Unvarnished Football

Former NFL GM Upton Bell previews many games of Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season including the Raiders/Patriots with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. The pair also discuss the dangers of the NFL suspending officials for in-game confrontations with players.

Former NFL executive Upton Bell examines QB injuries and backup quarterbacks winning games and ponders whether teams like the Raiders and Vikings are for real with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money.

Former Colts and Patriots executive Upton Bell explores how the lack of a preseason has affected the NFL season so far with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. Bell also remembers his longtime friend, NFL executive Ernie Accorsi. The pair also discuss both sides of the coin about Colts owner Carlie Irsay roaming the sidelines with a headset on. Listen to previous episodes at Unva...

Former NFL executive Upton Bell, son of former NFL commissioner and Philadelphia Eagles founder Bert Bell, looks back at Week 1 and ahead to Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. Bell also discusses the new voting changes implemented by the Pro Football Hall of Fame affects the preservation of important NFL history.

Upton Bell, a former executive for the Colts and Patriots discusses the first two NFL games of 2026 plus the several messes that college football faces with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. The College Football Playoff has made two recent announcements regarding eligibility and expansion and the two discuss the impact.

Former NFL executive Upton Bell discusses the NFL preseason and roster cuts, comparing the current times with his days with the Colts and Patriots in the 1960s and 1970s. He also talks about NCAA football with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money.

Upton Bell, former NFL GM, discusses the new data regarding CTE dangers for former NFL players with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. Upton also shares how his father, NFL Commissioner Bert Bell, created the Pro Bowl.

Former NFL executive Upton Bell looks at the court decision allowing a few players on current NFL rosters a chance for a fifth year of NCAA eligibility with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. The pair also discuss Roger Goddell's comments about the NFL having future NFL teams based in Europe. 

Former NFL executive Upton Bell discusses the recent news of Roger Craig's vascular dementia and Chris Johnson's ALS with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. What are the factors in today's game that lead to such tragedies? Can the NFL do anything about them? 

Former NFL executive Upton Bell discusses the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class with co-host Michael Jackson. Bell also shares what it was like being a presenter during the 1971 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction of Bears great Bill Hewitt. Jackson shares a story of knowing a member of the 2026 class while he was in high school. Visit UnvarnishedFootball.com to hear all episodes and learn more...

Former Colts and Patriots executive Upton Bell compares NFL training camps and preseason games of the past with today with Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. Is the preseason less effective in training players than in the past? How much has changed over time and what's stayed consistent? Hear all episodes of the Unvarnished Football podcast at UnvarnishedFootball.com or on your favorite...

Former NFL executive Upton Bell and co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money reveal who they would want as their quarterback if they owned a current NFL franchise. They also discuss which of the youngest quarterbacks are most likely to succeed. 

Former NFL executive Upton Bell discusses why the NFL resists natural grass despite the players preferring it with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. The two look at the evidence showing that more injuries happen on artificial turf, and Upton shares his memories of working for teams with both grass and artificial turf fields. Upton also shares about his time as an owner and meet...

Former NFL executive Upton Bell identifies how NFL analytics misguide teams into making poor decisions with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. The two also look a potential agreement between Bill Belichick and Sean Payton to allow Belichick to break Don Shula's all-time wins record.  

Former NFL executive Upton Bell discusses the gambling culture's effects on pro and college football today and his experience playing against players who were paid to fix games while he was a college basketball player. He and co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money also review how college football is a mess and what to look for as NFL training camps begin. 

Upton Bell, a former NFL executive and NCAA basketball player discusses the recent gambling scandal involving Texas Tech quarterback Brenden Sorsby with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. The hosts discuss an NCAA study that found a significant percentage of D1 athletes violate NCAA rules and bet on college sports.  The two also compare the Knicks' Game 4 NBA Finals comeback wit...

Upton Bell, a former executive with the Baltimore Colts, remembers Colts great and NFL legend with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. Both hosts share personal memories they have of working with Raymond Berry. The two also discuss the Myles Garrett and A.J. Brown NFL trades.  

Upton Bell, former NFL executive and son of NFL commissioner Bert Bell, looks at the history of the NFL commissioner's power and how it's been viewed by the courts in light of the recent Supreme Court decision to decline hearing the NFL's appeal in the Brian Flores lawsuit. Co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money brings up several court cases and Congressional investigations filed thr...

Upton Bell, a former Colts and Patriots NFL executive, discusses Aaron Rodgers and other NFL QBs with long careers with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. Is Aaron Rodgers playing too long?

Former NFL executive Upton Bell, son of NFL commissioner Bert Bell, compares the NFL schedule making of today with his father creating schedules at home. Co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money points out how the NFL sensationalizes the release of the schedule to help garner publicity as the two hosts examine how the NFL continues marketing toward the casual fan rather than the dyed-i...

Upton Bell, owner of the World Football League's Charlotte Hornets, tells us what it's really like to own a pro football team. He also shares memories of deals he made with Ted Turner and John Sterling as owner of the Hornets in the mid-70s. Co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money also asks about Bell's father, who founded the Philadelphia Eagles and briefly co-owned the Pittsburgh St...

How much does the NFL Draft help teams win? Former NFL executive Upton Bell talks about his experiences building championship teams with Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. Michael also cites statistics from recent drafts to support Bell's claims. 

Former NFL executive Upton Bell previews the 2026 NFL Draft with Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. The two also discuss how college football salaries might affect future NFL Drafts and look back on how Upton's father, Bert Bell, invented and implemented the NFL Draft in 1936.

Former NFL executive Upton Bell, son of former NFL commissioner Bert Bell, discusses his father's experiences with NFL Antitrust cases and what to expect in the current NFL investigation, with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. The two also discuss Fernando Mendoza's decision to not attend the NFL Draft, Bell's memories of anchoring the first televised NFL Draft in the 1960s, an...

Former Colts head scout Upton Bell shares about the evolution of scouting from his time in the 1960s working for Don Shula with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. The pair also discusses a recent Harvard CTE study finding that former NFL players are four times more likely to develop CTE, sharing stories of players they've known who were diagnosed with CTE.