Rosters to Rings Podcast
Welcome to the Rosters to Rings Podcast where General Managers from the MLB, NBA, NFL and more will take you behind the curtain and share their unfiltered experiences and evaluations of past and present events in professional sports. Due to competitive reasons, league rules, ownership directives and extreme discretion, General Managers share approximately 40% of what they know and experience with fans. At the Rosters to Rings Podcast, we are here to share as much of the other 60% as we can. We will dive deep into not only what decisions are made, but how and why they are made, the strategic nature of negotiations, roster construction, the characters that make up the game, and the true depth of relationships between executives, coaches, players, agents, media and fans.
Episodes
Jason Garrett joins Rosters to Rings to talk about what makes great leaders and great quarterbacks. From Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin to Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert, Jason shares behind-the-scenes stories and lessons from his years as a player, coach, and broadcaster. Thad, Ryan and Tom also dive into MLB playoff pushes, NFL and NBA roster management, and the always-debated “rest vs rust” dilemma.
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The GM's welcome MLB Hall of Fame Pitcher Greg Maddux to the show. Greg talks about his life on an Army base in Spain where he learned to love sports, the reasons for his tough decision to leave Chicago, and the unwritten rules of hitting and being hit by pitches. Plus, Thad and Ryan break down the latest on Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers, and dive into a candid debate on how far should teams really go to win in pro sports?
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Thad and Ryan welcome ESPN’s Bill Barnwell for a deep dive into the evolution of analytics in sports, especially the NFL. Bill explains how advances in technology and access to game footage have transformed the way he blends data with storytelling in his work. Plus, Ryan unpacks the latest drama in Los Angeles, breaking down the explosive Clippers saga involving Kawhi Leonard and owner Steve Ballmer.
The GMs welcome former MLB and Team USA catcher and former Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais, for a candid and wide-ranging conversation. Scott reflects on his unconventional path to the big leagues, breaks down his managerial philosophy across the grind of a full season, discusses his current role with the Padres, and weighs the balance between advanced analytics and gut instinct. Plus, he shares stories from a lifetime of lo...
Tom Telesco joins Thad to highlight a special episode centered around the big NFL news of the Micah Parson's trade from Dallas to Green Bay. The GMs are joined by Dallas radio personality Jeff "Skin" Wade to not only discuss the trade and to also gauge the reaction of the Dallas fan base to the explosive news.
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Former NFL GM Tom Telesco joins Ryan and Thad to break down the 53-man roster cutdown process, the toughest part of releasing players, and the guys swap swap candid stories about what it’s like when the tables turn, getting cut themselves from their GM roles.
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Ryan is back! Thad and Ryan kick things off by breaking down why NBA franchises are valued higher than MLB clubs, from global reach to media rights. Then they welcome Los Angeles Chargers GM Tom Telesco for a wide-ranging roundtable on what it takes to run a front office in three different leagues.
From his Bill Polian mentorship and the Colts–Patriots rivalry to modern ownership dynamics and risk analysis, Tom shares lessons...
Thad and Jon Daniels sit down with ESPN’s premier baseball insider Jeff Passan for an in-depth conversation about his journey from a local reporter in Fresno to one of the most trusted voices in the game. Jeff opens up about his rise through Yahoo Sports, the art and ethics of breaking news, building sources, and the importance of integrity in journalism.
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In this candid conversation, former Chicago White Sox General Manager Rick Hahn joins Rosters to Rings hosts Thad Levine and Jon Daniels to reflect on his eventful tenure on the South Side. From navigating rebuilds and high-stakes trades to managing Jerry Reinsdorf's expectations in one of baseball’s most passionate markets, Hahn shares the inside stories behind the dea...
Thad is joined by former Texas Ranger GM Jon Daniels who is stepping in while Ryan is away. Thad and Jon welcome Texas Ranger legend Michael Young to the show who shares an amazing story of the balance of what a player has to consider for himself vs the needs of his team. Also Jon tells his story of becoming an MLB GM at the age of 28.
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MLB great Torii Hunter joins the show to discuss his story of how he found baseball, was drafted, and then his unique journey from the minor leagues to MLB stardom, using adversity to fuel his dreams. Thad and Ryan also discuss the highlights from the MLB Draft and NBA Summer Camp updates.
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Thad and Ryan discuss the latest news on the Washington Nationals, and welcome former CAA Co-Head of Baseball and current special advisor the San Francisco Giants Jeff Berry. Jeff shares his perspective on the role of the agent in negotiating with General Managers in baseball, his special relationship with Buster Posey, horse racing, and his amazing new baseball helmet The Equalizer.
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Thad and Ryan break down the latest NBA free agency news, discuss key post-Draft updates, and dive into a compelling conversation comparing the salary dynamics between NBA and MLB teams, including why its so great to be a current NBA player.
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Thad and Ryan are joined by NBA veteran and champion P.J. Tucker, who shares his remarkable journey from the NBA Draft, to playing overseas in Europe, and ultimately returning to carve out a unique role in the league. P.J. opens up about the challenges and triumphs of his career, and how his gritty style and leadership have helped multiple teams make deep playoff runs.
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Thad and Ryan pull back the curtain on the high-stakes world of draft day decisions in both the MLB and NBA. Ryan shares the inside story of a pivotal Celtics draft, including how the team handled dropping from the No. 2 to the No. 5 pick. Meanwhile, Thad breaks down the unique strategic approach baseball teams take during their draft process. It’s an insider’s look at how front offices think, plan, and pivot when the p...
Voice of the Milwaukee Brewers, the NBA on TNT, NBA 2K, and fresh off calling one of the greatest French Open finals ever, play by play veteran Brian Anderson joins Thad and Ryan on this week's pod. Brian discusses his origin story, how sportscasters interface with the front office, and his new role in calling tennis with the legendary John McEnroe.
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Thad and Ryan welcome Detroit manager A.J. Hinch to the episode and discuss relating to players and management, tough discussions with key players, and A.J.'s unique rise in a time of legendary managers in MLB. Ryan and Thad also start the show with a new segment based on listener questions.
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Thad and Ryan welcome Greg Anthony to the show to discuss the current playoff rosters, Greg's unique origin story and his championship run at UNLV, as well as his perspective on his son playing in the NBA and his unique popularity as the voice of NBA 2K.
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Welcome to the debut episode of Rosters to Rings, hosted by long-time MLB executive Thad Levine and former NBA GM Ryan McDonough. In this kickoff conversation, Thad and Ryan share their unconventional journeys to the front office and reveal the behind-the-scenes reality of running pro sports teams—what fans see and hear is just 40% of the story. Get a preview of what’s to come th...
Welcome to the Rosters to Rings Podcast with Thad Levine and Ryan McDonough bringing you the fan inside the world of professional sports front offices.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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