The Ringer NFL Show - Super Bowl LX Takes With Mina Kimes!

Episode Date: February 4, 2026

Sheil and The Ringer’s Billy Gil are joined by Mina Kimes from ESPN to talk about her experiences during Super Bowl week as a Seahawks fan and what she expects to see from her team during the big game. (00:40) Super Bowl takes with Mina Kimes(7:14) How does Mina feel about the SB LX matchup?(15:46) Worst-case scenarios(22:02) Mina’s hipster football take The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Host: Sheil KapadiaGuests: Billy Gil and Mina KimesProducer: Chris SuttonVideo: Cory McConnell and Stefano SanchezSocial: Benjamin CruzProduction Supervision: Conor Nevins and Arjuna Ramgopowell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the Ringer NFL show. I'm your host, Shield Capadia. Today we are talking with ESPN's Mina Kimes about all things, Seahawks. This went a number of different directions. Me and Billy, you know, when you get around me and Billy, you don't know what emotions are going to come up, what direction it's going to go in. So Billy Gill, Mina Kimes. Let's take a break.

We'll come back. We'll talk Seahawks. All right, we are back here on the Ringer NFL show with our special guest, Mina Kimes. Mina, how we doing? I'm good Yeah? Yeah

I It's so funny to see Billy here Like old world New many worlds colliding Yeah No this is a lot of fun I was telling him earlier That his hair looks great

And he shouldn't wear a hat as much Well you know right I think so Yeah he does look good Billy you were wondering I think if Mina is like enjoying this week Like do you enjoy having the Seahawks

In the Super Bowl Or are you like Is this a big week for you Here's the thing Mina I feel like I knew you before you were a massive star. And now you're a star. You're the talk of the NFL.

ESPN media darling. Everyone wants time with Mina. You're on all the shows. I saw you on NFL live earlier today. You're everywhere. Every week you're traveling to the games. So I was wondering, like, first of all, thank you for taking the time

to sit with us here at the ringer and give us, you know, your valuable time. But what do you do? Like, is this a good week for you with the Seahawks? I feel like people want you even more. more now than they would in normal circumstances? I don't know if I'm... I guess there aren't that many Seattle natives

or Seattle fans or Seattle people nationally. That's how Sheel and I are friends. Yeah, but they're not grabbing Sheel. I know that's right. No offense to Sheel. There's like you, Kenny Main, Joel McAil. Yeah, outside. Andy from Parks and Rec.

You're putting them in her. I wouldn't know. I think it's... Well, I would say outside of the front office, pretty much everybody from your time covering the C-Ox has gone in terms of the coaching staff. Yes. There's not a lot of- Not that the game management guy is still there. Ryan Ayers. You know, he came up big for them.

So, yeah. But I'm definitely getting asked a lot about the team. But in a different way, to your point, like, I'm getting asked like, how do you feel? I never got asked, how do I feel before? What's your emotional, you know, state? So how do you feel? What's your emotional state now, yeah. I feel good.

I've really loved watching this team this season. I've really enjoyed the Mike McDonald era in Seattle. I know everybody's like kind of taking this moment to regard how surprising it is that these two teams are in the Super Bowl. But I don't feel shocked that Seattle is here. There's things about the season that surprised me, but like, you know, I think there's a, like, this was already a defense that was top 10 last year on track

to being one of the best defense in the league. not surprising that they were able to carry them for so much the season. Yeah, I don't know what the moment was this season where I'm like, the Seahawks maybe could get to the Super Bowl, you know, because certainly not before the season. I didn't think they could get there. But then as their defense played well and it was like, this is wide open, maybe they actually could get to the Super Bowl.

For both teams, for both Seattle, for me, it was less like, wow, these teams are amazing. Although I think the Seahawks have amazing attributes. And New England, the offense was during the right of the season. But it was more looking around the league and thinking, anyone could win right now or at least like 20 teams could win and then maybe like 15 teams to win and then why not Seattle why not new England I would say like you know about 75% the way through the season okay where are you watching the are you at the game sorry is the mic is a proreeper right there this doesn't usually happen um yeah I am actually not I am going to be at sofi stadium because NFL live uh is going to be live after the game wow because it's like a handoff because ESPN has the Super Bowl in LA next year. Right. Okay. So they're doing like a little.

Okay. So you'll be watching with work, friends, colleagues on like a big screen or what's going on? I'll be watching with the NFL Live Gang and then Ben Solek and I are going to actually go live on my show at YouTube.com slash at Meena Kimes show right after the game. Okay. And the NFL Live is on an hour after that. So it's going to be a long night. What's your preference for watching big games that the Seahawks are involved in? Would you rather be alone? Are you with the select group? I know you used to watch it, right? You used to watch bars and stuff back in the day.

So this is a little bit of a sentimental turn or I guess personal. But I was thinking I was reflecting on the last Super Bowl 48. I don't even remember what I did for 49. But for 40s. For 48, I remember I had the opportunity to go because I was already working for ESPN. And instead, I watched with my friends from Seattle who I've been watching with in New York for my old adult life. And it was like the best decision I ever made, not going, covering it professionally, watching with my friends. Yeah, one of my friends who I was with the time passed away now long after that.

And I like, I never thought. When you started, I was like, I thought it was going somewhere, but I didn't know. I'm going to cry. And then you were like, I was with my friends. I was about to say, thank God, no one died. And you're like, and one of them died. Well, one of the pictures from that game is like one of my favorite pictures of him. So watch it with your friends.

You'll never forget. What was your friend's name? Patrick. All right. Patrick. Yeah, I think that's a man. Sorry. Billy.

I didn't mean to take it. No. So commercial. Yeah. No. No. No. I got a player.

Sorry. The next two years, I watched actually with the same friends. And, but it was less of a happy memory, obviously. All I remember from that game is the interception happened. It was in New York. I watched at the same bar. It was freezing cold. Yeah.

It was a pig. Took me a second to set in what happened. I'd been at the bar like all day because we were like, you know, eating breakfast and stood up. I think my husband, then not my husband there at Stime, stood up, zipped up my jacket. It was like cold and snowy and just walked outside. I didn't say it worked. to anyone. I literally zipped up and I walked

into the snow and walked like a mile in the snow. I was, I did in my phone. I had my phone, but it wasn't like social media like today. I feel like and I just like I don't want to talk to anyone or think about this for the next hour. And one of the nice things about that is I wasn't on

TV back then. Yeah. So I didn't have to like suffer. Think content right away. Yeah. I was like I can just like be in my feelings touch grass. And obviously that game looms large over this one Because it's the rematch Wait, so how are you going to

Okay, headed into this game You are going to be going live after the game So you may have to deal with that Because we were talking before Like when we wanted to discuss possible outcomes What would be the best game? Bill does a live show on Netflix After Sunday night game

So he'll be doing one after the Super Bowl So we were talking about What happens if the Patriots like win Or what happens if they like blow it late at the end Like the fact, this whole like live world now, you have quite the range of emotions. Let's talk about Bill. Yeah, I also wanted to know if you're going to like respond to his text. We're on a lot of texts about this, obviously.

Yeah. So Bill has been like since the championship games ended. He's in a text with me and Danny Kelly just been lowering expectation. For himself? No, no, for the, he is really trying to set this up. No. He's picking up. He's been like, I'm just happy to be here.

This will be really disappointing for you guys. We're not supposed to win this game. And I'm like, I know what you're doing, Bill. I know what you're doing. You're trying to set expectations so that when you have to go live, if you lose, you can be like, you know, we were ahead of schedule, young quarterback. It's a great season. Nobody, whatever, you know.

And I'm not buying it. He wants to win. I believe in his heart of hearts thinks that they can win. Say it right now. Look at the camera. Say you're a liar. Bill Simmons, I don't believe you when you're setting these expectations low.

I think it's deliberate. Yeah. I think that you want to be the underdog. Even this whole like Bill Bill Bill checks down the whole fame. It's all I had to New England against the world or whatnot. And I also add this. I'm sure that his podcast live viewership is great regardless. I will say, SpinZone Bill.

I think more of your listeners will tune in if you lose. I'm just throwing that out there. I mean, that's undeniable. Right? That's absolutely true. Honestly, it might be the same for me. Yes, I think that's true too. If we lose, Bill, all of your listeners, come over to YouTube.com slash I meanokimes and watch me shed these tears.

But I do think he has, he has, my expectations are higher than this. Well, he is the, you know, creator of the nobody believes in us theory. I know. And it does feel like everybody is picking the Seahawks. But when the line's only four and a half, I don't know that, you know, I'm kind of on the fence about that. Can you be a nobody believes in us team when the line? It's four and a half. It's not like their 10-point underdogs.

As I can attest to this personally, because the NFL live crew stepped in it when we all pick the Texans. And of course, whenever a show goes all five wide on a team, the screenshots, of course, the Patriots immediately, we're like, yes. and the backstory on that is we legit do not talk about our picks beforehand. I wish we did, frankly. But the producers really like for us to be surprised if that happens. And we all thought we were being cute. We were all like, you know what? I'm going to pick underdog this week.

But then, like, Cardi B was like, nobody believed in us. Look at NFL live. And, like, Cardi, I love you. You were favorites to win that game. Wow. Everybody believed in you except our dumb show. Tell Cardi B.

Marty B, you're full of shit. Say it right now. Okay. I do love you. Okay. I don't think she's watching this. You never know. Billy, you know, you were mentioning Mina's everywhere.

But we've had it for 10 minutes and she's gone right at Bill Simmons and Cardi B. Yeah. I mean. I feel, is that a nice, that might be a nice job at us. Bill's been texting us, Drake's holding his luggage with the wrong hand, his shoulders. You're not, you know, people are hiding it? Will you respond during the game? In game?

Are you phoned down? No, I don't do that. Really? I don't. I like that. I love that. Well, also, if I know somebody really loves a team, I do not celebrate. I wait a day.

Okay. The cone of silence. Okay. 24-hour rule. I was in a group chat with a bunch of Niners fans, and we all had this for each other. Back when the Seahawks Niners rivalry was so insane. Hey, just give it a little time. I like that.

Yeah. Yeah. It's fine. Are you ready for Sam Darnold to be like a legend for your team? Also, I was saying, and Mike McDonald may be being, he could just go down as like one of the best defensive coaches in NFL history. Are you ready for this new era of celebration? I feel like I saw somewhere that a defensive play caller has never won. I think I read a tweet about that and couldn't verify it.

That was the most tapid support of that ever. No, I did see that too. I'm like, that doesn't sound right. Bill Belichick was technically, you know what I mean? Like thinking about the middle of Super Bowles, but that's. and he put together the game plan. I don't know, it's like a little bit. Yeah, I mean, this is kind of, there's a lot of,

this is like the Coach of the Year Bowl, I think, between the mics. And Donald, it's such a, it's such a funny one because he's coming off of his best game of the season. But for the second half the season, he really struggled. Yeah. And everyone has kind of forgotten that. I know.

But I don't mean that in a personal, like, why everybody like it? But more so, like, as an analyst, I can't go into this being like, that's who he is. I don't know. Yeah. It could be the week's 11-317, Sam Donald. I don't know. But if he is, my thesis on this game is if he is just above average, they'll probably win.

I think that's, yeah. Whereas May has to be spectacular. I agree with that. I've leaned into the recency bias. You're so right. You know, like a month ago. I'm like, I don't know about Sam Donald in the playoffs. And now I'm like, he's going to cook him.

Like, he's going to play well in this. game. I don't know. It just, it just feels like watching him and watching Drake May. What's your line about? You had the line about quarterbacks, God, they believe in God, they think that what it wasn't that you? I feel like you had meant to this. I had a line. No, Billy, you'll like this. It's good. My thesis on quarterbacks, this is really Russell Wilson inspired. Okay. Was that they either have to believe in God or believe they are God. Oh. But I would argue Sam Darnels probably neither. Well, Billy and I've had that conversation. He seems normal. I don't know.

I'm just saying he's not. Look into the camera. Look into the car. San Darnold doesn't believe in God. Where do you stand on God? Let us know. He is a legitimately like nice, pleasant chill dude. Yeah, seems like a nice guy.

Which is just not a common thing with quarterbacks. Yeah. May's a big God guy. Yeah. Who is also lovely. I did an event with him at his draft. And be now famous Anne Michael was there. His, uh, or it's Anne Michael, right?

his wife. And he was absolutely adorable. He is like... We couldn't confirm or deny. He's like a golden retriever. He may have read a tweet about that. He doesn't know. This is one of the nicest quarterback

matchups in recent history. Like two legit sweeties. Seems that way. Darnold seems normal. So normal. We had a conversation. Donald and Bryce Young seemed like the only normal quarterback. Bryce Young is...

Is Bryce Young not normal? No, no, no. Bryce Young's really normal. I'm just saying I think there's... might be another one. I think there might be some more. Okay. We had trouble.

Stavis pretty normal. Have you ever met him? No. He's pretty, yeah. I mean, he's got very white teeth, but. Oh. Yeah. That's how I usually gauge the normal.

The too white. All right, let's take a break. We'll come right back. More with Mina Kimes. The Ringer NFL show is brought to you by Fanduel. Last Call for football. And Fandul is giving you a daily profit boost every single day leading up to Super Bowl 60.

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Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook. Fandul.com. Gambling problem, call 1-800 gambler or visit RG-dash-help.com. Call 1-88-7-8-9-77 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut. What's your word? I have some worst case scenarios written down for you, but I didn't know if you've thought about, do you not approach fandom like that?

Like, if this happens, this is going to be the absolute worst thing, worst way they can lose where I hope if they lose, it's not like this, or you don't really think about it that way. I don't think about it less as a fan and more like as an analyst, like where could I be horribly wrong? So, you know, I just taped a pod with Ben and I talked about how I thought Seattle would be able to move the ball in New England. My general feeling is like the Patriots defense is a little bit inflated after the last few games because the opponent. And on the flip side, I think the Patriots offense is being a little bit

too discounted in Drake May. So I think my fair would be just like immediately, like if the Patriots win like 10 to 7, just looking like really dumb. But, you know, I look dumb all the time. That's bad, you know, comes with the territory. You make predictions. You're going to be right and wrong, right? I don't like this. I don't like that you shifted from like fan to like analyst mode where like you're more concerned with like, I hope I don't look dumb on one of my kids. Yeah. She's leaning into the team content. Ego is getting. I think of control, Mina. You know, I love the thing about watching with your friends.

It doesn't matter where you watch it. You know, watch with the people who are important to you. I thought that was pretty tight. It's a lot better. When you think back at your great, like your most fun sports viewing memories, don't you think about that? Like, who was I with? Oh, that was a lot of fun or you're thinking about it. My teams are pretty bad.

Yeah. Like, I'm trying to think of like when I've had good sports memories. Well, the dolphins had that, the Patriot, you know. I think you're getting honest, right? Yeah. So that'll like everyone else. Hey, look, Madden says that you guys are going to win 23 to 20. My pick, I think I had 2724.

Wait, is that out already? Did you tell people? No, no, we had to submit them to his family. Don't worry. But the world doesn't know. This is like an exclusive thing. Okay. So we got prediction, Simmons, and Cardi B.

Our best show of the week. And she's pressing San Garnel on God, too. We got emotions. San Garned was amazing. I mean, this was. I don't even know. He might have a lot of me. It really was.

A roller coaster. I actually have a question about, About football? Yes, this is about football. I think you've been, I believe you've been on the same page as made with Mike McDonald's trust in Sam Darner for much of the season. I would watch games and be like, I know they're winning, but I actually don't think he trusts him.

I think he's hiding him. And then the NFC championship game. That last possession where they're going. Two passes on second down. Hell yeah, brother. Is that just because Stafford and McBayer? How do you think he approaches this game? Do you think McDonald's going to be aggressive and be like, I trust it?

Got to go for it. Is it going to be like, let's settle down? I know. It's funny because Mike after the game was like, nobody doubted Sam, but, you know, in the building. I'm like, you had like a five-yard average depth of target for six weeks, my guy. Like, let's be, you know, don't, like in the, um, I'm going to say the week 18 game, they're protecting, they protected him a lot this year as the run game got better. But I, this is why I love Mike McDonald.

It felt like a couple of things. I think he recognized that they, Darnel was playing really well. So he was like feeling it. I think the C-Ux office just had a real beat on the Rams Diener. some of the things they were doing formationally and some of the ways they were using JSN to not just for his own targets, but to create opportunities for others. And I think, yeah, he recognized that giving the ball back to Matthew Stafford with over two and a half minutes less was probably not going to work out. And I love that. I mean, that was my first reaction in the game.

Just defensive head coach calling two play action passes. He's not the play caller, but he obviously has to green like that from Kubiak. I freaking love that. And I'm such a fan of his. Like I said, he was my pick for coach of the year. And I think moments like that show why? It's crazy. He could,

I just feel like he's going to coach a top five defense every single year that he's there. Regardless, which he really can't say that about many people. Billy, I feel like you're distracted. You're looking over at their Madden saying, are we boring you? No. People are walking by a lot where you guys are.

Excuse me. I'm distracted. You got up in the middle to give someone their credential. And we're having a conversation with someone off care. I'm distracted. I call me. I called you distracted. She didn't say that.

Jeez. Sorry. She was turning us against each other. Yeah. Well, again, it's good for the show sometimes. That was our clip where I feel like you got a lot of heat for your Zach Lote. I wasn't going to see, I wasn't going to bring it up. You want me to tell you how that went?

Did I tell you how that went? I don't think I said on air. Did I update you on how that went or no? Well, backstory for those who have forgotten. I told Billy to say hi to Zach when I found. found out he was in Minnesota. I texted Mina because Mina years ago at a Super Bowl went on the zip line in Mall of America. So I sent her a picture of that.

And then she asked if that's where I was. I said, yeah, I'm here with Zach Lowe. And she said, tell Zach that I say hi. And then I discussed with Shield that situation because I didn't tell Zach that you said hi on that trip because it was my first time kind of interacting with him. So then after talking to Shield and telling him the story, that clip of all clips was the one that went on, you know, social. media. So I was like, well, now that I said it, now I need to say hi because what if he's, you know, a big fan of ringer NFL show. Yeah. So then the next time I worked with him on Zoom, I said, oh, hey, Mina said hi. Oh, you did it. I did. I said, oh, hey, Mina said hi. And he goes, I know I saw. Oh, no. Oh, it went as badly as possible. Have you rebounded since then? I don't know. No, you're not sure. I try not to look him in the eyes anymore. You can't come back from that. It's tough. It's been tough.

It's been a long couple months. I was in your corner there. I thought you were fine, not saying hi. Well, I will say this. I didn't learn any lesson whatsoever because after that I talked to his former producer Dan Stanzig, who works at ESPN. And he said, tell Zach, I say hi. And I was like, we're not playing this game again, buddy.

Like, not going to have. I was like, absolutely. But I learned my lesson. People love to hear this person said hi. It's like the universal entry point for human bonding. Yeah. We have a mutual friend. Mina did explain it well later that she was actually trying to help you,

which I don't think you and I realized at the time. Yeah, no, I appreciate you looking out for me. Listen, I'm beyond help sometimes, you know? All right. One last football question. Who is your, like, hipster, like this? Who is your no-one's talking about player? Which when people say that now, like, look around.

Everybody has been talked about. There is no-one's talking about. But if there was one, no-one's talking about how this player could have an impact. And Sunday night, we're going to be talking about this player if their team wins. Do you have a hipster take like that? I would say Anthony Bradford, the guard on the Seahawks, who is much maligned. Yeah. Oh, but in a bad way.

The path to me for this Patriots pulling off the upset is Drake May going nuclear on one side of the ball, having the game of his life. And then on that side, it's Christian Barmore and Milton Williams, who have been phenomenal in the postseason, taking advantage of that weakness. So for those who don't know, poor Anthony Bradford. He just is the weak link on the Seahawks' offensive line. I think there's things Clint Kubiak can do to mitigate that to some degree, rolling out Darnold and run the football, all that. But is that just happened while you guys table?

No, it's because, yeah, no one has done that for me. But, yeah, I would say, I know that's a negative one, but I think that's the name Seahawks fans will be, like, worried about going into this game. Yeah, Nate Tice, yeah. Are you worried about your team being sold? Like, what have you got bad owners? Are there good owners?

There are, right? Should any of them be in the Hall of Fame? Because I say no, that's a topic for another day. So did voters this year, right? Good. I mean, I wanted to like... Do you have strong takes on that? I mean, I was just like, oh my gosh, there's a cloud over San Francisco.

Like, people can't go on because Robert Crack didn't get into the Hall of Fame. And I was like, okay, Bill Belichick, literally everybody agrees. So it's not fun to talk about. Oh, my God. And then somebody asked me, Robert Crack. I was like, oh, wow. Okay? Why would I have a strong feelings? Who cares? I almost canceled all our program. Really? I was so distraught that Robert Kraft didn't get it.

Mr. Craft. Yeah, Mr. Craft. Yeah, Mr. Kraft. I'm sorry. You didn't get into the Hall of Fame. You're very responsible for top. All right. Well, topic for another day. Mina's got to go. I don't believe you feel that way. You think I support Mr. Kraft? You can't ask it. We're having a conversation. It's a charged topic. Look at over there. Sharshabik. Thank you to Beena Kahn's, who just did it.

What did you do? 90 minutes with Solac? I did 90 make some SOLAC. I doubt that you shed a tear during that. I didn't shed a tear during that. I was close, yeah. I knew it was headed that way. I was trying to prepare myself.

Zach, if you're watching. What's up, buddy? All right. What's up? All right. Thank you to Mina. Thank you to Billy Gill. Thank you to Christopher Sutton for producing. Quarry McConnell on Vee.

and Ben Cruz on social. I'm Sheila Khabadi. We'll talk to you next time on the Ringer NFL show.