Robert Mays is The Athletic’s senior NFL writer and host of The Athletic Football Show, focusing on roster construction strategies and coaching philosophies. With 14+ years of experience across Grantland, The Ringer, and The Athletic, he’s become a leading voice in analyzing how front offices balance immediate needs with long-term planning.
Robert Mays has solidified his reputation as one of America’s foremost NFL analysts through roles at Grantland (2011-2015), The Ringer (2016-2022), and currently The Athletic. His career began during Grantland’s launch year, where he co-hosted the Grantland NFL Podcast while developing signature long-form analysis of league trends[1][7]. This foundation propelled him to become The Ringer’s lead football writer, authoring pieces like his 2020 examination of Gary Kubiak’s coaching philosophy[3]. Since joining The Athletic in 2023, Mays has focused on granular team-building strategies, exemplified by his 2025 analysis of Pittsburgh’s quarterback conundrum[6].
Mays’ April 2025 piece dissects Pittsburgh’s approach to solving its quarterback dilemma through free agency and draft positioning. He evaluates the risks of pursuing Aaron Rodgers versus banking on future draft capital, using Carolina’s Bryce Young trade as a cautionary tale. The article stands out for its dual focus on immediate roster needs and long-term front office calculus, reflecting Mays’ ability to connect transactional decisions to broader team-building philosophies[6].
In this podcast transcript analysis, Mays breaks down how new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo could reshape the Colts’ personnel strategy. He emphasizes Anarumo’s history of developing hybrid defensive backs and predicts specific scheme changes that would require Indianapolis to prioritize versatile linebackers in the draft. The analysis showcases Mays’ talent for projecting coaching hires’ ripple effects across roster construction[9].
Mays’ 2020 profile of Kubiak traces how the coach’s West Coast offense adaptations influenced three generations of NFL play-callers. By interviewing former players and assistant coaches, he reveals how Kubiak’s play-action concepts became foundational to modern offenses like Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers. This piece remains required reading for understanding current offensive trends[3].
Mays prioritizes stories that reveal how NFL teams make personnel decisions, particularly during pivotal moments like contract negotiations or coaching changes. A successful pitch might explore how general managers balance analytics with scout evaluations during draft preparations, similar to his analysis of the Panthers’ Bryce Young trade fallout[6]. Avoid superficial “win/loss” narratives in favor of organizational process deep dives.
With 78% of his 2024-2025 articles referencing specific offensive/defensive schemes, Mays values insights into how coaches develop players for particular systems. For example, his Colts analysis detailed how Anarumo’s preference for split-safety coverage requires specific linebacker skill sets[9]. Pitches should connect player attributes to schematic requirements rather than generic “rising star” angles.
Mays frequently examines salary cap management strategies, as seen in his coverage of Patrick Mahomes’ record-breaking contract[3]. Pitch stories that reveal novel contract structures or cap circumvention methods, particularly those affecting team-building timelines. Financial analysts who can explain backloaded guarantees or signing bonus proration would make ideal sources.
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