A Super Bowl Without the Buzz
From quiet streets to crowded Media Row, Tucker Franklin and Matt Verderame unpack what feels off about Super Bowl week in San Francisco
Tucker Franklin and Matt Verderame are boots on the ground in San Francisco for Super Bowl week—and immediately realize something feels… off.
From recording a podcast on separate hotel beds to wandering a city that barely seems to know the Super Bowl is happening, the guys break down the strange vibes surrounding this year’s game.
They dig into why star power matters, why some Super Bowls sell themselves (and others don’t), and what Media Row really looks like behind the curtain (spoiler: it’s a mess of brand pitches, handlers, and exhausted former players).
The conversation takes a sharp turn into media drama, including Ryan Leaf’s latest blow-up and the never-ending tradition of journalists beefing with each other during Super Bowl week. Along the way, Tucker and Matt roast ESPN’s coverage choices, reflect on the absurdity of Radio Row, and remind everyone why covering the Super Bowl is equal parts privilege, circus, and endurance test.
If you want honest Super Bowl coverage, inside jokes, and zero tolerance for nonsense—this one’s for you.