Hour 2 - Early Voting

June 12, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Hour 2 - Early Voting

George Kittle, the 49ers tight end, recently called anyone who puts head coach Kyle Shanahan on the hot seat "not the smartest." Ben Maller pushes back: it's uncomfortable and impolite, but perfectly reasonable to argue that Shanahan is entering a make-or-break season. The segment then moves through three other stories — Henry Ruggs being denied parole, Sean Payton's contract extension in Denver, and the Brendan Sorsby gambling controversy at Texas Tech — each examined with the same willingness to challenge conventional wisdom.

The Shanahan hot seat debate

Kittle's defense of his coach is "blind loyalty," Maller argues — the kind of thing you'd expect from someone inside the inner circle, not objective analysis. The 49ers have gone 0-2 in the Super Bowl under Shanahan with talented rosters, and the collapses are "documented for the future generations." Maller believes this season is genuinely make-or-break: "The 49ers window is not closing, it's wheezing right now." He points to the Rams and Seahawks as teams that have surpassed San Francisco, and notes that roughly eight to ten NFL coaches get fired every year. If the 49ers miss the playoffs or exit early again, Maller thinks the organization will seriously consider moving on.

Henry Ruggs denied parole

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What you'll learn

1 (07:00) **George Kittle Defends Kyle Shanahan** - Ben introduces George Kittle's defense of 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, calling anyone who puts him on the hot seat "not the smartest"
2 (12:00) **Henry Ruggs Denied Parole** - Former Raiders first-round pick Henry Ruggs is denied release from prison after killing a woman and her dog while driving drunk at 156 mph
3 (15:52) **Sean Payton's Five-Year Extension with the Broncos** - Denver extends head coach Sean Payton through 2030, aligning with GM George Payton's contract
4 (25:10) **Chicago Bears Moving to Indiana** - Ben reports the Bears are planning a $5 billion move to Indiana, building a new stadium in a town described as an "absolute s-hole"
5 (27:24) **Caller: Texas Tech and Brendan Sorsby Gambling Scandal** - Caller Mike discusses the controversy around Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby, who admitted to gambling and was ruled eligible by a court
6 (37:40) **Phil Mickelson Accused of Inappropriate Contact** - Ben reports that Phil Mickelson was ejected from a San Diego golf course after a female employee accused him of non-consensual physical contact
7 (44:53) **Instant Trivia: Most Scrimmage Yards Per Game** - Ben reveals the answer to the trivia question: Priest Holmes has the most scrimmage yards per game in a single season in NFL history (minimum five games)

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

George Kittle Ben Maller

Show Notes

Ben Maller talks about 49ers TE George Kittle saying you're an idiot if you believe that Kyle Shanahan is on the hot seat, former Raiders WR Henry Ruggs getting denied parole, the Denver Broncos extending Sean Payton for five more years, and more!

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