Nick Wright is trying to save athletes from themselves when it comes to the podcast game.
After C.J. Stroud was overheard teasing Chicago Bears defensive back Jalen Johnson about revealing their defensive coverages on retired star cornerback Richard Sherman’s podcast ahead of their Week 2 clash on Sunday Night Football, Wright called for an end to the entire trend.
The way Wright sees it, athletes are bound to reveal gameplans like Johnson did — or fall short in their love lives. Some might see Travis Kelce flirt with Taylor Swift via his massive New Heights podcast and think they can do the same, but Wright had a sharp warning for them.
“People saw, ‘Did you see this player started a podcast, and that’s how he connected with Taylor Swift, what could it do for me?'” Wright said. “Here’s the answer. Not that, America. What it’s going to do for you is cause dissension and disaster.”
“You’re not going to get Dua Lipa to marry you by doing a podcast.”
Nick Wright with a warning for athletes who think they’re going to be the next Travis Kelce: pic.twitter.com/rQxgD369ke
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 19, 2024
Stroud wasn’t just lucky that he happened to tune into Johnson’s appearance on The Richard Sherman Podcast. According to Wright, Stroud was simply smart enough to steal secrets from others’ shows and not give them out on his own.
“Everything C.J. does makes him more likable, makes him seem smarter, including the fact that he doesn’t have a podcast,” Wright said.
In Wright’s mind, there is only a downside to launching a podcast. Player-hosted podcasts have caused rifts between teammates, controversy with fans, and more. If the only upside is the potential that a pop star falls in love with you through your on-air charm, Wright thinks it’s just not worth it.
“You’re not going to get Dua Lipa to marry you by doing a podcast,” Wright joked. “Just chill out, and let’s just figure out what’s happening here.”‘
Others including Bomani Jones and Draymond Green have issued more direct warnings to athletes who want to do content, including the significant effort it takes to pull it off and whether audiences truly want every athlete’s perspective.
But here, Nick Wright is offering a more basic concern: that Kelce set expectations too high and other football players may set themselves up for failure.
About Brendon Kleen
Brendon is a Media Commentary staff writer at Awful Announcing. He has also covered basketball and sports business at Front Office Sports, SB Nation, Uproxx and more.