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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