Transcript

Manti Te’o Sounds Off On Notre Dame’s Playoff Case, Lane Kiffin Going To LSU, and Jaxson Dart

From DOUBL3 COVERAGE PODCAST · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 54 min · 11,016 words · 173 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Manti Te’o Sounds Off On Notre Dame’s Playoff Case, Lane Kiffin Going To LSU, and Jaxson Dart", an episode of DOUBL3 COVERAGE PODCAST published December 5, 2025 (54 min, about 11,016 words). It mentions 20 people, works and ideas, including Heisman Trophy, Jackson Dart, Lambeau Field, Anquan Boldin, Cam Skattebo.

What this episode is about

Manti Te’o discusses his transition from an NFL career to co-hosting a morning football show, sharing insights on balancing family life and entrepreneurship. He also reflects on Notre Dame's playoff ambitions, Lane Kiffin's potential move to LSU, and insights on Jaxson Dart.

Key takeaways

  • Rising pre-dawn shines for Good Morning Football host: Sacrifice paves way for TV triumph.
  • Polynesian Football Hall of Fame induction: A surprising ticket to media career beginnings.
  • Nate Burleson: A bridge from pro athlete to TV mentor extraordinaire.
  • Tony Romo's instant commentator rock star status: No rookie mistakes, just pure gridiron genius.
  • Translating sports prowess to TV success: Romo, Burleson—NFL alumni on relatable talent display.

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 10:00: Heisman Trophy
  2. – 35:00: Ed Reed, Leonard Williams
  3. – 40:00: Ed Reed
  4. – 45:00: Arthur Smith, Brandon Marshall, Irvine
  5. – 50:00: Jackson Dart
  6. – 53:40: Lambeau Field, DeMarcus Lawrence, Double Coverage Podcast, Heisman Trophy

Notable quotes from "Manti Te’o Sounds Off On Notre Dame’s Playoff Case, Lane Kiffin Going To LSU, and Jaxson Dart"

  • Got a lot of ways we can go. I want to start with maybe a slight curveball here, but the Heisman Trophy race, you were embroiled in a tight kind of Heisman Trophy conversation…
    about Heisman Trophy · at
  • Coach Mike McDonald and they have studs all over this defense. It starts with the acquisition of Leonard Williams. A lot of people talked about they gave up too much. They got a steel and Leonard Williams.
    about Leonard Williams · at
  • That's how it was when we grew up. You know what I mean? Like the Ray Lewis, the Ed Reed, and the Halotinata. Like those guys was in the middle. Right now, the outside guys are going to get paid.
    about Ed Reed · at
  • Mentioned it has a ceiling. I think when you watch the offense, that offense has a ceiling. Yeah. Right. Arthur Smith's offense doesn't have the firepower that other offenses had. And I did this I did this research on his offense for our.
    about Arthur Smith · at
  • When I when you reference all of those things, Brandon Oh yeah, shout out to Brandon Marshall. He will be on he and I will be working the studio for the Christmas game for…
    about Brandon Marshall · at
  • Right? We live in California. I can drive down the street, be at UCLA. I can go to USC. I can even go down to Irvine and visit down there, right? There's so many different…
    about Irvine · at
  • Thing. It's a very current thing and we mentioned it. We briefed on it, but not on camera. Jackson Dart gets hit on the sideline. New England Patriots. There was a big-time fight that broke out. Thoughts on that hit?
    about Jackson Dart · at
  • Teaser, so we're going to get them to minus 0.5. I love this pick because the Green Bay Packers are at home at Lambeau Field and we're in December. This is where the going gets…
    about Lambeau Field · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Jackson Dart — Person · 3 mentions · first at
  • Anquan Boldin — Person · 3 mentions
  • Cam Skattebo — Person · 3 mentions
  • Leonard Williams — Person · 2 mentions · first at
  • Ed Reed — Person · 2 mentions · first at
  • Dontayvion Wicks — Person · 2 mentions
  • Malik Nabers — Person · 2 mentions
  • Manti Te'o — Person · 2 mentions
  • Arthur Smith — Person · 1 mention · first at
  • Brandon Marshall — Person · 1 mention · first at
  • Mystic Zack — Person · 1 mention · first at
    What's up, guys? Mystic Zack here to give you a stone cold lock of the week.
  • DeMarcus Lawrence — Person · 1 mention · first at
    They've got Demarcus Lawrence. They've got a back end that you cannot get separation on. I think the Seattle Seahawks are going to make Kirk Cousins life a living hell this Sunday. I like.
  • Josh Jacobs — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Detroit Lions and was able to pick apart both zone and man coverage was something special to see. They obviously have Josh Jacobs in the run game to also help expand upon the…
  • Brian Thomas Jr. — Person · 1 mention

Companies & orgs

Products & tech

  • Nerds — Product · 1 mention

Concepts & topics

Places & events

Full transcript with timestamps

back [singing and music] ready to flex at you see where it's at. Come tune in with a check. You can micro get you a coverage [singing and music] like you double coverage and this is the

welcome back to episode 9 of double coverage. Today I'm honored to be joined by former Heisman finalist, 8-year NFL pro, one and only Mr. Manite. How are you doing, man?

Thanks for having me, my man. Uh, great to be here with you. For the people at home that don't know, maybe they're not tuned into, you know, morning programming, maybe they sleep in, what have you been up to post NFL career?

So, I'm currently one of the hosts on Good Morning Football. Um, it's a live show here in California from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00. So, if you're up that early, come listen to your boy and the rest of the crew. We like to blend a little bit of football, a little bit of pop culture, keep it light, keep it relatable, and we have a fun time. So, that's what I've been doing. It's been great. Other than that, man, just I have two beautiful children. Um, my wife is a rock star. She has her own business, owns her own meds ball. So, I'm heavy into entrepreneur work. Um, so yeah, just a family man and trying to do my best for my kids.

What time do you go to bed and start a show that early? Well, I usually we get up to the room about 7. um try to get our kids um all bathed and in bed and I'm usually down by 8:30 um so that I could be up uh by 2:45 in the morning. We're rolling.

Not for the week. Not for the week. Not for the week, for sure. But you know, it's part of the the sacrifices you need to make in order to do great things. So, it's all it's all I'm all about it.

So, the classic transition from player to media, was that something you had in mind during your playing career?

Not at all. So, how this all came about was I got inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. Now, the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame has um a deal with NFL Network and Steve Weiss, who was one of their head chief reporters, flew out um to Utah where we lived at that time and did an interview with me. And after that interview, he said, "Hey, bro, you should really consider being on TV." And I was like, "Man, I I never thought of being on TV in any capacity, but there was an opportunity. I wasn't doing anything um other than some investor work. Um and so I went to the uh the NFL has this broadcasting boot camp that they hold over there in Englewood. I went to the one a year later. Uh I guess I made a great impression. Last year I had a part-time job for Good Morning Football, the show I'm on currently. And again, I guess I made another great impression and they brought me on full-time. So

that's how that whole thing worked. So, are you looking to expand even beyond that and do maybe even non NFL media, maybe even hosting just, you know, the average shows like a Nate Burlson or a Michael Strahan?

Oh, you know, Nate is actually a a huge um uh guy that and mentor of mine that that I've I've bounced ideas off of. When I I met Nate the morning that the day that my documentary released on Netflix, I was in New York and I made an appearance on CBS Good Mornings, which Nate is a host on,

of course. Um, and so I met Nate there. This is a full circle moment. So Nate is one of the original hosts on Good Morning Football. So when I got this job, I reached out to Nate and asked him for some tips and a couple of things, simple things that he told me has really helped me to elevate my game and my craft. And as athletes were always looking on ways to improve and Nate is one of those guys as a former player that you look at him and he's like the Michael Strahan, you know, you're like, "Yeah,

man. These are guys that have really transcended the game and have taken their careers probably further than their football careers have gone and that's saying a lot for what they've accomplished on the football field. So that's kind of how this whole thing has come full circle for me.

So funny story about Nate. He was one of the first people to support me in my journey.

There you go. Um, so I worked at FAU football under I mean the main umbrella is head coach Lane Keifin who we're gonna get into. But, uh, the guy in front of me, DJ McCarthy, wide receivers's coach. Actually, his son is our lead production guy. He's right where I'm pointing.

And, uh, so Nate showed love. Uh, Coach EJ introduced me to him and always super helpful. He's a big old school rap fan. I was on a show with Jedakus at the time. So,

he was uh really helpful and he's always someone that I look towards as inspiration and someone like even the little tiny even the way he moves his hands when he's doing a broadcast. There's so many Tony Romo

I think is the classic example of player to commentator and getting like his perspective on that transition would be really cool. Yeah.

Right. Cuz he became a rock star immediately. Yeah. No no no warm-up nothing just first game.

Yeah. And I think what's what's what's difficult, right, and somebody that like Tony Romo and um you have even TJ Watt so early in his career right now as a color commentator

is it's being able to take what you know and dial it down in a version that your your audience can understand. You know what I mean? Because I'm sure Tony Romo can get up there and and start rapping about what this coverage means and what this information. The person at home is not going to be able what are you even talking about, right?

But the great ones are able to take what they know and deliver it in a very digestible form for their audience. And I think that's what Tony Romo does, you know, better than most.

Yeah. Imagine how hard it is for Tom Brady, the almanac, right? It's hard to talk to relate to the average person. Yeah,

that's probably the the hardest thing for someone like that is, okay, how do I get this out in a relatable way for the people at home? And by the way, more people than ever are watching at home. So, it just the Thanksgiving numbers just came in, smashed the alltime regular season watch record twice.

So, first Packers Lions beats the record by 5 million viewers and then Cowboys Chiefs come along and they do 10 million more viewers. All right.

So, talk to me about that and working in the everexloding National Football League and what it means for the future in the sport.

Well, number one, it just goes to show how great our sport is. All of those Thanksgiving numbers, I think it's it's all credit to the push to get it worldwide.

Yeah. For all the booze that Roger Goodell receives. You have to give him some credit, right, for the how well the NFL's doing. They're killing it.

No. Right. All the booze. Yeah. He's still up there with a smile. He understands what the the responsibility that he has and the title that he has and what that comes with good and bad and I think he handles it really well.

We spoke about kind of the transition from playing to commentating. Talk to me about the transition for you going from a Heisman finalist, a college superstar to the NFL when you're drafted by the Chargers.

Wow. Um, that's a great question. I think every everything is is case by case. And what I mean by that is there are some schemes that are easier to transition to the game, the professional game than others. Um, my college scheme was very, very simple, which allowed me to play fast. It allowed me to do what I needed to do while I was in college. Um, it wasn't as complex as what I had to do when I got to the league. Now, the the system I came in to in San Diego was one of a lot of blitzing, a lot of pressure. And whenever you're part of a scheme that does that, there's so many moving parts.

If one guy motions this way, this guy who is supposed to blitz can't blitz anymore. Now, now it's my job to communicate that to the guy who now has to blitz, what his job is, right? So, from a college program where I could just line up, look at the offense and ball to rookie year, I'm now on a defense where I have to adjust. And I tell kids all the time, the difference between the NFL game, the pro game, and every level below it is the levels below it, you can play the game post snap.

Yeah. In the NFL, everything is done pre- snap. If you don't know, if you are not 99% confident of what is going to happen before the ball snaps, you're done.

You had kind of a rough nose style, almost a throwback, right? Do you think you would have benefited more by playing in a different era where the rules weren't so tense for the defense?

I think I I was in this trans to to your point, I was in this transition phase, right? There was this phase and transition of going from a fullback eye for lead.

Yeah. To spread them out, space game, try to get screens, RPOS, like the college game started to it started to leak over to the pro game. I think I was somebody that fit better with a certain scheme. Man coverage, that ain't my thing. I don't got the speed for that. I don't have the agility for that. But to be able to drop back in coverage, use my instincts and play ball, I think that was something that I really thrived in. And there were opportunities where I had that. Um, and there were also opportunities where I didn't.

Yeah. Uh, yeah, your play recognition, ability, ability to make plays, fill gaps, things like that. Definitely.

Yeah, those was easy, bro. See, get ball was always my thing. You're a proud Notre Dame Fighting Irish alumni. You guys have been in the news for a multitude of topics. I mean, we got a lot of ways we can go. I want to start with maybe a slight curveball here, but the Heisman Trophy race, you were embroiled in a tight kind of Heisman Trophy conversation, and so is a current Notre Dame running back, Jeremiah Love. He's an absolute stud. I mean, one of the best players in the country.

We got some quarterbacks in the list. We got your Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore, Jeremiah Love getting excluded from the Love.

Yeah. Who would be your Heisman Trophy winner? Jeremiah Love. Come on now. You know, I mean, I think quarterbacks get this nod. It's like the MVP of the NFL. Like it's it's the most valuable player. It's always gonna there's a little bit more grace when it comes to the quarterback position. Um and I get it. Like without a quarterback, you there's no way you can win. However, I think what Jeremiah Love has been able to do this year alone, this is excluding the past two years where he was also incredible. But this year alone, the amount of yards that he's a averaging per carry, um what he means to one of the best teams in college football, um and just how dynamic he's been. And this is a guy that doesn't get all the carries, right? This is a guy that splits the back field, yet he continues to produce at a very, very high level.

For me, it's going to be Jeremiah Love. No, his his stat lines are funny. He'll be like eight carries, 130 yards. I'm like what?

Like am I is it eight 18? Like what? Yep. That's he's explosive. Yeah. What are some standout characteristics? Something that I see that makes him really different and a cowboy st former cowboy scout likened it to Ezekiel Elliott is his vision.

Yes. He's very very patient, but he's explo when he when he sees something he goes. Right. And so he got that little Le'Veon bell to him too where he's patient beyond the line of scrimmage, but when he sees it, he's has ability to really run through a through run through a hole. Um, but his vision is is second to none. And I do see that comparison to Ezekiel Elliott where he can see. It takes a special running back, right, to see certain colors, right? For him, he knows that my teammates are blue in the home game and in away game it's a white jersey. Some running backs just see color. Yeah. You know what I mean? But he's he can see where his linemen are positioned on defenders and be able to really ride that wave that way. Um and I think the very that the special running backs have that and Jeremiah definitely does.

My love that one cut once he gets second level, you're not catching him. You ain't catching him. And even even if you try to, he's going to jump over you or he's going to juke you out. He has all this the intangibles and he has every skill set to be one of the best running backs in the league.

Yeah. What are your thoughts on a lot of people who, you know, players might categorize as nerds, but analytics type guys who say running backs don't matter no matter what. Don't draft in the first round, don't value them. You can find a guy of similar value in the later rounds. You can rotate them, you know, just just avoid them.

Well, I think it all depends on who you are and what your team does, right? So, like,

can you say that to the Detroit Lions? No, you can't, right? Like without Jamir Gibbs, like they're

they received a whole lot of hate. They received a whole lot of hate for drafting Jir Gibbs. But Jir Gibbs is now one of the best running backs in the league. Why? Because he's in a system that utilizes Jir Gibbs the way that he's supposed to. Yeah.

Right. Christian McAffrey. Christian McAffrey is a guy that year in and year out. I know he was hurt last year, but the year before that he's he's breaking records. And this year, he's been probably the the their main constant that's helped them to get to this point in the season. So, when you're looking at a running back, if you're a team that utilizes running backs in a traditional fashion, go get them. You know what I mean? Because you also could make the argument that somebody like Quinn Sean Judkins, who is a phenomenal rookie running back, who was picked in not in the first round, is is is having a a great season as well. So, I think it's a case by case basis what you're trying to do as a team, as as as a franchise in the NFL. I think if you're one who utilizes running backs at a high volume, go get him.

Yeah. Look at, you know, Kyle Manungai for the Bears going insane for Ben Johnson. Obviously, they have a great run blocking system, but he's running so hard. It's hard to imagine why that guy fell the seventh round.

Yeah. Him. But I also think that he benefits from somebody like DeAndre Swift. You know what I mean? Where it's it's a change of pace. And for a defense, when you have a running back where you have to look in the back field, be like, "Okay, now it's Kyle Manunga." It's a [clears throat] different approach. Okay, now it's DeAndre Swift. Okay, it's a different approach. That creates another hurdle as a as a defense that you have to be aware of that man, when you have one one running back right there, it's just like, okay, Saquon, I know what he's going to do. You know what I mean? So, I think

Kyle Manungai, he is a great talent, but with that scheme with DeAndre Swift, I think they do do a good job in utilizing him.

And obviously Ben Johnson gets that. He's recreated it twice. I mean, what a phenomenal job to build what he did in Detroit. A lot of people maybe questioning his ability to move teams, new system, become the head coach, recreates the same thing. I mean, gets a one-two punch, grabs a guy in the seventh round. He's got the Chicago Bears at top the NFC, not just NFC North, at top the NFC. This is a team that struggled for a lot of years, and now things are looking more positively than since maybe 1985. Yeah.

So, talk to me about Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears. I think Ben Johnson brings a stoic approach to him, you know, and I think what's the biggest impact that Ben Johnson has had has been on Caleb Williams and his demeanor. I think when you watch Caleb Williams this year, it's uh it's a more mature Caleb, you know what I mean? I I I see a Caleb Williams that isn't real flashy anymore. It's like, "Hey, man, I'm all business now." and um Kyle Brandt got the opportunity to sit down with him um yesterday um to have a a conversation with him and Kyle relayed to us on our show on Good Morning Football that he's just locked in, you know, and that's that's such a dangerous thing when you have somebody like Caleb who has all the skill sets that you could want in a quarterback locked in mentally that way. Um, and you have now that run game that they have that you could really rely on.

Yeah, I mean the ex's nose and also his approach to the draft. He kept adding weapons. He goes against Coulson Lovelin. He goes against Luther Burden. He understands that you can never have enough weapons to surround your young quarterback, your number one pick. He trades for Joe Thoon from the Kansas City Chiefs. That's under the radar move a lot of people don't talk about. I mean, he really transformed this team, built it his way, and is are seeing instant success.

Yeah. Well, it's funny because I think you look at last year, Caleb Williams was the most sacked quarterback in the NFL. So, you you brought up Joe Tony from the Chiefs, like shore up your offensive line. And I think when it comes to Ben Johnson, everybody gets caught up in the trick plays, right? This fancy formations and all of the things that he did in Detroit. But if you understand Ben Johnson is at his core, he's a runner.

Yeah. He wants to run the football. And that is what I think has been impressive is for him to establish a rushing attack that now you have a quarterback like Caleb Williams who has all the abilities in the world, but you don't have to use that just yet, right? You can keep that kind of stash and continue to c cultivate that with him. And um I thought he's been he's done a phenomenal job alongside Ryan Pos

prior to the season receives a lot of flack from the fan base. Yeah. Right. I mean, you know, I mean, that's that's the nature of the business, you know what I mean? Like, not everybody's going to like who you draft, what you draft. You're going to have some some some of your own fans question.

There's never like no one can ever follow a fiveyear plan. No one sees the vision right away. So, it's it's a tough business.

Yeah. You got to believe in your vision. That's the number one thing. Yeah. When I'm evaluating Ben Johns, I think the trick plays are about 3% of it, right? And it's all set up and predicated off the fact that they can run play action so effectively that linebackers like you have to crash because the run game's so effective, then you can set up the stuff deep down the field.

Yeah, you have to have you have to establish something for the counter, right? There are there are teams in the NFL right now that haven't established anything that are throwing counter punches and it's not surprising anybody, right? When you have established something, now those trick plays come into play. It's like it's like trying to run a screen when you haven't even thrown a pass yet. It's like

that's not tricking anybody. Like we're not even surprised you ran that. You have to establish something in order for those trick plays to work. So I think that Ben Johnson is one of those guys that's really good at it.

I had a lot of box. It's like trying to throw a big right hand, but you haven't set it up off the

jab. Yeah. Yeah. You better not throw that hook before anything, bro, because they going to see it coming.

Yeah. Exactly. So yeah, Ben Johnson done a phenomenal job. Turned the franchise around. I want to pivot back to Notre Dame. Uh they're just in a lot of news right now. There's a lot going on. Um, college football playoff race. This is the big story right now. This is the one that a lot of people are up in arms. I have a feeling where you're going to land on this, but I'm still going to lay it out for you. The the main debate here is who deserves that 10th spot. There's a tight race. The main two teams that are coming up often are the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Miami Hurricanes.

They played head-to-head earlier this season. The Hurricanes won, but after that game, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish go on a 10-ame winning streak, right? The Hurricanes have some setbacks. So on one side of the argument, you have people saying, "Hey, Notre Dame showed remarkable consistency to win those 10 straight games. Their two losses were to two top programs." And Miami didn't show as much consistency, isn't on that type of a win streak. Their two losses were to inferior teams. And then you have people on the hurricane side saying, "Hey, this team beat that team headtohead. They've got to be in over them." What are your thoughts on this situation? Trying to not be biased.

Obviously, it's hard. I'll leave it with what Marcus Freeman said. He's like, "This is the playoffs is based on how you're playing now, not how you played in week one."

Can I tell you the real shame in it all? What? There's multiple teams. You ask me, Oklahoma, Miami. I'd rather play Oklahoma. Miss or Miami. They don't even have their coach. I'd rather play Miss, you know. So, the real shame in it all is Miami, Notre Dame,

both probably top 10 programs. Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, the minutia at all, you know, trying to pick one or the other, you get lost in the fact that both these teams are surging and dangerous.

Yeah. BYU wins. Yeah. Notre Dame's out, too. Yeah. The thing I think with with Notre Dame is there are benefits to being independent and there there are disadvantages to being independent. When you are are part of a conference, winning that conference automatically gets you in, right? So there are people that look at Notre Dame and they're like, "Oh, you're independent, so you get this nod." It's it's hard to get into the playoffs as an independent. Why? Because we don't have this this this this card we can throw up there and be like, "Oh, but we're conference champs. We're Big 12 champs or Big 10 champs. We're SEC champs." We don't have that. So it's not only in

who you beat, it's how you beat them. You know what I mean? So that's something that on our resume that we always have to keep in mind. Now, we did lose to Miami and Texas A&M in close games, you know, so it wasn't like a blowout. Now, I think if it was a blowout, that's another [snorts] conversation to be had. But again, the way we've been able to play the past few weeks, I think says a lot.

Yeah. And I think also on the committee's mind has to be the year previous, you guys have a real tough loss to Northern Illinois, bounce all the way back, go to the national championship, right? So, I think that's replaying in the committee's mind as well was what coach Marcus Freeman was able to bring to Notre Dame last year, Jeremiah Love, some similar guys in mind.

Um, yeah, I think that's an excellent point that a lot of people miss when talking about Notre Dame being independent is if it was up to coach Marcus Freeman and maybe the former alumni, maybe the players, they would probably love to have a conference championship game opportunity to kind of

Yeah. put a finishing stamp on the season. You have to have one loss that's still like, man, I don't know if we're going to make it.

Yeah. And there's a lot of teams in in in the play in a playoff picture right now that have multiple losses, but because they won that conference, they're gonna get in. You know what I mean? So, that's again, there's there's pros and cons to being uh independent.

I mean, what a wild playoff race. I I touched on a little bit ago, we have one team that doesn't have their head coach.

Mhm. So, I have some hands-on experience. I mentioned this earlier. I worked FA football at 16 years old. Lane Keifin was the head coach. Uh he later obviously went to Miss had tremendous success. I got a chance to kind of study the playbook, go over it. The most brilliant mind I've ever been around in terms of football in Keifin. I mean

his ex the the brilliance of his playbook and play calling ability can't go unnoticed and that's why LSU goes out and offers him seven years $100 million. Um, I thought hearing his explanation about his father's words ringing in his mind was really interesting because he was also on that staff and I got to meet him as well. He was obviously the architect of Tampa 2 defense. So, legendary coach Monty Keifin. He said the kind of guys, his mentors who he looks to after his father passed, Pete Carol Nick Sabin told him, "Go ahead, take that job." Yeah. Right. Nick Sabin, coach LSU, he understands that job. What are your thoughts on it and how would you feel as a player?

as a how would I let me let me ask it let me answer as a player first if I was an miss player I would be hurt I would um especially where they are right now um having been so successful

obviously a lot of those guys that bought in right it's not like Lane was there for one or two years right he's been there and so he's brought yeah so he's brought in a whole full class

so if I'm one of those guys that where I had a coach sit in my living room with my parents and tell me like I got your son and then to believe in that and for him to leave, I would be hurt regardless of what anybody says, right? Like we had a special thing going on and then he left.

On the flip side for LSU, I would be excited. Yeah. You know what I mean? Now I'm getting a a a chance a a new start with with a coach that he was in our conference. He had a lot of success. I I would be really excited. From where I am sitting today, it is a complicated situation. Um, with the whole transfer portal and coach has been doing this for a long time, right? Coaches been getting up and leaving. Like we had our own Brian Brian Kelly was a the coach before that. He was my coach at Notre Dame, right?

So, this has been happening at the college at the coaching rank for for a long time.

Um, I'm excited for Lane Keifin. um for what I know the state of Louisiana can do. Me being a former New Orleans Saint, I know what football means in Louisiana. I'm sure it means the same in Mississippi and at Miss, but I can only speak on to what it means in Louisiana. Now, Louisiana State, they got a thing about producing some really good football players, man. Especially at skilled position, and they're all instinct.

Yeah. So, what that possibly could look like, I'm not saying Lane Keifin going to LSU is all of a sudden, oh, they're going to win national championship. I am saying that the talent that is in Louisiana when put together correctly and utilized the right way, look into the NFL and tell me what LSU guy you would not want to have on your team. Right. It it's it's it's special what they have over there in that state. And I think somebody like Lane Keifin, to your point, with the the offensive mind that he has, has the potential to do a lot of great things for that school.

I'm going to say it. I would be shocked if they're not in national championship contention sooner rather than later.

Yeah. No, it's it's all the only thing that's going to be his his biggest challenge, him being Lane Keifin, is how can he navigate the cultural aspect, right? Because me, I always preach about culture and how important that is in football.

Louisiana has a certain culture, right? when the mayor and the governor of Louisiana is part of this whole scenario of of of replacing a coach, that's how big football is over there. If Lane Keifin can come into this scenario, understand the culture, respect the culture, but then implement his own and find that perfect recipe for it, I think when he's able to do that, if he's able to do that soon, for sure. If he isn't, I think it's going to take some time. But it's all about trying to find how do I establish this culture while still respecting the culture that's already here.

How do you think the off the- field pressure for the LSU players could affect the team with all this outside drama with Lane Keifin? You were a college player who experienced a lot of off the- field drama, a lot of people mentioning your name. These players all of a sudden now they're going to be a topic of conversation whether like it or not. Lane Keifin has dominated the new cycle. It's going to continue. All eyes are going to be on the LSU team. How do you think the players are going to respond to that? Do you think that could maybe make them play better knowing that spotlight is on them? Do you think it could negatively affect them?

I think it would be different if we're talking about a smaller college, but I think um a university like LSU, they're used to that limelight. You know what I mean? Like

when you go to LSU, you're not somebody that goes there thinking that I'm the small town college that maybe will be on TV some weeks. Like LSU is going to be on TV, right? L everybody is going to be at that game. When you go to LSU, you see all the celebrities on the sideline, right? So, I think that with Lane Keifin and all of this attention and this coverage that is coming from this move, I think that it plays well with what they're trying to do over there in in LSU for all the for all the players. I mean, they dance to everything, you know what I mean? There's there's a certain vibe down there um in Louisiana that I think it's it's something that isn't going to be um fought off like it isn't going to be something like it doesn't vibe well for them. I think the players down there in Louisiana will really really um embrace that attention that's coming their way.

Why do you think things didn't work out for your former head coach, Brian Kelly?

I think Brian is um he's a really good offensive mind from a leadership standpoint. Okay. And this is the same thing that you alluded to with Ben Johnson. From a leadership standpoint, there's a question when you go from a coordinator to a head coach. A coordinator doesn't have to stand in front of a room and really command the respect of in in in the NFL's case, men.

Yeah. In college, it's young men. You don't have to do that as a coordinator. For Brian Kelly, he was always a head coach. However, he was mainly offense. Was that leadership ability a factor at all going into the national championship game against Alabama?

Um, [sighs] so you're going against perhaps the greatest leader in the history of college football, Nick Sabin.

I also think that when I and I I've talked about this a few times, there was a major difference with the talent at Alabama from the top down compared to what we had at a great point. There was a huge difference. I still remember to this day and you would appreciate this as a player. We would come out for stretch lines, right? And you know, you come out to our 40, the other team comes out to their 40 and you know like the main dogs are on the 40, right? So like I'm over there on the 40, I'm looking at Alabama, their dudes are on the 40. And you're talking about like guys like Eddie Lacy, you you got um you got a whole bunch of first round draft pick soon Amari Cooper, you had Haha Clinton Dicks over there. like you had like dudes.

Yeah. But you know like the guys that are on the go line that that's usually like the walk-ons regular. So I start peeking at the goal line and I'm like them dudes look like the dudes on the 40. And that's when I knew I was [snorts] like it wasn't any type of fear or any type of anxiety or anything like that. It was just like an acknowledgement like okay this is this is different. Yeah. You know what I mean? like they have dudes top to bottom that I'm sure that those dudes on the goal line could be starting at any other school in in the country.

So it wasn't our loss to Alabama was our program having a special year, a spectacular year going against a jerk that's been there, done that, and had the resume to back it up and had the dudes to back that up as well. So that's Yeah, that was a long night for us.

Yeah. Um they had three NFL running backs in a rotation. So Eddie Lacy and TJ Yelen and imagine like I had to go reran a traditional 34 defense. Traditional three four defense is you have a zero technique nose guard head up on the center and then we had two fours tackles head up on the tackles. The issue was that worked for everybody we played. Now we didn't play no slumps. We played Oklahoma. We always played LSU. We played Miami. That year we played we we played dogs.

Yeah. When the guard that's uncovered is Chance Warmarmac and the tackle next to him is DJ Fluker. And then you had Eddie Lacy running the ball behind him. And then when Eddie Lacy got tired, TJ Yelen went back there and then when you finally stopped him two times in a row they would run a play action bomb to Amari Cooper. you were just like it was an Oklahoma drill where they they would decide when they wanted to to not hand the ball off an Oklahoma drill and throw it to a guy that's that's open and so that was that's what all all of us had to go through for that game. Um and it was definitely a humbling experience.

What running back was toughest for you to tackle in the back field? Cuz you get different opinions from linebackers. Some guys say they struggled with the elusive guys. Some guys say, "Hey, I didn't mind those guys, but the Marshon Lynches of the world, they really gave me a hard time." Who was toughest for you to tackle?

The the toughest would be Marshon Marshon Lynch. U where he would he would laugh at the bottom of the pile and it was just like, "Okay, this guy's psycho just like me."

That's got to be a little bit debilitating. Like you make a good tackle, you think you got him good, and he's laughing at you.

Oh man, what a legend Beast Mode is. And uh yeah, he was a part of a team that helped lead the way as far as the transition with the Legion of Boom, the Seattle Seahawks. They're back. Yeah.

I mean, the Seahawks are are back being an offensive team. It's great to see they had those Russell Wilson years where he's an MVP candidate and he was kind of leading the way, but now they found their identity. They have head coach Mike McDonald and they have studs all over this defense. It starts with the acquisition of Leonard Williams. A lot of people talked about they gave up too much. They got a steel and Leonard Williams.

Yeah. I what the identity that he's brought to that team and what he does up front against both the run and as a pass rusher is similar also analogous to what Quinn Williams brought to the Dallas Cowboys.

That's great. That's a great analogy, bro. Great. We're seeing this uh kind of transition into really valuing the interior defensive lineman who I know made your job easier as a linebacker.

Yeah, I think it always goes back to I mean talking about the Seattle Seahawks, right? You got someone like Quinn. Um, first guy that comes to mind is Aaron Donald, you know, when you have I mean you got Nandomin Sue, like Nadamin was

defensive Heisman candidate. Yeah. You got somebody like Vtoa who's over there in Tampa. So when you have somebody that's in front of you, right, that can take up multiple blockers and you can run free, it makes my job as a linebacker a million times easier. And I think it just creates a a a mentality, right, that that for our defense, like it's set by the interior guys, by the by the interior D lineman, by the linebacker, and by the safety. At least that's how it was when we grew up. You know what I mean? Like the Ray Lewis, the Ed Reed, and the Halotinata. Like those guys was in the middle. Right now, the outside guys are going to get paid.

They get they get the DNS, the rushers, the corners, they get most the money, but you're only as strong as the guys in the middle. And I think that's I love the defenses that have that.

What a poll that is. Hello. Natada with Ray Lewis. Natada is the unsung hero. I mean, this Samoan mammoth of a man is eating up these double teams and freeing up gaps for the most feared, you know, tackler in the history of the league. Obviously, Ray Lewis

for a guy that didn't need him to take up blocks. No. Ray Lewis, you know, one on 11 would be a pretty good match for Ray Lewis. That would be a good game that I would watch. It might be 50/50.

Um, you know, they say like, you know, if you see me in the jungle with the bear, help the bear. That's how I feel about Ray Lewis.

Um, and I'm assuming I I I'm assuming when you're watching film and you're looking up to guys, Ray Lewis is jumping off the page.

Oh, Ray Lewis was probably one of the main guys that I watched growing up. Um, another guy is probably Patrick Willis. um that I watched his I I loved not only guys who could play this game at a high level, but I loved the generals. I loved the the leaders like the guy that he was the top dog, right? Ray was that way. I like Brian Erlacer. Um his athleticism, his ability to run sideline to sideline.

Um I love Navaro Bowman even though he was a weak side linebacker, his patience and how he played the game of football. He reminded me a lot of my one of my best friends, I call him my little brother, Denzel Perman.

Um, his shout out to Denzel Pman. Yeah. His ability to just be patient, but when he saw something, he would just go and when he would go, he would hit some fool. So, when they had Patrick Willis and Navaro Bowman in there for the San Francisco 49ers, that that was unfair.

Yeah, absolutely. And then Alden Smith, Justin Smith, all those guys. Oh, man. Dogs. And then you had brutal

you had um you you had uh what's his name in SS safety? Dante Whitner. Dant Dante Whitner. I was thinking of his I was thinking of his nickname when he turned it to Hitner.

Hitner. Yeah. Hitner. Yeah. Yeah. Dante was that dude. They were definitely put in fear. Yes. Besides Marshon Lynch.

Yes. He did okay. But everyone else was uh was getting clattered for sure. No, I I love that point. What about Troy Palamalu? So Troy, I I mentioned all the linebackers, right? When I when it comes to the singular person that has had the most impact on my career and me as a human being would have to be Troy Polomalu. So Troy I trained with um for the last year of my career. Um he's become a like a big brother of mine. I'm a huge mentor. He and I have been have become so close that um I named my son after him.

Um Oh wow. Yeah. So, he's he's somebody who's very special. He's a special individual. And when you get to know him on a personal level, he's funny, man. He's hilarious, but he has so much wisdom, not only in the game of football, but then in game of life. He's so uh humble. And so, if there's somebody who I would love to mimic my life um like both on and off the football field, it would have to be Troy.

I've said this before, but the only guy I think that could stop the Philly special Yeah. Troy Palamali.

Yeah. His his instincts, bro. He was just You can't teach that. You can't teach that. And you know, I'll tell you something about Troy that he shared with me. Remember when Troy would just jump over the line and he would just time up snaps and he had blitz be in a gaps and he would get there right when Yeah.

So I asked him, I was like, "Hey big bro, how did you manage to do all of that?" And he told me, he was like, "I would not only take the snaps when the one defense went out there." He was like, "But I also took um the show team snaps, the scout team." He's [clears throat] like, "And the reason why I did that was two-part."

One for him, he wanted to have that confidence to know that he had double the work that anybody in the entire league had. And because he did double the work, he was more prepared than anybody. Number two, instinctually hearing the cadence all the time helped him to know when they were actually snapping the ball, when they were going on sound by the the the little nuances of the the O line, how they would rush to the line of scrimmage. Okay, they're going on first sound, how they were going on one, when they're going on two.

And because he saw so many reps of that, that gave him that six sense of when he knew the ball was going to be snapped. And just so just those little things that I've learned from from Troy just help me to just uh appreciate his greatness and and what he was able to do.

No, it's great to hear. Obviously, I was born O2. Mhm. But when I'm getting into I'm young, but Troy Palamalo is that guy. Yeah.

He's on the Madden cover. I mean, he's, you know, he's in the Super Bowl and the the commercials. I mean, the whole nine yards. Troy Palamalo, Ed Reed are the the two guys. I mean, two of the greatest safeties ever played the game, obviously. and the rivals. So, they always went hand in hand for me. So, when you mentioned Ed, I'm like, I got to bring up Troy because I know you're gonna have some thoughts on that.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, their fans are growing tired. Yeah. And they have what sounds like a good problem. You know, they got a lot of Super Bowls. They've had more success than, you know, maybe any other franchise. I mean, New England Page number one, but they're right under there. um have had three head coaches in their history, but the fans are growing tired because

even though Mike Tomlin consistently outperforms expectations, it seems like they have a limited ceiling. Yeah. Nobody's really giving them a shot to maybe go deep into the playoffs, right? We understand offensively they're limited. I mean, they have DK Mechaf as the number one, but they don't really have a number two. They're not as explosive as as these other AFC teams. Talk to me about Mike Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and are the fans overreacting by trying to get him out of town? Is it justified?

Um it's I I see where the frustrations come from for um the fans, right? It's I think one one thing about Mike Tomlin that I think we've we all know for sure or we gotten accustomed to is that Mike Tomlin's going to get them to the playoffs. And I think when you're when you're dealing with a franchise and a fan base like the Steelers who've traditionally been they've won so many times Yeah.

there's this expectation, right? like, man, this is what we're going to like, we need to do more than that. Like, there there are some teams in the NFL, and I won't mention them, but we all know that just getting to the playoffs is like, oh, we're good. We're good. Like, we're going to be fine, right? So, I think when it comes to Pittsburgh, people want to see more. And you mentioned it has a ceiling. I think when you watch the offense, that offense has a ceiling. Yeah. Right. Arthur Smith's offense doesn't have the firepower that other offenses had. And I did this um I did this research on his offense for our show. Arthur Smith's offense has not come back from more than an eight-point deficit with less than 5 minutes in the game. How many games have we seen lead changes within the last three minutes of the game?

Yeah. Right. Absolutely. So, in a space in in a in a in in a game now where there's there's offenses that can put so many points on on the board in such a short amount of time, when [snorts] you have an offensive system that is unable to do that, I think it puts you behind the eightball already. And not to mention DK Metaf being possibly their only wide receiver that they utilize, their other three pass catchers are tight ends. Yeah. You know what I mean? And so it's just like

this is the biggest thing and this is the the the the the ultimate pitfall is the guy they got got out of town.

Yeah. I mean the Steelers fans are seeing George Pickkins dominate and saying what did we do?

You know who he reminds me of? Remember Anquin Bowden? Absolutely. It's my guy.

Anquin Bowden with the ball in his hand was a monster bro. You know Anquin Bowden. Um

he was so ridiculously smart. Hines Ward. He's reminds me of those guys that okay, it's one thing to guard them and then it's another thing to tackle them when they get the ball. So when I when you reference all of those things, Brandon Oh yeah, shout out to Brandon Marshall. He will be on um he and I will be working the studio for the Christmas game for Netflix. So I'm excited to work with him. So shout out to Brandon Marshall.

Doubt to be Marshall. Guy's a dog, bro. He's a monster. Yeah. You know, I I I feel all those guys similar and they wear defenses down. Obviously he's in a contract year. A lot of people are bringing that up as well. Do you think that

he could maybe regress once he gets paid? Maybe, but or is that really not a thing for an NFL player?

No, that's a thing. That's definitely a thing for some guys. I don't know George Pickkins enough personally, been around him enough to say that he's one of those guys. Um I hope that he's not because the game of football in general is better when players like him are are are really humming the way he's been doing. Um, number one, I hope he does get paid because this has been a dream of his since he was a little boy. I assume I'm sure there's a lot of people that depend on him.

He's going to get paid. Um, but in the event that something happens, I just I just again I hope that he just keeps a level head and he's able to be able he's able to provide for his family and be a productive football player.

That's a very mature, reasonable take. Something we don't see a lot in the NFL media. So, that's good. That's what I always try to bring to the table bro.

Yeah. Usually, you know, you get a lot of the opposite. You know, you check your Tik Tok, your Instagram, you know, there's that one guy that's, you know, going off right now. But no, that's a very mature levelheaded take. Um, and that's one that you can only acquire from years of experience being an 8-year NFL vet, right? And going through all things you did off the field to kind of give you that ability to evaluate and, you know,

perspective. Yeah. Perspective. Can you talk about your passions kind of off the field and what you're trying to do to impact the world?

Yeah. So, I come I was born and raised in Hawaii, right? And born being born and raised in Hawaii comes with a lot of a lot of perks. It's a it's it's it's a beautiful place to live, a beautiful life. However, there is a lack of resources there, at least exposure, too. Right? We live in California. I can drive down the street, be at UCLA. I can go to USC. I can even go down to Irvine and visit down there, right? There's so many different places that I can get different experiences in. whereas in a place like Hawaii, that isn't the case.

However, I got the great experience of going to a private school. My parents sent me there. Um, and that private school took me to different colleges while I was in high school. And for me to be able to have those experiences and actually see and and and grab and smell a college campus. Um, I said my dreams became a goal at that point. And so, I know the power of being able to see and experience something throughout my life. I also know the power of surrounding yourself with people um that are trying to achieve the same goal. Also to have education. Now the education that I'm referring to isn't necessarily um restricted to that in a classroom. I think being able to talk to the CEO of a financial firm in some cases is better education than you'll get in a finance class, right? And so being able to have the network that I have, I want to be able to give back to the youth um by providing them with those type of

opportunities to learn in um in a traditional way. Yeah. But then being able to bring in people that I know from different different um professional um landscapes to be able to help these kids, but then to have the best training what learning what I know about uh about nutrition now. You know what I mean? Like sourcing all of that stuff I want to be able to bring to the forefront u for these for these kids. And fortunately for me, there are a few individuals that have done it before and are currently doing it that um I can just I I I plan on um meeting with them and say, "Okay, how did you do this and how can I imple implement that on my own?"

You mentioned nutrition. Is that how you're saying in such good shape? I'm I'm I was in better shape. I think with our job being up at 2:45 in the morning um and going, it's almost impossible for me to be able to adhere to a certain strict regimen. Um but I am definitely when it comes to nutrition, um I'm a big advocate for proper sourcing of food. Um I I'm very very aware of where I buy my stuff at. I try to buy them at farms. I don't I don't I rarely rarely buy things at the grocery store. Um just because I think how these animals are treated, what they're fed has a direct impact on me and my children and how our bodies receive it.

And so that is what I want to be able to give to the youth because growing up it was just like

here's some ramen. You know what I mean? No, it's you're good. You know what I I did um some podcast with Lamar ODM,

okay? And his love of candy and Rosco's chicken and the things he eats was so funny to me. I'm like, and he told me like he was even worse during his blank career. I'm like, how is that possible to be that

um gifted to be able to eat like that and treat your body like that and still go out there and perform that level? And then you hear DK Mechaf, it's like, I have a Starbucks coffee, I eat a lot of nerds and then I have a dinner and then I'm good. And he's like 230 fibers and body fat. So, um, it's it's also good to hear that you look like that and you actually really try.

Yeah. It's it's about the effort. It's also I would have been a little disheartened if you were like, "Ah, I just wake up and eat whatever."

Oh, no. Ain't no way, bro. I don't have the genetic code for that, you know. Okay, good. I got to work.

Makes me feel a little bit better. Good. I can work up. I can get big. There you go. I like that. One last thing. It's a very current thing and we mentioned it. We briefed on it, but not on camera. Jackson Dart

gets hit on the sideline. New England Patriots. There was a big-time fight that broke out. Thoughts on that hit?

Number one, I am um I loved the hit. Uh number two, I am so glad the refs didn't throw a flag. Um that I I I don't think people understand how big that was, the message that that sent when the the refs didn't throw a penalty flag. Um number three, I have a newfound respect for Jackson Dart. Um because he didn't complain about it. Um he didn't flop. He just said, "Hey man, this is what I do." You know what I mean? Like I know that I'm gonna get hit. Now Jackson Dart, let's let's let's slide a little bit. Why? Because I want you to have a long career. The Giants want you to have a long career. Um he's been phenomenal his rookie year, especially when Cam Scataboo is in there. Um but unless you're out on the field, you can't impact your team in a positive way. So, um I was so happy, um that that happened as I would say a traditionalist in this in this game of seeing actually a big hit that isn't flagged. Um and I I hope that

guys continue to play this game at a very fast level um at a very violent level that is within the rules of the game that isn't dirty. I think the dirty stuff I think there's a clear difference between a clean violent play and a dirty one. Yeah.

And I think the refs in that in in that instant demonstrated like, "Oh, we know that was a clean play. We're not going to throw it." So, I was really happy about it.

And I love that you touched on the point of Jackson Dart not complaining, getting back up.

If I'm a prospective head coach and I'm looking at the tandem of Jackson Dart and Cam Scatabo, I'm thinking I'm in.

Right. These two are dogs. Yeah, they're rookies. They have the right mentality. They are lovers of the skin. They're not going to complain. They're going to show up. They're going to get to work. I want to lead these young men.

Yeah. And you haven't even mentioned your boy's favorite guy, Malik Neighbors. You know what I mean? With with with

shout out to Aviv. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. With Malik coming back, he's also an exceptional talent from Louisiana State. Um and I think to be able to have that with those two young um quarter that young quarterback and that running back, good things could happen. Maybe Link Keifin will do a lot. Odell Beckham, Malik Neighbors, Justin Jefferson, Jamar Chase.

Yeah, you got some dogs, man. Pretty lengthy list. Yeah, it's a bit uh Brian Thomas Junior.

Oh god, it's like kind of surreal you say all the Wow. Watch out. Uh [snorts] I want to thank you for coming on. Appreciate it, my man.

It's uh deeply appreciated. It was uh amazing to speak with you, man. Yes, sir. Likewise.

What's up, guys? Mystic Zack here to give you a stone cold lock of the week. Me and Manti got to break down the ins and outs, the X's and O's, the off the- field drama for both college football and the NFL. And now it's time to do my job. Give you one stone cold lock of the week. One thing you can place your hard-earned money on. I'm going to go with the six-point teaser. The game that I'm going to start with is the Seahawks against the Atlanta Falcons. The Seahawks are minus 7 in this game. So, we're going to get them down to minus one. And the reason why I love this is all the reasons that I've illustrated on this show in the past weeks. The Seattle Seahawks are dangerous. They're for real. They're contenders and they can be an absolute danger to anyone, especially an aging Kirk Cousins. He's a statue in the pocket. Drake London banged up. I don't see a way that Kirk Cousins can stop the Seattle Seahawks defense from

absolutely motor racing this offensive line. They've got Leonard Williams. They've got Demarcus Lawrence. They've got a back end that you cannot get separation on. I think the Seattle Seahawks are going to make Kirk Cousins life a living hell this Sunday. I like them minus one. And my second pick of the week comes in an NFC North showdown between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers. The Green Bay Packers are minus 6 and a half. This is a six-point teaser, so we're going to get them to minus 0.5. I love this pick because the Green Bay Packers are at home at Lambeau Field and we're in December. This is where the going gets tough. This is the toughest environment to play in when it hits winter. And every single year, we see a hot start NFL team. and we see a hot shot maybe second or third year quarterback walts in the Lambo field expecting to have that continued success they had in the previous weeks and it

never quite works out that way. There's something about that field that's sobering, humbling and I think that's going to happen to Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears offense this coming Sunday. Micah Parsons, the Green Bay Packers have been putting a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks Rashan Garry as well and I think they're going to have that welcome to the NFL moment for head coach Ben Johnson and secondyear quarterback Caleb Williams. Chicago Bears obviously coming off a great win over the Philadelphia Eagles, but the Green Bay Packers at home at Lambeau Field with Jordan Love playing the way that he's been playing last week against the Detroit Lions. One of the best Jordan Love performances I've seen across the NFL. He's always been one of the league's most talented guys. He has the arm strength. He has the ability to make any throw on the field, but the way that he saw the field against the

Detroit Lions and was able to pick apart both zone and man coverage was something special to see. They obviously have Josh Jacobs in the run game to also help expand upon the Packers continued offensive success. Christian Watson comes back from a torn ACL. He's been a massive help to this offense as well as Dantavian Wixs. I mean, how about Dantavian Wixs coming down with those two impressive catches against the Detroit Lions. Green Bay Packers are hot. They're rolling. We're in December. It's at Lambeau Field. I think this is the exact time you take them in a six-point teaser with the Seattle Seahawks. That's my stone cold lock of the week on the double coverage podcast.

Appreciate you for watching. It was an honor to have Manteo on, former Heisman Trophy finalist, and it was great to speak with someone who could kind of rap with me about every single topic. Hope you enjoyed it. Please come back for episode 10. We got a big one coming.

Questions about this episode

What is "Manti Te’o Sounds Off On Notre Dame’s Playoff Case, Lane Kiffin Going To LSU, and Jaxson Dart" about?

Manti Te’o discusses his transition from an NFL career to co-hosting a morning football show, sharing insights on balancing family life and entrepreneurship. He also reflects on Notre Dame's playoff ambitions, Lane Kiffin's potential move to LSU, and insights on Jaxson Dart.

What is mentioned in this DOUBL3 COVERAGE PODCAST episode?

20 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Heisman Trophy, Jackson Dart, Lambeau Field, Anquan Boldin, Cam Skattebo, Leonard Williams. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Manti Te’o Sounds Off On Notre Dame’s Playoff Case, Lane Kiffin Going To LSU, and Jaxson Dart"?

The episode runs 54 min; the transcript is about 11,016 words in 173 timestamped sections.

More from DOUBL3 COVERAGE PODCAST

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated December 19, 2025.