Spork: The Sports What If Podcast

About Spork: The Sports What If Podcast

Each week hosts Andy and Drew dive into the great "What If's" of the sports world, exploring each fork in the road at the biggest moments of sports.

Publisher

Spork Podcast

Category

sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

17 Mar 2025

Latest episode

3 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

70 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   3 Nov 2026

   Spork Ep. 70: Dual Sport What If's: NFL Stars In the MLB

   In this episode of Spork, we flip the diamond and the gridiron for part two of our cross-sport series, exploring what happens when NFL superstars take their talents to Major League Baseball. Rather than looking at dual-sport pioneers or wide receivers, we examine a fascinating positional trend: four world-class NFL quarterbacks who possessed the arm talent, athleticism, and pedigree to forge legitimate careers in professional baseball. We kick off with Tom Brady, who was drafted as a high school catcher in the 18th round by the Montreal Expos before embarking on the greatest quarterback career in NFL history. We break down how his cerebral nature, competitive fire, and durable frame translate behind the plate, and whether he could have emerged as the defensive quarterback of an MLB infield. Next, we turn to Russell Wilson, examining his legitimate minor-league second-base pedigree, his spring training stints, and how his quick hands and baseball instincts might have sustained a major-league career. Then, we dive into Patrick Mahomes—the son of a big-league pitcher—and explore an alternate reality where his 96 mph fastball, off-platform arm angles, and flair for the dramatic land him in the bullpen as an electric, high-heat closer. Finally, we analyze Kyler Murray, the rare top-10 draft pick in both sports, debating whether the 2018 Heisman winner and ninth overall pick of the Oakland A's could have ridden his elite speed and outfield range to a 15-year career in center field. In this episode, we discuss: Tom Brady Behind the Dish: Unpacking Brady’s 1995 draft selection by the Montreal Expos and exploring what the ultimate gridiron competitor would have looked like directing traffic as a major-league catcher. Russell Wilson Up the Middle: Analyzing Wilson's stint in professional baseball, his transition from NC State to Wisconsin to keep playing both sports, and his ceiling as an everyday MLB second baseman. Patrick Mahomes, Lights-Out Closer: Exploring the baseball lineage of Pat Mahomes Sr., Patrick's high-school pitching dominance, and how his arm angles and clutch gene project into a high-leverage bullpen weapon. Kyler Murray's 5-Tool Potential: Revisiting the 2018 MLB Draft and imagining Murray's trajectory as a dynamic, Gold Glove-caliber center fielder had he honored his contract with the Oakland Athletics. As always, send any questions, thoughts, comments, or future topics to thesporkpodcast@gmail.com

2. 

   27 Oct 2026

   Spork Ep. 69: Dual Sport What If's: MLB Stars In the NFL

   In this episode of Spork, we kick off a two-part cross-sport series by exploring what happens when elite, two-sport athletes walk away from the gridiron to build legacies on the diamond. We turn our attention to four legendary Major League Baseball stars who had the physical tools, college accolades, and pedigree to forge dominant NFL careers. We begin with 1988 NL MVP and World Series hero Kirk Gibson, looking at his record-setting collegiate career as an All-American wide receiver for Michigan State and how his rare blend of 4.4 speed and physical size could have transformed an NFL passing offense. Next, we examine "The Big Hurt" Frank Thomas, who arrived at Auburn on a football scholarship before becoming an all-time slugger, and debate whether his massive frame would have made him an unstoppable tight end precursor to Antonio Gates. Then, we dive into the fascinating case of Joe Mauer, the 2001 USA Today High School Football Player of the Year committed to Florida State, and imagine an alternate timeline where he followed Chris Weinke to quarterback the Seminoles and entered a loaded 2004 NFL Draft. Finally, we analyze Jeff Samardzija’s dominant run as an All-American wide receiver at Notre Dame, how he could have fit as a dynamic target in an offense like New England's, and why the financial security and longevity of baseball ultimately made walking away from football the right business move. In this episode, we discuss: Kirk Gibson’s Gridiron Dominance: Breaking down Gibson's record-setting collegiate career at Michigan State and how his blend of track speed, physicality, and clutch gene translates to the NFL. The Big Hurt as a Red Zone Weapon: Exploring Frank Thomas’s Auburn football roots and what a 6'4", 250-pound tight end with soft hands would have looked like in 1990s NFL offenses. Joe Mauer, NFL Franchise Passer: Looking at Mauer's legendary high school football dominance, his commitment to Florida State, and how his career would look alongside the famed 2004 NFL quarterback class. Shark at Wideout & The Business of Baseball: Analyzing Jeff Samardzija’s prolific receiving stats at Notre Dame, his ideal fit in an NFL passing scheme, and why guaranteed MLB contracts make skipping the NFL Draft the smartest business decision. As always, send any questions, thoughts, comments, or future topics to thesporkpodcast@gmail.com

3. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Spork Ep. 68: What if the Bears Drafted Joe Montana?

   In this episode of Spork, we tackle a listener request and travel back to the 1979 NFL Draft to rewrite Chicago Bears history. Armed with multiple early picks, the Bears built a legendary defensive foundation in reality, but what if General Manager Jim Finks had taken a completely different route and landed two transcendent offensive hall of famers in Kellen Winslow and Joe Montana? We begin by breaking down the 1979 draft board, where Chicago held the capital to bypass back-to-back defensive ends and instead snag an elite pass-catching tight end in Winslow alongside Notre Dame’s national champion quarterback in round three. From there, we explore how pairing Montana with the unstoppable Walter Payton transforms Chicago's offense into an unstoppable juggernaut, completely rewriting the 1980s NFL landscape. Finally, we follow the dominoes out west to San Francisco: with Bill Walsh left searching for his franchise passer, we map out how Dan Marino thrives in the West Coast offense, while Steve Young's path to stardom takes a drastically different turn. In this episode, we discuss: The 1979 Draft Pivot: Breaking down Chicago’s real-life draft choices and how Jim Finks could have feasibly paired defensive anchor Dan Hampton with both Kellen Winslow and Joe Montana. Sweetness Meets Joe Cool: Exploring the offensive ripple effects of placing Joe Montana and Kellen Winslow alongside peak Walter Payton, taking defensive pressure off the run and lighting up the scoreboard. Super Bowl Dynasty in the Windy City: Analyzing how many Lombardi Trophies the 1980s Bears would have hoisted with Montana under center backed by Chicago’s historically dominant mid-80s defense. Marino in the Bay & Steve Young's Limbo: Unpacking the fate of the 49ers without Montana, including Bill Walsh drafting Dan Marino in the 1983 draft and how Steve Young’s career arc gets completely derailed. As always, send any questions, thoughts, comments, or future topics to thesporkpodcast@gmail.com

Who has been a guest on Spork: The Sports What If Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• [Guest Name Credential]
• [Guest Name]
• Bill Barnwell

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 24 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

36

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Spork: The Sports What If Podcast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Spork: The Sports What If Podcast