Super Bowl week might be over, but the business storylines are just getting started. Matthew is joined by sports business insider and super agent Hadley Engelhardt to break down the biggest numbers and decisions coming out of Super Bowl 60 — from TV ratings and ad revenue to incentive bonuses that can reshape a quarterback’s entire market. 📌 On this episode, we cover: • Super Bowl ratings: 125M viewers and why the NFL stays “bulletproof” • Sam Darnold’s $4M in incentives — and how winning changes leverage (and the next contract) • NBC’s Super Bowl ad haul: $8M average spots, some hitting $10M, and the $800M revenue estimate • Halftime show viewership spikes and why it still drives the conversation every year • Rumors the Seahawks could be up for sale — and what a record $7–8B price tag could look like • A look ahead at the NFL calendar: franchise tag window, Combine, legal tampering, new league year, and Draft dates • Crisis management from the agent side: navigating the James Pearce Jr. situation and the contract implications • College football money & leverage: Gunnar Stockton’s Georgia deal and the portal PR game • Eligibility fights in the NCAA and scheduling trends that could kill big non-conference matchups • NBA load management vs. tanking — and what the league can (and can’t) do • WNBA CBA negotiations and where the leverage really is • Plus: a CEO “said the quiet part out loud” moment about pricing power 🎧 New episodes of Deals & Deadlines drop every Wednesday — subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and watch the full show on the 680 The Fan YouTube channel. 00:00 Welcome to Deals & Deadlines (Super Bowl business edition) 00:44 Super Bowl 60 ratings: 125M viewers (still bulletproof) 01:56 Sam Darnold’s incentive bonuses: $4M breakdown + leverage 03:46 Why winning QBs become “forever” marketable in a city 04:58 NBC ad revenue: $8M average, $10M top end, $800M total 06:06 Halftime show numbers + in-stadium vs TV experience 07:40 Seahawks sale rumors: potential $7–8B valuation 09:00 Next Super Bowl is on Valentine’s Day + future host cities 09:22 Super Bowl host city economic impact (LA/Atlanta ahead) 10:09 NFL offseason calendar: tags, Combine, legal tampering, draft 10:46 Inside an agent’s busiest stretch (FA + draft prep) 11:48 NBC’s 16-day gauntlet: Super Bowl → Olympics → All-Star 13:20 Agent crisis management: James Pearce Jr. situation 18:06 Gunnar Stockton/UGA deal: portal leverage vs “loyalty” talk 20:41 Ole Miss eligibility fight: Trinidad Chambliss waiver push 21:52 SEC nine-game schedules + Alabama/Ohio State uncertainty 23:35 Load management vs tanking: NBA’s OKC investigation 27:24 WNBA CBA counteroffer: salary cap talks and leverage 28:49 Chipotle CEO “because we can” pricing lesson #NFL #SuperBowl #SportsBusiness #NBA #WNBA #CollegeFootball #NIL #FreeAgency #NFLDraft #DealsAndDeadlines #680TheFan

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Welcome to a new episode of Deals & Deadlines — where we break down the biggest stories in the sports business world. 🎙️ Matt Chernoff is joined by sports business insider / super agent Hadley Engelhardt to discuss: ✅ The business machine behind Super Bowl week ✅ The NFL’s projected 2026 salary cap jump (and what media revenue means for players + owners) ✅ ESPN’s major deal to acquire NFL Network and digital assets ✅ The league’s continued push into international markets ✅ College Football Playoff schedule changes for 2026–2027 (and why the calendar keeps growing) ✅ Is the Pro Bowl slowly disappearing? What replaces it in contracts? ✅ The business ripple effects of a potential LeBron James move ✅ Disney’s latest earnings — and where their real profits still come from ✅ Plus: what the Braves could do next as regional sports network uncertainty continues across MLB 📅 New episodes every Wednesday 🎧 Listen anywhere you get your podcasts 📺 Watch on the 680 The Fan YouTube channel — and don’t forget to subscribe! Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Deals & Deadlines 04:46 The business of Super Bowl week 07:47 NFL salary cap projection for 2026 10:32 International expansion + new markets 12:24 CFP schedule changes (2026–2027) 16:51 Is the Pro Bowl going away? 19:39 LeBron’s future and economic impact 24:54 ESPN buys NFL Network + NFL equity stake 26:38 Disney earnings: parks vs. media margins 29:39 Chief Kindness Officer + what’s next… #DealsAndDeadlines #SportsBusiness #NFL #SuperBowl #NFLSalaryCap #ESPN #NFLNetwork #SportsMedia #MediaRights #StreamingSports #Braves #MLB #RegionalSportsNetworks #CFP #CollegeFootballPlayoff #NBA #LeBronJames #Disney #SportsMarketing #SportsEconomy #AgentLife #BusinessOfSports #Podcast #AtlantaSports #680TheFan

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The college football season may be over, but the business of the sport is booming. Super agent Hadley Engelhardt and Matt Chernoff break down how Curt Cignetti took Indiana from the bottom of college football to a national championship — and a nearly $15 million payday. What does that kind of financial leap mean in the NIL and transfer portal era, and is Indiana’s run a blueprint or a perfect storm? The guys also dive into the College Football Playoff money machine, including sky-high ticket prices, nearly $250 million in postseason ad revenue, and what expansion to 16 teams could mean for TV networks, conferences, and fans. Plus, how academics and the transfer portal calendar may finally force real change. From there, it’s the NFL coaching carousel, where leverage, timing, and agents shape decisions — including why Atlanta moved fast to hire Kevin Stefanski. Finally, the business of baseball takes center stage with the Dodgers’ latest blockbuster: Kyle Tucker’s $240 million deal, complete with deferrals, opt-outs, and big implications for parity and the next MLB CBA. 🎧 New episodes of Deals and Deadlines drop every Wednesday on all podcast platforms 📺 Watch every episode on the 680 The Fan YouTube channel Chapters 00:00 – Intro 00:40 – Indiana title run & Curt Cignetti’s payday 02:10 – Ticket prices, demand & postseason ad revenue 06:05 – CFP expansion: 12 vs 16 vs 24 teams 08:45 – NIL, transfer portal timing & academics 15:10 – NFL coaching carousel & Kevin Stefanski hire 24:40 – Dodgers, Kyle Tucker & MLB financial imbalance #DealsAndDeadlines #SportsBusiness #CollegeFootball #NIL #TransferPortal #CFP #CollegeFootballPlayoff #NFL #CoachingCarousel #MLB #Dodgers #KyleTucker #680TheFan

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The NFL coaching carousel is officially underway — and Deals & Deadlines is breaking down the sports business, coaching interviews, front office hiring, and NIL money driving the biggest decisions in football right now. Matt Chernoff and sports agent Hadley Engelhardt cover the latest on NFL head coach openings, GM job searches, the real behind-the-scenes interview process, the Rooney Rule, and why John Harbaugh unexpectedly hitting the market changes everything. Plus: the Falcons’ use of consultants, the buzz around Matt Ryan as President of Football Operations, the wild west of NIL and the transfer portal, and major uncertainty in sports TV rights that could impact teams like the Atlanta Braves. If you follow the Atlanta Falcons coaching search, the NFL head coach hiring cycle, college football NIL, or the future of regional sports networks (RSNs) — this episode is for you. ✅ Topics in this episode include: NFL coaching carousel 2026: Falcons, Giants, Titans, Browns, Raiders, Cardinals openings John Harbaugh firing fallout and why teams pivot their shortlists How agents schedule interviews, manage optics, and prep candidates (Zoom vs in-person) Rooney Rule explained + what “real” interviews look like Falcons hiring consultants: how search firms vet candidates + potential conflicts Matt Ryan Falcons front office role: why trust + branding matter in ownership decisions NIL valuations: QB $3.5M high-end, WR $1M–$2M, edge rushers $1M+ and more Transfer portal chaos: leverage, re-entering portal, “pay-for-play” reality Braves TV rights risk: FanDuel/Main Street Sports issues & what it means for payroll ESPN/Disney lawsuit & carriage disputes (Dish vs Disney) Ratings: CFP numbers, brand power, and why the NFL keeps setting records ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Welcome to Deals & Deadlines (2026 kickoff) 00:43 – NFL coaching carousel: job openings + surprise Ravens move 01:03 – Agent perspective: HC vs GM interviews & preparation 01:32 – Rooney Rule explained + what “real” interviews look like 02:50 – Who calls who? How interview requests actually happen 03:28 – Choosing the right job: fit, roster, ownership, resources 04:33 – Zoom interviews vs in-person finals: what teams evaluate 05:48 – Why teams hire consultants for GM/HC searches (how it works) 06:14 – Consulting fees + “CYA” factor + hidden agenda risk 07:36 – Falcons front office: Matt Ryan as President of Football Ops? 08:22 – Trust vs experience + branding/optics for ownership 09:30 – Can a former player lead football ops? Learning on the job 11:19 – College football business: transfer portal & NIL market explodes 12:05 – NIL pricing tiers: QB market, WR market, OL/DL, defensive positions 13:40 – “Pay for play” reality + why there’s no loyalty in the portal 15:52 – Braves TV rights uncertainty: FanDuel/Main Street Sports payment issues 18:14 – RSNs, payroll pressure, free agency, and work stoppage worries 19:32 – Dish vs Disney: ESPN leverage, carriage disputes, market power 22:05 – CFP ratings: brand power vs storylines (will numbers drop?) 25:12 – NFL ratings: CBS best season ever + playoff viewership outlook 26:22 – Subscribe + where to watch/listen (new episodes every Friday)

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On this episode of Deals & Deadlines, Matt Chernoff and sports business insider Hadley Engelhardt break down the biggest money, media, and power stories shaping sports today — from college football to the NFL and beyond. Topics include: Why College Football Playoff ticket prices vary so dramatically The reality behind NIL money, quarterback leverage, and Arch Manning’s earning power How fans decide which CFP games are worth the cost Joe Burrow’s emotional comments and why they spark Andrew Luck comparisons Patrick Mahomes’ injury fallout and why star power matters to Amazon, Netflix, and the NFL Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua on Netflix — and why it’s an entertainment business play The Dodgers owing over $1 billion in deferred contracts and why they’re comfortable with it Nick Saban’s next chapter as a sports owner Taylor Swift’s $2 billion tour and why rewarding staff is smart business Shaquille O’Neal’s philanthropy and how legacy matters off the field This is the business side of sports — explained through money, leverage, media rights, and decision-making at the highest level. 🎧 New episodes of Deals & Deadlines drop every Friday 📺 Watch on the 680 The Fan YouTube channel 🎙️ Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts #SportsBusiness #CollegeFootball #CFP #NIL #NFL #JoeBurrow #PatrickMahomes #JakePaul #NetflixSports #Dodgers #NickSaban #TaylorSwift #Shaq #SportsMedia #DealsAndDeadlines

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On this extended edition of Deals & Deadlines, Matt Chernoff and sports agent/lawyer Hadley Engelhardt connect the biggest sports business stories across college football, baseball, and the NFL — all through the lens of money, leverage, media rights, and power. The show opens with a deep dive into the College Football Playoff business model, including the $4 million payout per team and how conferences like the SEC and Big Ten are stacking massive revenue advantages. The conversation expands into playoff expansion, Notre Dame’s exclusion, Group of Five access, TV windows competing with the NFL, and whether the current system actually delivers the best teams — or just the most profitable ones. From there, Matt and Hadley examine the future of bowl games, opt-outs, ESPN’s potential revenue losses, legal exposure, and why the postseason exhibition model may be nearing its breaking point. The discussion then turns to a landmark moment in college athletics: private equity officially entering the space, highlighted by Utah’s reported equity partnership that could reach $500 million. What does shared ownership mean for control, branding, NIL, Olympic sports, and the long-term soul of college athletics? On the baseball side, the show covers MLB Winter Meetings, where Scott Boras has become a full-scale celebrity power broker, securing over $1.2 billion in contracts while reshaping how agents create leverage. The episode also explores how a looming MLB CBA expiration is shortening contracts and pushing teams toward less risk, plus ESPN’s shift away from Sunday Night Baseball toward a fractured, streaming-first model. Finally, the show wraps with the NFL and global sports media: – Philip Rivers potentially returning at age 44 and what that conversation looks like from an agent’s perspective – The sudden drop in Taylor Swift’s NFL TV exposure and whether it’s a branding reset – And World Cup format changes, hydration breaks, and why “player safety” may really mean more ad inventory Smart, candid, and brutally honest — this is Deals & Deadlines at its most comprehensive. #DealsAndDeadlines #SportsBusiness #CollegeFootballPlayoff #CFPExpansion #MediaRights #BusinessOfSports #PrivateEquity #NIL #CollegeAthletics #MLBWinterMeetings #ScottBoras #MLBContracts #NFLBusiness #PhilipRivers #TaylorSwift #SportsMedia #StreamingSports #WorldCup2026 #FIFA #SportsLaw #ESPN #TVRatings #FootballBusiness #BaseballBusiness #sportseconomics

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Lane Kiffin is off to LSU on a $91 million guaranteed deal — and the business side is absolutely wild. On this episode of Deals and Deadlines, Matt Chernoff and super agent Hadley Engelhardt break down how Jimmy Sexton pulled it off, what LSU actually bought, and why this contract is unlike almost anything we’ve seen in college football.

We also dive into:

• Why Lane’s buyout tops Brian Kelly’s and what it says about LSU’s strategy

• How the state of Louisiana structures coaching contracts at public universities

• Why LSU is paying Lane Kiffin bonuses based on Ole Miss’ playoff run

• The $140M wave of SEC buyouts and the “Kirby Smart effect” on the coaching carousel

• Penn State’s messy search: agents, leverage, and how they ended up behind everyone

• The monster NIL/QB flip: Jared Curtis from Georgia to Vanderbilt

• Whether TV networks and media partners are “corrupt” or just doing smart business

• Why ESPN is at Georgia–Alabama instead of Big Ten title sites — and why that’s just reality

• NBC “leasing” the Big Ten title game & what a $70M rights fee really buys you

• Michael Jordan’s legendary “Love of the Game” clause and why no one will ever get it again

• Christian Ponder’s new mission to help athletes transition after their playing days

• Tiger Woods’ push to shorten and reshape the PGA Tour schedule post–Super Bowl

🔔 New sports business episodes drop every Friday on the 680 The Fan YouTube channel and wherever you get your podcasts.

👤 Hosts:
Matt Chernoff & Hadley Engelhardt
🎧 Show: Deals and Deadlines – your weekly look at contracts, buyouts, NIL, media rights, and the money behind the games.

⏱ Chapters:
0:00 Intro – What is Deals and Deadlines?
0:36 Lane Kiffin to LSU: The chase, the ego, the fit
3:12 Inside the $91M contract & buyout structure
7:01 Lane’s Ole Miss playoff bonuses… paid by LSU
10:19 SEC coaching firings & $140M in buyouts
12:51 Penn State’s coaching search mess
15:25 Jared Curtis flips from Georgia to Vanderbilt
17:07 Are TV networks “corrupt” or just doing business?
21:13 NBC leasing the Big Ten title game
22:52 Michael Jordan’s “Love of the Game” clause
24:30 Christian Ponder & life after sports
29:05 Tiger Woods, PGA schedule changes & golf’s TV problem

👍 Like, comment, and subscribe if you want more deep dives on the business of sports — from college football contracts and NIL to media rights, endorsements, and beyond.

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In this episode of Deals & Deadlines, Hadley Engelhardt and Matt Chernoff break down the biggest sports-business stories of the week — from MLB Winter Meetings fallout and the Braves cashing in on Drake Baldwin’s Rookie of the Year win to looming CBA concerns, betting scandals, and massive college football coaching drama. They also dive into NFL broadcast wars, Arthur Blank’s $350M investment in women’s soccer, the Stephen A./Mina Kimes endorsement mess, and why the WNBA All-Star Game is struggling to find a host. New episodes drop every Friday — subscribe for all things sports business, contracts, agents, media, and money. #DealsAndDeadlines #SportsBusiness #MLB #WinterMeetings #Braves #DrakeBaldwin #RookieOfTheYear #MLBCBA #SportsBetting #PropBets #AJBrown #NFL #CollegeFootball #BrianKelly #Buyouts #NIL #TransferPortal #ArthurBlank #WNBA #WNBANews #StephenASmith #MinaKimes #GoldmanSachs #CaitlinClark #SportsMedia

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