Nick Emmanwori Super Bowl Champion reveals the secret MOB behind Seattle's Dark side defense, opens up on his pregame injury, Sam Darnold swag, Mike Macdonald's insane X&O's schemes, his mother going viral and why he trusts Seahawks will run it back.

The champ is here! Congrats, dog. What position you play? I play defense, man. He said he just play defense. I told you, huge, dog. We met this summer, first off. I'm glad you didn't get hurt diving for that ball. We was training. We met this summer, and he was like, hey, man, like, I go crazy this year. I'm going to be on the show. And when we texted before the Super Bowl, he was like, I told you. You know what I mean? Something happening you hear. Nick Eamon Warriors, Super Bowl champion, Seattle Seahawks. Plays everything on defense. Channing Crowder, this is Fred Taylor. I'm Ryan Clark, Pivotal fam. Thank y'all for pivoting with us. I do want to get to you, but I need to get to the real star in your family, man. Your mama. I know you were dealing with the ankle. When your mom goes viral during Super Bowl week, being like, hey, I know people say this is important, but I'm just happy to be here. It is what it is. How cool was it, man, for everybody to get to know a little bit about what your mom was like? Yeah, it was super cool. I wasn't really expecting her to go viral. Like, the interview she did, I, you know, I had no wind of it. So it was just, like, out the whim. But super amazing. like just that the whole world really sees like who she is like that's how she's been all my life really like just super energetic just a loving person and just super confident so so whenever she was doing them interviews it just it was awesome so she did also say that they were going to win because you were on the team yeah you know what i mean like has she just always had that much belief yeah always like she always just had that much belief like even like kind of like just as a I just remember her speaking things into existence and manifesting so hard. She don't never really say if, she always just says when. So that's how I know her. So the fact that the world's seeing her now, that's just who she is. One time she said that my son can whoop three grown men. This ain't any time you had to tell her mama, take it easy. You biting off more than I might be able to chew. Nah, nah, not ever, man. Whatever she says, I always believe, because, like, you know, mama knows best. So, like, when she says that, like, she used to tell me stories, like, she reminds me of her father and stuff. Like, you know, her father was, like, a very strong man, and, like, you know, he was the strongest man, and no one could, like, take him down. So whenever I heard, like, talk about him and stuff, she said she... I remind him of him. So, you know, whatever she's saying, you know, that's what it is. Hey, Nick, RC usually takes pride in cutting the room. I was gonna do it later. See, right. He'll probably try to do it later, but I'm trying to figure out with the way we're seated, he can't really cut it. He can probably put it down the middle, But he can't cut it. But that, you just had a birthday the day before the Super Bowl. Yeah. Happy to lay the birthday from us. And you're only 22. I'm not sure if you've had a better gift, but I do know it'll be hard to top this one. Like, talk about just the moment, your birthday, the big game. Kind of take us through how your weekend went prior to the game. Yeah, the weekend was great, bro. I just turned 22. Birthday was the day before. So, you know, like growing up, I remember the Super Bowl was always close around my birthday. Like, I remember watching Super Bowl on my birthday. Maybe, like, a game or – I don't know what game it was. Maybe, like, the Panthers. I'm not sure. But I remember just watching Super Bowl on my birthday. And so, like, Super Bowl's been, like, always in the realm of, like, celebration time for me. So, coming in, I knew my birthday was coming up the day before. The year before, I knew Cooper DeJohn's birthday was on there, too. So, that was pretty cool. So, I just knew, like, you know, it would be the best birthday gift and just celebrate. I was telling people, you know, my birthday's today, but I'm going to celebrate tomorrow. Speak into existence and, you know, great birthday. So, here's what's cool about what you just said about Cooper. He was also our first show after the Super Bowl last year. Right. We got to talk this coop and sit with him. And so I think it all just works out like that. A lot of times when you're first generation right in this country, it's doctor, it's lawyer. Your father is an educator. Right. Your father is an academic. Growing up, man, how did you balance the two? because your coach, Coach White, said you're the smartest player that he's ever coached. He said you had just a photographic memory. How did your parents enforcing or reinforcing the importance of education in your life help you not only as a person but as a player? I got four older brothers, and I'm the youngest. My dad, as you say, he's a college professor. My mom, she went to school and stuff too. But education was super huge, even to this day. I went to school for three years. I ain't get my degree. So my dad, even then, like, that's the first thing he says, like, you got to go get your degree regardless. So that's just the moral of it. Like, just growing up, just hard work, dedication, and whatever you're doing. But my dad was just never set on, like, you know, you got to be a doctor or you got to be a lawyer. Like, that was never him. Like, he just told me, like, whatever you do, just do it to your best ability. Make sure you have your college degree, and I'm supporting you in whatever venture you choose to do. So it was like I was forced to do anything. So I love sports, and he's seen I was talented. My dad actually was the first one to put me into sports. For him, he just didn't want me in the house all day. He just wanted something extra to do. He didn't really think it would turn into this, but he was like, I'm just going to put you in soccer or football. Just go out there. So from that, he's just been supporting me. My whole family has been supporting me. We got a background of just athletes in my family. I mean, don't hurt that you're 6'3", 220 pounds and run 4'3". I mean, I'll put you in sports too. It ain't a hard decision to make. He's the baby. Yeah, it ain't a hard decision, man. Is the league easy? Because I always said high school to college wasn't a big transition. When college to the league, I was like, okay, these boys playing. Yeah. It doesn't seem like it was that big a jump for you. Yeah. You know, it's like that's the kind of question everybody asks me. You know, I don't want to like – like because the league is very hard in its own way. Like, you know, as former NFL players, I know like what the league is capable of, like the mental aspect of it. But for me, I think the league was just like way more like it's a physical game, like from college to the NFL, like dudes really out there hunting. Like, you know, you got dudes like Demarcus Lawrence, like he hitting anything he see. Like I'm watching him practice and like it's just real way more aggressive from like the college game and the high school game. That's probably like the biggest difference I can see in like the quarterback talent for sure. Like it's definitely a hard game. But like speaking in my own terms for me, you know, just adjusting to the game, It was just more of like learning the X and O's and just figuring out where to be. He was saying the X and O side, the schematic side of it is way more intricate. Yeah, way more intricate. Like the defensive schemes and like the stuff you're looking for. Like it didn't take me fast to catch on, but like even then it's like you just – you got to like put the work in and you got to like study it. And like it's different. Like it's a different game. Is it more of that or is it just that you have a natural competitive instinct? You grew up in a competitive environment, you know, having four older brothers. I know in my house, I got four boys. They, the smallest one, he gotta earn everything. Like, ain't no freebies, ain't no handout. He gonna end up crying, but he gonna fight for it. You have that naturally. Tending to accept the league was easier. Is it just that you're just a natural, you know, competitor at heart? I'll say that too, especially like growing up. Like you said, I got, you know, we got all our older brothers, like no sisters. Like, I remember like, man, like, everything was a competition with everything. Like, I remember, like, one time growing up, it was, like, my fourth oldest brother. So he's not even the oldest. And he's still, like, on me hard. We was out on the yard playing football. And I was playing with, like, some other kid in my neighborhood. And we was basically doing, like, one-on-ones. And he was a quarterback. And every time I'm on defense, he throwing the receiver the perfect ball. Every time I'm at receiver, he throwing me the hardest balls. Man, like, I remember, like, I was so mad at him. But, like, looking back, you know, he was just, you know, doing it out of love. And, like, it was fun. But I remember like going to my mom and I was like, dang, they're finna cry, like borderline finna cry because like what he was doing. But yeah, you know, I'll test that too. I think I think just the competitiveness of it is in me, too. Speaking of that brotherhood, man, we were at the joint practice with Green Bay when y'all got the throwing. Right. And I remember the two things I remember from that practice was nobody could cover JSN. I was like, he going to catch every football. And I remember looking at y'all on defense and I was like, they ready. Because as much as y'all were ready to fight for each other when y'all were out there, y'all also held each other accountable when y'all got to the sideline. And that's a very important thing. There was an interaction with you and Reek after the penalty in the NFC Championship. And I've had those conversations with Troy Polamalu, with Ike Taylor, with James Ferrier. Like, hey, man, this is how we got to lock in to win. How would you describe the brotherhood of the Seattle dark side, that defense, and how much that meant to y'all winning this Super Bowl? Yeah, the brotherhood is definitely real. Like, going back to the Packers joint practice, I remember that practice vividly. And that moment kind of like was what, I feel like that's where the start of everything kind of was for me. like when I'm starting to observe like the vets, because at the age, I'm just a young rookie just looking and observing. And, you know, we had a little brawl. And but even after the brawl, like we was all together. Like we was like, whatever we doing, either whether it's right or wrong, we doing it together. So leading that into the season, it's just a different group. Like it's just a different group. Like the bond is real. Like even when in an NFC game, you know, me and Rick, that was just like pure emotion and just passion for like my brother. Like, you know, like even if I was doing it, I would expect him to do the same thing to me because like we were super tight. So you don't really see that a lot from the NFL teams, especially player to player. That's like the old NFL, Ray Lewis, the accountability and stuff. You don't really see that in this age of football. So doing that, it was just real love. It was real brotherhood. And even then, right when we got back to the bench, we had that, and then we dapped up and hugged it out. And we was like, hey, bro, we gotta go win this game. It was just a different feeling. We really close. I remember the defensive meetings, watching film together. The meeting room is live. We in there laughing, we playing music, We rap into the songs. We shadow boxing. We doing, like, all type of stuff that other teams probably don't really have that close bond for. So this is probably, like, the closest team. The coach has been saying it. The player has been saying it. Like, the vets who played in the league 11 years, they've been saying, like, this is the closest team they've ever seen. And it's real. It does. Who are them vets? You bring up D-Law. D-Law been on the show. We cool with him. He played back when we used to play. He been in the league a while. Who's them dudes? Because you talking about that brotherhood. It's dudes that's calling to meetings. It's dudes that's turning music on. It's dudes that's making that bond. Who are those guys on the team? Because like you said, up to a man, Kenneth, Sam, everybody, the first thing they said was my fan, my homeboys, the defense, they kept shouting out everybody else, even your coach, even McDonald's. Like, no, this is the tightest team I've been around in my entire life. Who set that standard for the team player-wise? You know, just watching how things just naturally flow. I think like Jaron Reed was like the dude, you know, he breaks down the huddle. He was like the dude that just made things kind of go a little bit more. And I remember him calling team meetings with just players only. And it's him and Cooper Cup up there speaking and just how they envision things going. And the other vets on the same page, too. So, like, everybody was just on the true same page. And it was just selfless football played as far as on defense to offense, like, you know, even the backups. Like, everybody was just on the same page. So I think Jaren Reed definitely, like, kind of, like, was a dude that we're looking to. And he just made it the norm. Nick four years ago you were a three recruit The recruiting sites be dead ASS wrong It crazy right Then you were a freshman All freshman All All All all everything I don't understand these recruiting sites. And now you're a Super Bowl champ, man. And, you know, I do admire the guys that, you know, make those sacrifices. Like R.C., undrafted Super Bowl champion, man. and it just has a sweeter, you know, taste or what have you. Have you had a chance to kind of really just take it all in? It hadn't been that long, man. Yeah. Like, what's it been like? I haven't really had a chance to. You know, maybe, like, after the parade, I definitely, like, soak in, like, my whole journey. Because, like, you know, this is my first offseason. So, up until this point, it's been just football, football, football from college to high school to transition. Like, this is the first time I really got a real break in all my life. So, I'm definitely going to soak it in. but I definitely do got a bone to pick with them recruiting services, man. Like, man, they just ain't, you know. If the NFL Hall of Fame can forget about a GOAT head coach, the recruiting sites in high school, they'll never get it right. But from us to you, just to say, we've seen young guy on the news the last couple days for crashing out and possibly ruining his career. The offseason can bring a lot of challenges. You tend to get relaxed, and you want to have fun, especially with the type of work you had to put in the prior eight months be smart you know i'm to enjoy it be smart but don't sit in it too long a couple weeks have fun do your thing but get right back to it that's how you're going to end up being one of the great ones that we'll be able to sit around and talk about when we and we're really retired and great enjoy it man soak it in Fred you are really retired and great like Like yo you an up phase you OG right now like would you I mean, I don't even know the He's 50, Nick. He's 50, Nick. I just turned 50. That's a good question. We gotta ask you, what is the difference between that? Because we've argued about the Unk and the OG fade. Nah, that's definitely an argument going on on social media. You know, I kind of call up my big brothers like, you hitting Unk stage. They never want to admit it. But for me, I think Big Bro is definitely between 27 to 30, you know, 31. I think Unk hits you maybe... By unk, I say about 35 you unk to me. You know, 35 you definitely unk. So it's our relative. 45 and up, you OG. 45 you OG. Oh, we OG? I'm OG. You still hanging on unk. You know, Freddie T was talking about, you know, another young player, rookie in Atlanta, had some things with his, you know, the young lady he was dating. I don't want to harp on that. But I want to talk about you in that sense. Bro, I think Dawn Staley is a top three human in the world. We had her on our show. Absolutely love her. I love everything she represents. She spoke so highly of you and the way that you treated Raven. Bro, I want to ask you this. What does it feel like to have someone that is connected to you but not in football, she didn't recruit you, but knows you through your affiliation with a young lady on her team, represent you that way, but also speak so highly of you, man, on the biggest day of your career. Yeah, definitely appreciate that. Don Staley, like you said, man, she's a GOAT. Like, you know, she's been doing it for a long time as a player and as a coach. So the fact that she gave me that little shout-out, you know, wore my jersey on the sideline, that was definitely, like, you know, big ups. And, you know, she didn't really have to do it, but, like, that's just, you know, she's an Eagles fan at that, you know. So I remember, like, she wore the Eagles jersey last year. So the fact that she wore my jersey, you know, that definitely a lot of respect to her. Like, she a great person, and she got all the swag and all the personality that she needs. So a lot of respect for that. I remember when you were coming out, I do tape. I pick, like, three DBs in the draft, right? And I'll do a tape, I'm like, I think these are the three DBs in this draft that people are talking about, but I think they could be stars. Two of those people, I'm not trying to say I was right, I just feel right, were you and Xavier Watts, right? And I was like, I think these two dudes have opportunity to make immediate impact, and both of you did. Bro, you lined up at slot corner, at safety. You've played dime. You've played backer. You've done it all. What were some of those conversations with Mike McDonald like? Such a brilliant defensive mind who's had Kyle Hamilton. We've seen Derwin James, someone you know a lot about. What did Mike McDonald mean to you in your first year in understanding this defense and truly becoming one of the stars of the dark side? Mike, he a different type of coach, man. Y'all got to really sit down and pick his brain. He's just ahead of the game as far as the X and O standpoint. He's a true student of the game, and I'm glad he's my coach. Coming through the draft, I was meeting with all types of teams, but the team that definitely, from my own personal interest, Seattle was definitely one of the ones, and I hope I go to Seattle, just because what he did with Kyle at Baltimore and stuff. Coming out of college, watching tape, I'm like, dang, Kyle Hems, this is a different type of safety. Like, I can definitely see myself in that type of role. So, you know, when I went to Seattle with Mike, we didn't really have a lot of conversations about, like, me trying to, like, be like Kyle. It was just more just me being me. Like, he had a great plan, and everything wasn't really ironed out as far as, like, you know, when you get to the NFL, you got to figure out the first day you ask yourself, like, what can you do? You know, like, what can you do? So, like, can you cover? I'm like, you know, yeah, I can cover. You know, I mean, can you play the box? Like, I can play the box. Can you run? Yeah. Can you tackle? Don't take this for granted with your answers because that's very impressive. I just do it all pretty much. Yeah. So, like, through training camp, like, actively, like, each practice, you know, they're just seeing what I can do, like, putting me everywhere, like, trying new stuff. And, like, I think with a genius mindset like him, he's, like, starting to see the stuff and, like, his brain is, like, flickering and he's creating a plan. And, like, so, like, throughout training camp, I was doing all type of stuff. I ain't never blitzing, like, doing all type of stuff. So it just worked out. and the plan he had and the way he was just putting me in position and also just letting me be me. Man, you just go play ball and be free, and it's going to work out. Julian Love, I was at a wedding with him in the offseason. You know me. I'm always around a football player. I'm asking them football questions. And I was like, hey, man, what you think about the young boy? He was like, bro, he blitzed one time in the offseason, and we watched him bend, and he said everybody knew that he was different. right and he said from that point it was just in such a crowded defensive back room because it is bro kobe can play julian can play josh can play reek can play devin is a freaking star in my opinion yeah right so i was like whoa where the hell is he gonna play and the way that mike utilized you bro like it is don't take for granted what having someone like that who can be a visionary and say you're different but i can use you in these ways don't take that for granted you I had Dick LeBeau, he was able to do that with Troy Palamalu. You see where that ended up. Special people should get to do special things, and you are one of those players. You bring up Dick LeBeau. I'm going to talk about Dom Capers. I played under some smart defensive guys, and they put a game plan in. You be like, oh, we got their ass. You watch the film, be like, they can't block this. All their routes are running right into our safe. You will see it. Do you do that with McDonald? You see the game plan, be like, I'm not talking about no teams personally, but you see it and be like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. They had some trouble today. Like, definitely, like, especially, like, throughout the week and, like, before the game, you know, we have, like, a little meeting where we just talk ball and just figure out a plan. Like, you know, I'm kind of, like, listening. Sometimes I'll, like, close my eyes because, like, when he's talking ball, he'll just talk, like, real. Sometimes he'll miss it. Like, the way he talks is, like, so X and O's. He'll be like, hold on, Coach. Like, you got to slow down and, like, break that. You got to break it down for real. So, like, I'll close my eyes and, like, listen to what he's saying. I can really see it coming. Like, okay, boom, we're going to send the Blitz off this way. We're going to come in and we're going to drop back this or there. But I remember coming in and I remember Spoon was the biggest, he's the biggest advocate for Mike. He's like, bro, he real deal, bro. He's going to put you in position. The way he calls plays is almost like art. So it's like just watching it live and sitting in the meetings is like, yeah, he's actually legit. So he does that. Nick, I want to go back to your mom. She didn't buy into the Super Bowl hoopla. She was real chill in the moment. Which brings me to ask about draft night. I do want to go back to draft night her reaction that moment Kind of can you kind of take us through the excitement or what have you that happened that night? Yeah? Draft night is a little weird, you know, especially like I was expecting, you know for myself to just to go in the first round So like that first night was like, you know Just you know, like you'd never really understand what it's like to get drafted or that draft night So, you know, you see that clock start ticking and them pick start flying off you like wait hold on like It's real It's real. So like, you know, Eric, the pick's starting to go by, go by, go by. And I'm like, dang, like, you know. So I ended up going in the first round. So like, I just kind of like, from my personal goal, like, definitely crushed me. You know, like, it was tough, like, you know, to swallow that. You know, the next morning I woke up, it was like, you know, my mom came to me. She was like, you know, it's all right, wherever you go. You know, they messed up, basically, you know. So, you know, that second day, you know, sent with the fam, got drafted. And like, my mom, like, she was super excited. Like, my family was super excited. But this has never been a part of something like this. So it was special for me, but for them, just to see that, it was just great. Yeah, I remember my mom just telling me, like, you're going to be fine. I am and have never been an elite level athlete in that sense, right? My career, you can look at my career and be like, he did these things. But I never had the feeling of, like, I'm just so much more talented than people. So my draft, honestly, bro, I ain't even watched it. You know what I'm saying? I already knew. I was like, first, especially on this Saturday, I know they ain't finna call me, so I ain't even tripping. But for you, not only did the tape say first round, you go to the combine and you absolutely blow people away. And so it's like, well, the tape say first round, the combine measurables say first round. I got an agent who only do first round. You know what I mean? And so I know sitting there that night, it was like, I'm gonna hear my name at some point. When those 32 picks go by Nick and you don't hear Nick even worry, what were you feeling that night after the first round of the draft? Like, man, I remember, like, the last pick. The Eagles had the last pick. I remember my name one called, and I was just like, you know, it was like a big party. It was like a good-sized party. Like, people that just – everybody in there had an effect on me in one way or another. So I remember the first thing I did, you know, I was outside, came back in, I dapped up everybody, like, you know, appreciate them for coming. You know, just ain't want to be a sore loser. But I remember everybody left and I just sat down and I was just I was pissed like I was I Was mad like I can't really explain the feeling like it really like, you know It doesn't really bother me because like, you know, everything worked out in the end But like back then just like the monster I had was just like I was so pissed Like it was just a feeling I'll never forget like it was just like Felt disappointed in myself like that I didn't go first round because I felt like you know The everything I had that I did up to this point the combine you know, everything I did in college, like, a real team should definitely see and be like, no, we can't let this dude go, but I'm not sure what the, you know, the GMs were thinking, but, you know. I know they pissed all now though I know they hey hey somebody got fired over that Whatever whatever scout has South Carolina it like clearly you don know how to do your job Hey George you don see this You don't see it right here. You don't see all this. We talk walking in here, bro. I know you guys gave up 17 points a game this year. That's, like, really good. We gave up 13. That's neither here nor there, though. But when you are that dominant defensively, every game for you is like, we got to go out and play to that standard. And a lot of times we would walk in the stadium and I would really feel, bro, I'd be like, man, these people might not score. Like they might not be good enough to cross the goal line. You said you knew the morning of the Super Bowl that the Seattle Seahawks were going to win. What was so evident Super Bowl Sunday morning that told you you guys would be victorious? Well, I really start with the whole week. I think, you know, like, you know, you don't want to like put all your eggs in the basket with just games. I'll be overconfident, but you just want to prepare the right way. But I think for the week of the Super Bowl, even the bye week, I think dudes were just super calm. Mike had a team meeting, and he was like, we're not going to do anything different. We're going to be loose and focused. We're going to do what we've been doing the whole year. But as the Super Bowl coming up, I'm seeing a lot of players that played in Super Bowl, they're saying, oh, this is not a regular game. Don't treat it like a regular game. I've seen a bunch of interviews, but I just couldn't help but feel like with the team we had and the guys that I'm around, like this is going to be a regular game. I was telling my teammates, I was like, I think we bigger than, like, the moment. I think as a team, you know, offense, defense, lead, coaching, I think we were bigger than all that. Like, we don't have to make it, oh, it's the Super Bowl. So, like, generally throughout the whole week, we was relaxed. We was calm. We was doing the same thing we've been doing. Everybody was just relaxing. So that morning we woke up, Super Bowl day, you know, we had breakfast, and everybody just – it's just the same vibe. Like, you know, people lose, focus, you know, we shadow boxing, we talking. Like, you know, I'm like, yeah, like, you know, we got this in the bag. Like, that's the first thing I thought, you know. So that's just, you know, that's just what the coachings just told us. It had to get to a point, some time during that Sunday where it was different than just a normal game. Maybe the halftime, so it was halftime was a little bit longer. Oh, okay. The pregame was a little bit longer. You're 22, Chan. Like, it ain't, you know what I mean? When you 22, it's just life. You know what I mean? Like, football, couple four, football. We just going with the flow. Like, we just, we just flowing, and it just felt right. Like, like, when we got, when I looked to my left, look to my right and I just, I see Spoon, I see D-Law, I see K-9, I see Jackson's like, you know, we ain't worried about nothing. Like we go out there, we be who we are, as cliche as it sounds, but like genuinely, like we ain't gotta do nothing else but wake up and go out there, execute. And as you say those names, do you recognize that your defense is loaded with top-notch talent? Like I know y'all work hard and y'all's shadow box. Do you understand how many ball players that you're playing with right now? Yeah, nah, like I remember like going back When I got drafted, you know, I used to bug Mike a lot, like, going to his office. And I was just a young rook, just, you know, it's a head coach. So I just want to get around my head coach. And I remember, like, he sat down, he asked me, like, how are you going to fit in with the, like, defense? Like, what am I, like, you know, I was like, that's a question for you. Like, that's you the coach. Like, you got to figure that out. So, like, then I'm starting to look at the names. I'm like, yeah, we got Rick Woodland, you know, Devin Witherspoon, Josh Jobe, who had a great season, Kobe Bryant, Julian Love. And that's just the secondary. Yeah. Then we go to the linebacker. You got Ernest Jones, Tyrese Knight, low-draft the dude, Drake Thomas, who ended up being a star, too, this season. And then the front, we're not even getting to the front. Crazy. Brian Murphy. So big. Who don't get enough loves, he should. Leonard? Leonard Williams, Chenin Uosu, Demarcus Lawrence, Derrick Hall, Jaren Reed. Like, it's just Boye Mafe. Like, you can go on and on and on about dudes on our defense. So, you know. You understand. I understood. You know, I understood. Picking, you talking about the defense, though, man. I don't know how much you paid attention. There was a narrative around Sam Darnold coming into this year. You know, he's a third pick, didn't work out with the Jets. People thought Minnesota gave up on him because of how he played in the playoffs. And as great as y'all were, y'all needed him in the NFC Championship. What did Sam show you throughout this season about who he was internally as a player, as a person and a leader, but also a player? Sam, I remember the first time I seen Sam when I came in, I thought, I don't really care about what the media was saying, but Sam, I just knew he had a little swag about him. I remember he had his hat on backwards, and he had one leg sleeve pulled up, and he was like, what's good, Nick, dap me up smooth. I'm like, okay, yeah. I'm like, Sam got some swag to him. I don't know what the media talking about. And one thing about Sam, he just doesn't let things affect him. He's like the same dude every day, and he's relaxed, chill, quarterback, you know, got his own swag. But I think he proved everybody wrong. Like, I remember, you know, Sam just kind of gets this unnatural, unfavored media hate. Like, everybody trying to, you know, point the finger at Sam and just hate on him for no reason. But he had a hell of a journey, like, up from getting drafted and to now, like, you don't really hear about those stories. But I'm glad he's getting everything he deserves and all his flowers. But throughout the season, man, he's been balling. Like, he's been that quarterback that we needed for sure. Looking back from your draft night, not starting or going the way you anticipated, you know, talking about Coach Mike saying, we're not going to do anything different. We're going to be ourselves. You just spoke about Sam Darnold, you know, and his career started the way it is, and now he's a Super Bowl champion. Even looking at DeMarcus Lawrence, coming over from Dallas in a year, and now he's a champion. If you can take a step back and kind of, you know, just analyze everything, observe everything from afar, like what would be one lesson that you would take away from everything you've experienced in your first year? I'd say one lesson, definitely just be in the moment. You know, like, for as far as me, like, don't think too ahead. You know, like, even with this season, like, I realized early, like, this season is special. Like, I'm thinking midseason, like, how much I'm going to miss this team when we finish it all. Like, that's the first thing I'm thinking. Like, this is a special team. So, like, I'm telling myself, like, really be in the moment. Like, don't think ahead. Like, this team is special for sure. So, like, just all the different personalities and all the conversations and, like, all the memories we got, just be in the moment. You know, don't take nothing for granted. Everything happens for a reason. Like, you know, the fact that I fell into the second round and we were able to, you know, draft Grace Zabel at 18, which was a super pick that we needed for our O-line, and I fell to 35. And, you know, we solidified our offensive line, helped our defense some more. You know, so everything happens for a reason and just, you know. This team will be different, too, next year. Yeah. You're not looking ahead. It'll be different. But in a lot of ways, it'll be the same 10 years from now, 15 years from now, something Shannon and I will never experience because of that championship alum. That's why I asked RC to speak to it, because what they did in Pittsburgh was special. And when we go back up there to, you know, participate in Joey Porter's foundation golf event, we can see the brotherhood. we can see how the championship team, you know, and winning it together separates from just being a group of guys in a locker room. Yeah. Nah, for sure. I think that's the thing I cherish the most. I mean, you know this, bro. Like, right after the game, everybody's doing all those interviews. All you want to do is finish so you can go be with the dogs, like with your homies. You know what I mean? Like, you doing something, Sam doing something, D-Law, Devin, like, you're just like, hey, bro, I just gonna get with the boys like we did this right and you don't get that but the thing that I've learned is the journey to win that championship creates a bond between the people that's different than the trophy I don't look at my ring I don't even know where it's at most times right but I think about what it took for us to reach that height and that pinnacle all the time I want to ask you from the perspective, though, of what wasn't always there. You're playing the Patriots, and even though you believe it, it doesn't mean that that's how it's going to go. What point in the game, and well, hell, you said you knew at breakfast, every game for a great defense, you go, oh, wait, they don't want to get punched in the face no more, right? What point in the game against New England does y'all feel like, yep, we got them? I don't want to take anything away from them because they work hard to get there. But when I was talking to a teammate, I was like, honestly, the way it feels from the Rams game, because the Rams, that game was super intense. It was real out there. It just felt different. Stafford out there, everybody just felt like we're trying to win. It's on both sides. The Super Bowl, I'll say maybe the second or third drive on defense. I'm not sure what it was. I think when Spoon blitzed, he rolled out to the right, he threw it away. I was like, in my mind, it was like, I think we got him. Right there. I think right there, it just felt like they were defeated. They didn't even have an answer. It was just kind of like, just felt weird. It didn't really feel like they were coming back or coming at us. It just felt like we were in control of the whole game. Our offense was handling business. But when we were on the field, it just felt like everything was in front of us and just playing ball, like routine. You better relax this offseason. Because Matt said he coming back. And I'm going to tell y'all what, y'all was killing everybody else. But hey, Stafford was out there. Hey, you know what I mean? Like you said, it's a transition that hasn't been necessarily just easy. What's it like when you're out there with Matt though, man? Matt legit. Matt and McVay, they're perfect. They're perfect, perfect relationship, whatever they got. He a vet too. He a real OG. He played back with Megatron. and I remember him on the Lions. I was a young kid. Four years old. Nah, for real, but he real deal. The way he just controls the game, talks to the offensive line, he knows he's looking out who's blitzing and stuff. I'm like, damn, this motherfucker's good, man. He legit. He makes the throws, the no looks. He's a different quarterback, and he definitely got my respect as a quarterback. I mean, not that he was looking for it, but I gave him my respect. He a legit quarterback. But like I said, like them division games, they tough. Like the Rams, they legit. I was just going to say, bro, because the NFC Championship game, you said the intensity of them, we all felt it. We sitting there. Yeah. I gamble, so appreciate it. Yeah. But no, you see, but you got to see them twice a year. That was the whole thing. Y'all split in the season. Who going to win that third one and all that stuff. Like you said you don't really get amped up or you didn't get amped up for the Super Bowl. Yeah. Next year, Rams week. Yeah. You got to see Matt. You got to see McVay. Now it's up. Got to see Parker. Yeah, it's up. Them boys there. Is that, is that, is it look different with them? Yeah, it's up for sure. The energy's definitely real. I mean, I seen Verse. I think Verse was talking. He hates y'all. When he said that, I couldn't even pay no attention to that because we was busy like preparing for the Super Bowl. Like, man, we need, we skimmed over that. But yeah, it's up with the Rams for sure. We knew as a team, like that was a team we had to get through. Like the Rams, like, you know, we knock out the Rams. We good. They're the only team that kind of gave us any problems. But next season, you know, I can't wait to see them again. I know our defense and offense can't wait too. Y'all going to put that tweet from Puka on the big screen? I mean, we don't really, like, need the type. We don't really need any, like, bulletin board material. But we do take note of stuff. Like, you know, EJ, he was quick. I think he shot that out. He was still in the locker room. I just sat down. Like, people still celebrating. I check my phone on Twitter. I'm like, damn, EJ. I'm with it. I walked up to him like, hey, I'm with it, bro. Whatever you do I with you bro You know like you know Puka a good player but we on that Like we ready you know you ain just going to you know try to attack us Like we coming right back at you you know so Yeah, and the other thing is, too, though, man, like, that, to me, that's good for the sport. Yeah. And the one thing about football is we got a place to settle it. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? Like, it ain't got to stay in talking. We ain't got to tweet about it. At some point, they going to kick this ball off, and we going to see it. And, like, that's what's the beauty of it. there was a video going around, Nick, are you getting out the car limping? Right? And everybody, the prognosticators on TV, like, I don't think he's going to play. Yeah. You know, Mina Kimes, who's a huge Seattle fan, she's like, I don't know what we're going to do. What kind of defense we're going to play at Nick? You know, and people were shook. How close was it to you not playing with your injury? Like, getting hurt in practice, like, it was just, you know, I think anybody would tell y'all, like, you know, like, this is just, you know, the Super Bowl story that everybody got. You know, when we talk back, like, getting hurt on that Wednesday practice, man, like, it was so quiet out there. Like, I can damn near hear myself breathe and, like, you know, like, it was just my mind was just flowing and everybody just kind of, like, looked over and just was frozen for, like, a good maybe five to six seconds. And I remember, like, crawling to the sideline and the doctor was checking it out. It was pretty bad. You know, went and got an MRI and it was a grade two ankle sprain and it just was like, you can play, but, you know, you're going to have to do some stuff to go out there and play. Like, you know, you can you got to shoot it up, take take whatever you need to do. I remember just sitting there like there's no way this could happen. Like I was like, like literally like laughing to myself almost like this is feels like it's a joke. So I came back, you know, talk to coach and everybody was like, you know, like asking me how I'm good. And I just want to let my teammates know that I'm good. Like, you know, like, you know, it's a Super Bowl. Like, ain't nothing going to stop me from playing. So the doctors gave me a good plan. My shout out to the training room, the training staff, David Strickland. He had a great plan for me, great rehab. And I just believed in the plan. I was like, hey, I mean, they're going to have to cut my foot off for me not to play. For this whole year, for being on this journey, just not to play in the Super Bowl, it just wouldn't hit. Even if you would have won, it just wouldn't have hit right for me. Regardless, win or lose, I got to be on the field. And knowing I just gave it my all. Did your mom get the news? Did you guys talk about the injury? Yeah, yeah. My mom definitely got the news. And she definitely called me. She wasn't even worried because she knew. She's always been doing. She's always been manifesting. and she was like, you're going to be okay. Like, you know, pray about it. I'm praying for you. Don't even worry about it. Just talk to God, pray, and, you know, you're going to be out there on Sunday. Nick, you know it don't go quiet for sorry players. The practice don't get quiet when a sorry player go down. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, the sorry player go down, move the ball. You know what I'm saying? Hey, get him, move the ball up, we're going to go up 10 yards. Hey, when the sorry player go down, You don't even be tripping. That's what it felt like. Mike McDonald said he didn't sleep. Mike said he couldn't sleep because you don't get another one, though. Yeah. You know what I mean? How much thought have you given to as well, though, Nick? And I know it's, you guys just played on Sunday. I remember William Gay was our rookie starting nickel when we won the Super Bowl in 08. And I remember him telling us years later, he was like, dog, I thought I went four more. He was like, man, your first year, he's like, you play a lot. You win, you ball, and you think to yourself, this it? But getting to the Super Bowl is hard, right? Josh Allen don't have a Super Bowl. Lamar Jackson don't have a Super Bowl. Joe Burrow doesn't have a Super Bowl. You know, it's difficult to do. How much have you taken it in, bro, and just truly said to yourself how blessed you were to be a part of this team and have your rookie year go the way that it has? It's really amazing, like, you know, just sitting back and looking at it, like you couldn't really ask for anything more. Like, you know, especially I was just saying, like this may have been probably like the best Super Bowl run, like ever as far as like the storyline. If you look at it, like, you know, everybody come in with the D-Law story about him leaving and coming to the Cowboys. Sam coming back with his redemption story. Players emerging. And then like, if you look how we had to go through it, like, you know, we had to beat the Niners, you know, who's a division rival. Had to beat the Rams, who's a division rival. And then we ended up playing at the Niners Stadium, winning the ring on the Niners field. So it's like you can make a movie about it almost. It's a perfect story. But like you said, he probably thought he was going to win four rings. But I think this team, like you said, the teams are never the same. But I think we make the right moves. And I trust in John. John's a great GM. If you look at his draft picks. The draft picks and the trades he makes, like the Rashid Shaheed trade on the spot. Leonard Williams trade on the spot. Ernest Jones on the spot. So he's very meticulous with what he does. I trust him. I know he's going to build the right team we have. And I think we can go back to back. If we keep the same cast together, same crew, do what we need to do, I think we have the talent. Yeah, the Russell Wilson picks is a tackle, starting corner, slash nickel, dog, and Devin, Boye, my face. So, hey, he know what he doing. Yeah, yeah. Bro, the fame, you even see, people know your mom's name now. That fame going through the roof. You told Ryan, hey, I'm about to ball and get on the show. So are you ready to be a face of the NFL? Because you're a very talented player. Yeah, for sure. I think going way back when I was in high school, sitting on my couch in my room, I remember thinking, visioning exactly how this was going to go. I couldn't tell myself what I was really going to do, but I just knew the notoriety and the fame was going to pay off. Everything was going to come to fruition. Like, whatever I had for my life, whatever God had, it was gonna come through. So, like, I think, you know, I'm prepared for it. Like, mentally, it's not, I'm not shocked by it. Like, you know, I'm not shocked by the success. Nothing caught me by surprise. Like, I've been thought about this years ago. So the fact that I'm actually living it is just like, you know, it's calm. It's just another day. From Greensboro to Irmo, South Carolina, to Columbia, to Seattle. It's pretty fucking dope. Along that journey, though, we always ask our guests, like, what's their biggest pivot in life? That's that one moment you can look back on and say, because this happened to me or for me, I am who I am today. I say I think buying in early on, like it just had like a weird type of transition from like high school to college as far as like, you know, not being super under recruited. And even before then, like I always had the talent, but like I remember maybe like my sophomore year or freshman year of high school, like I almost ain't really like play football, like almost just cause like I was always into sports, but I had to get that passion and will. And it just came from my fourth older brother. He's older than me. Crazy story. Like, I remember eighth grade going into ninth grade. So freshman year of football, they had tryouts. And I was like, man, I ain't trying to try out for nothing. At the time, my brother, he's a senior in high school. So we going to the same school, kind of got the same schedule. And I remember he told me, like, hey, man, make sure you have tryouts. And I was like, for sure, you know. Next thing you know, I'm getting on the bus going home, like, you know, going to, like, watch cartoons, like, play the game or something. And bro, I remember my brother came home. He was like, you and I try out? And like, he was just pissed. So like, I remember seeing him, how mad it made him. And then I remember him like the next day, he took me up to the school and he was like, nah, like, you know, this my brother. You gonna try out, you gonna do what you gotta do. And I just remember that pivotal moment like that my brother just told me like, bro, you special, bro. Like there's, you know, like you got a different type of athlete, dog in you that you, you just, I'm not gonna allow you to waste it. So just hopping on the ship with my brother, Like, he is super competitive. The hardest work I ever know. Like, if you go for a workout right now in the gym, like, he'll outwork me as far as, like, lifting. And I can't keep up with him even now. And I'm an NFL athlete. That's awesome. That was that moment for me, just buying in, like, early on. Like, just trusting his process and just taking it on. And, you know, this is who I am, so. How did you keep from, like, not ever asking, why do they keep passing on me? Right? Because you were obviously talented in high school. And you basically looked like this. You know what I mean? It wasn't like they just come around seeing me, you know, and still three-star athlete, not a guy that's super highly recruited, do all you do in college, all of the accolades, the way you test in the combine, you're obviously super intelligent. And again, you're just sitting there on the first draft night. Nobody calls your name. Did you ever get to the point where you was like, damn, what am I not doing that people can't see what I really am in me? I never thought you know listen me I just thought you know less of people for just not you know taking that initiative but I think in my mindset is just it's you know it's already written like it's whatever God has for me whatever my story is like it's always it's always gonna work out it's always gone it's always gonna be good like from way back in high school I was telling myself that like I read a book it's in the alchemist you know that's kind of like a book my book my older brother gave me again so he gave me that book and in there so I I don't know if I'm pronouncing it right, but it's a phrase that says Mok-tub. And he gave me that book to read way back. I searched it up, the phrase said it's already written. So for then, that kind of stuck with me back in high school, like early, sophomore year. And that's kind of like just the mindset I had, like, you know, it's already written. Whatever goes on, it's already written. Like, it's going to work out. You know, like me not being a high recruit, going to South Carolina, that was my only Power 5 offer. I didn't have no other, like, if it wasn't South Carolina, I'd probably went to, like, UNC Charlotte or Georgia Southern. That was the only school I had to go to. So South Carolina, you know, gave me that offer, went to South Carolina, became a freshman All-American. Went three and out, finished my career there, you know, got drafted, you know, second round, went to Seattle, got a Super Bowl. Like, it's just like a story. So I just always believe that and I'm going to keep believing it. Okay, I do have one more question. Drewski couldn't say Jigba. Do you think he can say Eamon Ward? I mean, I would hope so. I mean, after we just won the Super Bowl. But, like, yeah, like, when I went to, like, I'm like, dang, like, man, just got offensive player of the year. He's going to ruin his moment right there. But, yeah, Jax didn't really pay that no mind. Jax knows who he is. He a dog, so he got the ring to set. He got the offensive player to set. Hey, man, comedians are going to do comedy. Yeah, for sure. That's what it is. Nah, bro, man. Honestly, man, super proud of you. Saw the work ethic during the summer. But you never know how it's going to pan out. You still got to go out and execute. You still got to show up at work every day, man, and put the work in. And you did that. now the key is who are you next year? Right? Because this year it's all that oh he a rookie he's playing better than we think nah they know how good you are now. Right? It's going to be an expectation of a certain level of play the same level I'm sure you have for yourself man. We look forward to watching and appreciate you joining the pitch. Just quickly because OG's and I'm still up right? Enjoy your two weeks what you going to do in 17 years and 15 bro I'm going to have you a good time. I didn't tell the man Go have you a good time for these two, three weeks. I said enjoy the two weeks, Jim. Huh? It's just two weeks. You talking about enjoy the two weeks. You got to look at the big picture things and all. You just won the goddamn Super Bowl, man. Go have you a good time. I said get back to it. Nah, man. Have a good time. Appreciate it. Some foo-foo, some yams. Some good shit. Yeah, appreciate it. Yes, sir. This dude crazy, though, man. Bye.