected head coaches, Johnsman, do a couple of sports, but, you know, I'm sure Jeff's done, has done something, and I know he's consulted over there,

so I'm sure there's something there that's going to give him an opportunity. He's an opportunity. He's a bright football mine. He's played football for a very long time, and he's got a tremendous personality and all that stuff. And from everything I've heard about him, is that he's an awesome human being. So good luck to him,

and hopefully, you know, they're still in striking distance. I can still win that division. I think they're only two games out, and they still have to play a lot of teams in front of them. So their season is nowhere near close to over. They've got top five defense right now when you look at the statistics, so they're doing a great job. And you never know. Frank Reich is a phenomenal football coach, too.

So I'd be shocked if he doesn't have another opportunity to hedge out this upcoming coaching cycle. Yeah, I feel like it's got to be hard for Jeff because I know the business and I know how hard people have grinded to get in position to possibly advance and then to walk into a room with coaches who've been grinding and be like, well, yeah, I coached a couple years of high school and here I am, guys. He probably has some work to do right, you know, right or wrong. Well, one thing I'll say, and I don't want to speak for Gus, but knowing the people who are on that staff, especially on the defensive side of the ball, he will be welcomed with open arms. and Gus is going to do everything he can to help him succeed.

That's Gus. And that's Richard Smith and Milo and Nate, Ollie. They're all, I mean, it's going to be, I promise you, not one person in that building is looking at that from a cynical view. And they're going to do everything they can to make sure that they're success in that head coaching chair. Let's talk about your quarterback. You guys took them at number two overall. and, you know, we're in an era where guys end up playing right away and go through growing pains.

You know, where is he in his growth process and what needs to improve? He's still a pup. You know, it's in this day and age, you know, it's different than back when I first got the league where quarterback sat for a couple of years. And then, you know, you're like Aaron Rogers sat for three years behind Brett. And then his first couple of years weren't all peaches and cream, but you saw a young man who's got potential to be really, really good,

and all of a sudden it just clicks. They go to the Super Bowl, they win it and say, damn, this guy's good. And now he's one of the best quarterbacks ever. Everyone is looking for the anomaly. Everyone's looking for the Joe Burroughs, the herverts,

and so they're won, you know, and they happen, but it's not as common. It usually takes them a couple of years. And if you just stick with them and you just have patience and you build around them and you give them a chance to grow and into the roller in.

Quarterback is the hardest position in all of sports. I mean, you're a pinata back there, just getting, you got 2.5 seconds to make a decision or you're just going to get crushed by a 300-pound madman, right? And so you got the whole team on your shoulders for the most part. But, you know, he's been getting a lot better. I think anyone who doesn't acknowledge the fact that he is light years ahead of where he was a year ago,

isn't really watching football and not paying attention. And anyone who doesn't think he'll be light years from where he is now, next year from where he is now, doesn't, you know, you don't have faith in him. We have faith that he's going to continue to get better. And we see signs of it in practice. We see signs of it in games. Unfortunately, you're judged by the mistakes you make.

And kind of like a golfer, you're only as good as your worst miss. and but his his misses are getting they're getting tighter and uh and he's doing everything he needs to do to make sure we're winning football games and that's why he's since he's been back we've been five and one he got a lot of attention in new york back in july for a story that surfaced on social media i did you guys do you joke about that at all when he came back you know were mom jokes fair game how did it go uh i leave that for the locker Probably a good idea. By the way, you've got the by week coming up,

and I know you and I talked over the offseason a lot about guys, how they handle the offseason in year one to year two, and you know, you can only supervise so much when they're not with you. Across town, safety on the Giants, Xavier McKinney is out for a few weeks. Apparently he went to Cabo during the biweek, got an ATV accident. it was only his hand that was hurt. You know, what do you tell guys about handling the biweek,

especially, you know, when things are going well and guys are feeling good? Yeah, it's unfortunate what happened that young man. You never wish that on anybody. You know, the rule number one in our organization is protect the team. And that doesn't mean it goes from everything in the building, out the building on the football field. It's rule one, protect the team. So don't expose yourself to anything that you don't need to expose yourself because you getting injured is not protecting the team.

Take care of your business. Consume what you need to consume in terms of keeping your body connected to the season, working out, regent. And understand this isn't a week off. It's more of a breather. And every decision you made during the biweek as a reflection of the team because we still have games to play. So, you know, you just leave them with that mindset that every decision they make is about protecting the team. And if their decisions are not at that moment, if you don't think the decision is protecting the team and just don't do it. And, you know, so hopefully, hopefully our guys come back strong.

We'll see. You know, this is one of those deals with the coaches. We're an organization, GM, I can speak for Joe on this one that, you know, we're going to go to bed and say our prayer across our fingers. And hopefully we can get back to Monday with everybody intact. They won't all be cleaning out the garage like the head coach. I'm glad you mentioned, Joe. You guys had such a cool draft. And, you know, I think a lot of people around the league were rooting for you guys,

just knowing what you've been through and, you know, what the hyper focus has been. But, you know, you never know if these guys are actually going to be as good as you think they are when you pick them. were there some solid fist bump, you know, leaping moments during the draft in the war room? Yeah, when Ahmad sauce felt was at 4, we were all pretty darn excited because we thought Houston was going to take him. And then it was Stingley is a phenomenal football player too. So he's a, but, you know, it's just to each his own.

But you can say one A, one B on both those guys are both. deserving of where they were drafted. And then Garrett, obviously, him, you know, was him getting to us at 10 was awesome. I thought he'd end up going to Atlanta. And then just the excitement of Joe just working the phone, starting at 14 to try to go get Germain. And Germain made a big, big play.

Like, we wanted Germain for his length, his speed, his athleticism, because we need to be able to chase Josh Allen down. And he did it in the game, You know, it's like, well, as soon as it happens, like, well, that's why we drafted them. You know, it's just a big, long body that can keep up with Josh. And, you know, so those, there are a lot of moments in there.

There's getting up to go get Breeze. You know, it's documented. We tried to go get Breeze in the first round. When no one took a bite, we were able to make a move up over, I think it was Houston to go get Breeze. I wasn't sure if Houston was going to take them or not. You know, so it was a really cool draft. and just watching Joe operate.

It's pretty cool to watch it. It's his game day. And he's as calm and cool looking and collected as you would hope out of your general manager. Yeah, when you guys got briefs, I was kind of like, okay, enough guy. Like, it's getting ridiculous. It was a good class.

It's a good class. And, you know, but the trick is in year one, and the trick is year two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. So that's going to be a battle. You know, you had a lot of suitors after 2020, and you had almost gotten the Brown's job the year before, and obviously even 2020 with a defense that was super impacted by injuries.

You guys had a really good year as a unit. A lot of people kind of thought, well, he's from the Detroit area. The lions are going to end up being the fit. But you had to evaluate, you know, You know, they're evaluating you. You're evaluating all these jobs, what the best fit is. You know, what, did you ask some hard questions when you were talking to the powers that be at the Jets?

Yeah, because you, you want to make sure there's a fit. One of the biggest things is, you know, people try to train you for every situation. And it's, if I'm talking to people to coaches who are about to go interview, just be yourself. Because if yourself isn't good enough for the organization, then you don't want to be there in the first place. If you have to fake your way through an interview, eventually that's going to bite you in the butt, especially when adversity hits because if they're not, if they feel like they didn't hire the person they thought they were getting, it gets bad quick. And so I wasn't, for me, I was going to ask questions that, you know, like, this is who I am,

this is what you're getting. And if it's good enough for you, great, let's, let's go do something with it. If it's not, I'm good. I would have been more than happy to go back to San Francisco. So Kyle does an unbelievable job out there. He makes it very family-oriented. Him and John Lynch. Hell of a defense. Great players. Great weather.

Terrible taxes. But I would have to go back. I think it's so important. It's just don't chase a job just to get a job. I think it's, you know, you work so hard to get to, you know, from talking to coaches, you've worked so hard to get to where you are. And you've got this one opportunity. make sure you pick the right opportunity.

I'll ask you one dark question and then bring it back to the light before we let you get out of here. But was there a moment either last year or early this year where you were just like, man, you know, you put so much into it and it's so hard to turn a team around? Did you have a moment where you were just thinking this is really, really rough? You always do. You know, you're not human if you're not second-guessing yourself in adversity. but at the same time, you've got to reach to your past. We built a top five defense in Jacksonville.

We built a championship team in Seattle. I saw that in San Francisco. You said it when this thing started that I was on the firing line. I was the reason why we stunk in San Francisco. And those first two years was it was not easy being questioned. And it was funny when I talked to Kyle about it, he goes, Sala. like don't worry about it

you're not in trouble until the media starts asking me like no one cares and then a week later they start asking the solid deserve to be back I'm like see see then here we are we got like the 13th ranked defense in yards and all that but we can't get a takeaway to save our life and I'm like this is

BS and and that's why that's why I have such an appreciation for Kyle because and he showed me in in terms of it's not about firing people. It's about building something special and building continuity. I think Cincinnati is a good example where Zach Taylor could have fired Lou on a couple of occasions, but he stuck with it.

And if you, you know, like the anomalies and the one hit wonders, it's not, that's not the norm, building things that last, building, have building a foundation is what lasts. So to answer your question, you know, yeah, It's tough, but I know that if we just stick to our guns, we stay true to who we are. And we have conviction in the things we believe in. We don't try to reinvent the wheel, just to reinvent the wheel. We just stick to it. We're all going to end up on the same page and we're going to be a more efficient football team.

That's why teams like New England, when people look at them, they're like, God, how are they winning? They're winning because they know that. They know how to coach it and the players know how to play it. And why we won that year, you know, you mentioned our 2020 team. It was year four for our defense. I was like, well, geez, you guys had, well, we played well on defense because all the guys who stepped in knew exactly what was being asked of them and the coaches knew how to coach it. You know, we were convicted in our scheme. So we were able to play with tremendous efficiency in a year where there's so much chaos with all the Zoom meetings and all that stuff.

And so at the end of the day, football is, it's a 53-man sport. Like, you have 11 players that have to play in unison. and it's not 11 contractors. It's 11 players working together. And the more, the longer they're together, the better they're going to be. And yeah, it gets tough. But I know what's at the end of the tunnel. It's a great point about Lou Aniruma, who all of a sudden,

you're in an AFC championship game and Patrick Mahomes, maybe one of the only times where it didn't look like he knew what he was seeing for a second. And obviously he'll bounce back. but yeah, they stuck with with Lou. You have a first time offensive coordinator in Michael LaFleur, younger brother, much younger brother of Matt. Did they start asking about him? I'm trying to remember, did you start getting the Michael Flore questions even last year?

So this is funny. It was like week four of the first season. And I get a question from one of our B, I know where the B-Rater was, but I'm not going to put him up last. asked me about Mike Lafleur and whether or not I think he's doing a good job. And I was like, geez, in my back of my mind, I answer the question. I go to Lafleur. I was like, it took a year and 14 game for me to get questioned about my job security

already, Mike? Jesus, we're more, man. Well, right below you, when people can't see, there's a giant bucket of receipts that you are, you know, That's just another one that you threw in there. So I don't know what's going to happen this year, but eventually we're going to have you dip into that giant bucket of receipts and let it fly on the show.

Hopefully it's after a Super Bowl, but we'll see. Right. Well, thank you so much for enlightening us and enlivening our little show here. And we really appreciate you. I appreciate you, Mike. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get. your podcasts.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits,

my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

So let's get to it. Listen to The Clivert Show on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok.