Unvarnished Football

About Unvarnished Football

Former NFL executive Upton Bell provides the best football insights with co-host Michael Jackson. No gimmicks. No gossip. Just football. Upton Bell was Director of Player Personnel for the Baltimore Colts under head coach Don Shula in the 1960s. Held same role when the Colts won Super Bowl V. He next became General Manager of the New England Patriots and changed the team’s name from the Boston Patriots to New England Patriots. His father, Bert Bell, founded the Philadelphia Eagles and was later NFL commissioner. Bert Bell invented the NFL Draft, the two- minute warning, and overtime. Upton also was a pro football team owner, owning the World Football League’s Charlotte Hornets. His broadcasting credits including hosting New England Patriots pregame and postgame shows, and the long-running television show, “Sports Beat” on WSBK-TV in Boston. He is regularly quoted in many national media outlets including the New York Times and Washington Post. Michael Jackson is an author, oral historian, and show host. His oral history book, The Game Before the Money was published by the University of Nebraska Press in 2014 and included interviews with NFL legends like Frank Gifford, Bart Starr, and Don Maynard. He writes TheGameBeforeTheMoney.com and hosts The Game Before the Money Podcast. Other past projects include directing a film documentary featuring the 1970s Luv Ya Blue Oilers, an oral history of HBCU football, and two more published football books. As a host, he hosted a weekly national program on the SportsMap Radio Network, weekly live high school football postgame shows and high school football play-by-play on multiple radio stations in the Austin/San Antonio market area. Unvarnished Football is protected under copyright. All rights reserved. Under no circumstances is AI data collection or mining (including modeling, generative, and the like) allowed from the content on the podcast.

Publisher

unvarnishedfootball

Category

sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Dec 2025

Latest episode

22 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

42 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Oct 2026

   Jalen Hurts and Week 7 2026 NFL

   Former Patriots GM and Colts executive Upton Bell talks about how he and co-host Michael Jackson correctly predicted serious consequences regarding international travel and NFL injuries. The pair also dive into previewing Week 7 of the 2026 NFL season. Upton also shares one of the last warnings his father Bert Bell made as NFL commissioner.

2. 

   15 Oct 2026

   NFL Clock Management and NFL Week 6

   Former Patriots and Colts executive Upton Bell discusses NFL clock management disasters and forecasts Week 6 of the 2026 NFL season with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. Unvarnished Football: No Fluff. No Filler. JUST FOOTBALL.

3. 

   8 Oct 2026

   NFL Week 5 Preview and Dangers of Suspending Officials

   Former NFL GM Upton Bell previews many games of Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season including the Raiders/Patriots with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. The pair also discuss the dangers of the NFL suspending officials for in-game confrontations with players.

Contact Unvarnished Football

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

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