The PitchGrid

Football is about more than what happens on the field. In this special episode, John sits down with Derek Messulam and youth soccer coach Deanna Giordano to discuss Goals For Good, the impact football has on local communities, and Deanna's inspiring journey coaching while battling cancer. From grassroots soccer to life-changing relationships, this conversation explores how the game connects people...

Abe Gordon returns to The PitchGrid for a full World Cup preview. We discuss USMNT expectations, format changes, roster decisions, World Cup controversies, MLS growth, dark horses, predictions, and whether the United States is actually ready to host. Who wins it all? Timestamps: 0:00 — Intro & Welcome Back Abe Gordon
0:28 — Is the New World Cup Format Better or Worse?
4:11 — Why This World Cup Fee...

Portland Cherry Bombs FC may be new, but they already know exactly who they want to be. GM Courtney Schmidt and Head Coach Janine Sparra join The PitchGrid to discuss creating a women’s club from scratch, building community support, Portland soccer culture, women’s soccer pathways, and why representation matters both on and off the field. This episode goes beyond soccer and into what building some...

The Vancouver Whitecaps are one of the best stories in all of sports this season. Despite success on the pitch, serious concerns remain about the club’s future in Vancouver. In this episode of The PitchGrid , we’re joined by Ciaran, the president of the Vancouver Southsiders, to discuss: ​ the Whitecaps relocation fears ​ the Save The Caps movement ​ supporter culture in Vancouver ​ MLS economics...

Switchbacks FC became one of the stories of the US Open Cup — defeating Sporting Kansas City, pushing the Colorado Rapids to penalties, and helping unite a growing football culture in Colorado Springs. But in this conversation with head coach Alan McCann, we go beyond results. We discuss: * the emotional Open Cup run * supporter culture * building club identity * organic football growth in America...

Aaron Rodgers appears destined to stay in Pittsburgh, the Champions League final is set, MLS clubs continue their woes in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and the EFL Championship playoffs might have their own Spygate scandal. On Episode 51 of The PitchGrid , we break down: • Rodgers fit with the Steelers and what it means for the future. • the biggest games to watch as the NFL schedule release approac...

Episode 50 of The PitchGrid — a milestone we didn’t even realize until after recording. In this episode, we’re joined by Matt Poland, coach and sporting director of FC Naples. We discuss the realities of building a club from the ground up, including the responsibilities that come with overseeing both the sporting and structural side of an organization. From establishing identity and culture to nav...

The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books—but one take is already turning heads. When asked for his hottest draft opinion, Errol Marks didn’t hesitate: “Arvell Reese will fail.” In this episode of The PitchGrid , we break down that bold claim and everything that came out of draft weekend—from the teams that nailed it to the picks that might already be under the microscope. We get into: ​ The Arvell Reese...

This one got chaotic… fast. I was joined by Tim Collins (Answer The Coll) to run through a mock draft of the first round of the NFL Draft — and it quickly turns into one of the wildest draft simulations yet. From a surprise AJ Brown trade scenario to the Browns doubling down on chaos, we break down every pick, debate team decisions, and call out the biggest reaches and steals along the way. We als...

What makes a real soccer city ? Ben Wright joins The PitchGrid to break down why Nashville has become one of the most exciting soccer environments in the U.S.— and what actually separates true soccer cities from the rest. From culture and community to MLS vs the EFL Championship, this episode goes deeper than results and asks a bigger question: “Can MLS truly build authentic soccer cities?”

In this episode of The PitchGrid , we’re joined by Favian Renkel—writer for The Athletic and head of content at Kickbase, the new home of MLS fantasy! We break down the biggest storylines across MLS, the USMNT, and the global game, including World Cup predictions, media narratives, and the growth of football in the United States. From what MLS gets wrong to whether the USMNT is truly ready for the...

Is the NFL on the verge of another officiating controversy? This episode of The PitchGrid dives into the growing conversation around replacement referees, breaking down what it could mean for the league and why it matters more than ever. We also take a closer look at Ty Simpson’s rising hype, key NFL rule changes, and whether recent moves like the JSN extension signal smart planning — or something...

Maxx Crosby speaks out — and the Ravens situation might be worse than we thought. This week on The PitchGrid, we break down whether Baltimore fumbled a superstar, react to the Jaylen Waddle trade, and look at the biggest winners and losers from NFL free agency. On the football side, the EFL Championship promotion race is absolute chaos, Wrexham are catching heat again, and the Premier League races...

Abe Gordon (92.9 The Game, ATL Show) joins The PitchGrid for urgent NFL fallout: the Maxx Crosby-to-Ravens trade collapses after a failed physical! Implications galore for Raiders, Ravens, and edge rushers league-wide. Falcons deep dive: Front office expectations, Tua vs Penix, draft/free agency thoughts, and expectations for the coming season. Atlanta United: 0-3 start under Tata Martino — what's...

Legendary broadcaster Nate Bukaty (Apple TV MLS, ex-Sporting KC voice) joins the show! We unpack Peter Vermes' enduring impact, Sporting's fresh start under Rafa Wicky, young MLS stars, why Nashville could surprise, the real MLS vs. Championship debate, and Kansas City's massive 2026 World Cup role. Plus, Nate previews the USMNT under Pochettino and discusses his new book Perfect Pitch. Don't miss...

The Combine rumors are flying, the Bears stadium situation just had a new update, and one of Europe’s most unlikely clubs just keeps proving people wrong. This week on The PitchGrid, we break down: ​Chicago’s latest stadium twist ​Trade smoke around Maxx Crosby ​Whether Pitts and Pickens are worth their franchise tags. ​ A potentially massive change in replay involvement in NFL officiating. ​The C...

Shock decisions, franchise drama, and one of the best underdog stories in sports right now. This week on The PitchGrid, we dig into major NFL developments — including the Seahawks franchise sale, growing Bears relocation momentum, Tyreek Hill’s release, and key franchise tag questions across the league. Then we shift to the global game with a deep dive into Bodø/Glimt’s remarkable rise, plus EFL C...

In this episode of The PitchGrid, we review Super Bowl LX and break down how the Seahawks lifted the Lombardi Trophy, the key moments that defined the game, and the biggest takeaways. We recap the NFL Awards and Hall of Fame class, discuss notable snubs and surprises, and cover major league news — including international game announcements, coaching hires, and emerging trade rumors. On the footbal...

Snow globes, rivalry showdowns, coaching chaos, and shock results across English football — welcome back to The PitchGrid. We recap Championship Sunday, including Denver’s snowy battle with New England, Seattle’s divisional win over the Rams, and early Super Bowl thoughts. The NFL coaching carousel continues to spin as Jesse Minter, Mike McCarthy, Joe Brady, and Todd Monken all land new roles, plu...

In this episode of The PitchGrid, we break down a dramatic Divisional Round as playoff pressure exposes cracks in some of the NFL’s biggest stars. Josh Allen had the worst playoff performance of his career despite a brave comeback. Is his mythos cracking?? We analyze the biggest moments from the weekend, including Seattle’s dominant performance, CJ Stroud single-handedly costing Houston, and a cap...

Terry McLaurin, Micah Parsons, and Trey Hendrickson headline the NFL’s growing holdout drama — who's getting extended, who (if anyone) is getting moved, and what do their teams risk? Plus: Baker Mayfield fires back at the Browns, and we ask if he really could’ve changed Cleveland’s story. From the field to the future: reflections on the 2025 Hall of Fame class, a look ahead at the 2026 ballot, and...

Are NFL owners secretly working against guaranteed contracts? Is Kyler Murray quietly on a comeback tear? And how much worse can things get at Sheffield Wednesday? This week on The PitchGrid, we unpack NFL collusion whispers, question whether Arizona could be a true sleeper, and ask why no one is talking about Kyler’s actual performance. Plus: Bengals stadium deals, Todd Bowles’ extension, our Top...

The Ravens signed All-Pro cornerback Jair Alexander — but does this raise the stakes or just crowd the secondary? We break down Baltimore’s loaded defense and what it means for Lamar, Harbaugh, and the Super Bowl race. Plus, we dive into Jackson Dart’s future with the Giants, Brian Daboll’s dangerously thin job security, and our top bust candidates heading into 2025. Trevor Lawrence, Tyree Wilson,...

Nick Chubb signs with the Texans, but is the pairing with Mixon risky or genius? We break down Houston's offense, CJ Stroud's pressure, and the injury red flags. Plus — Bengals front office chaos, Jair Alexander’s release, and how Daniel Jones might revive his career in Indy. We also run down minicamp buzz, and revisit the best centers of the 2010s. Across the pitch, it’s all about manager moves:...

On this week’s episode of The PitchGrid: 🏈 Frank Ragnow’s surprise retirement 🏈 Dustin Colquitt and Dave Andrews say goodbye 🏈 Aaron Rodgers joins the Steelers! 🏈 Our Top 10 NFL QBs list — who’s in and who’s out? ⚽ Michael Carrick sacked by Boro ⚽ Norwich hire Liam Manning ⚽ West Brom appoint Ryan Mason ⚽ Soccer Basics: What is a table? Don’t forget to follow and rate if you enjoy the show...