When Jason Kelce stepped into the COACH podcast studio, he brought with him a resume few centers in NFL history can match. A six-time First-team All-Pro, Super Bowl champion, and future Hall of Famer, Kelce’s 13-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles established him as one of the position’s all-time greats.
His recent retirement announcement made this conversation even more significant, offering fans a rare glimpse into the mind of an elite NFL center.
COACH, which completed its first season in 2024, isn’t your typical football podcast. Led by the legendary Bill Belichick, whose six Super Bowl victories as head coach of the New England Patriots revolutionized modern football, the show dives deep into the strategic elements that casual fans might miss.
Alongside Belichick, Matt Patricia brings his extensive defensive expertise, having served as the Patriots’ defensive coordinator during three Super Bowl victories before taking on head coaching duties with the Detroit Lions. Rounding out the trio is Mike Lombardi, whose three decades of NFL front office experience with teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns offers unique insight into team building and organizational strategy.
The show has quickly distinguished itself by avoiding the hot takes and surface-level analysis common in sports media. Instead, COACH focuses on the intricate details of football strategy, preparation, and execution.
Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify, each episode serves as a masterclass in football philosophy, with the hosts breaking down complex concepts in ways both coaches and casual fans can appreciate.
The Defensive Mastermind Meets The Elite Center
When Jason Kelce sat down with the COACH crew, it was Matt Patricia who immediately highlighted what made the Eagles’ center so special. “You were one of those Tuesday players,” Patricia explained, referencing the day coaches typically install their game plans.
Drawing from his years as defensive coordinator with the New England Patriots, Patricia revealed how Kelce’s ability to read defenses would force complete defensive gameplan overhauls.
Bill Belichick, bringing his eight Super Bowl appearances worth of experience, joined Matt Patricia in breaking down why centers like Kelce proved so challenging to scheme against. The conversation revealed how modern NFL defenses have evolved, with discussions ranging from odd mugs to four-down mugs, double A mugs, and split fronts.
The Evolution of Center Play
The dialogue between Kelce and the hosts highlighted how the position has transformed with the prevalence of shotgun formations. Mike Lombardi, drawing from his extensive front office experience with multiple NFL teams, noted how the center position has become increasingly crucial in modern offensive schemes.
“One word can be the difference between this play working and being set up right and this play being a disaster and a tackle for loss,” Kelce explained, with Matt Patricia adding how rare it was to find centers who could read secondary rotations and help quarterbacks adjust protections accordingly.
The Chess Match of Pre-Snap Adjustments
The most revealing segment came when Matt Patricia shared his defensive game-planning struggles against Kelce. “Do not let him pull,” Patricia recalled instructing his defensive units. “Cover him up, get on him, and if he pulls, grab him.” Despite such detailed planning, Kelce would consistently find ways to impact the game at the second level.
This strategic back-and-forth between Kelce and the hosts, particularly Patricia’s defensive insights countered by Kelce’s offensive perspective, provided viewers with a master class in football’s pre-snap chess match. Their discussion revealed how both sides attempt to anticipate and counter each other’s moves in real-time.
The episode exemplified why COACH has quickly become essential viewing for football enthusiasts. Through the combined expertise of Belichick’s historic head coaching career, Matt Patricia’s defensive innovation, and Lombardi’s front office acumen, the show creates a unique space where complex football concepts become accessible without losing their depth.
While Season 1 has concluded, episodes like this one with Jason Kelce demonstrate why fans are already anticipating the show’s return. The complete episode, along with the entire first season of COACH, remains available on their YouTube channel, offering football fans an opportunity to understand the game through the eyes of three of its most experienced minds.
