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Unvarnished Football

Unvarnished Football

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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.

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Football (American)
Episodes
  • NFL Antitrust Investigations PLUS NFL Draft
    Apr 13 2026

    Former NFL executive Upton Bell, son of former NFL commissioner Bert Bell, discusses his father's experiences with NFL Antitrust cases and what to expect in the current NFL investigation, with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money.

    The two also discuss Fernando Mendoza's decision to not attend the NFL Draft, Bell's memories of anchoring the first televised NFL Draft in the 1960s, and what the draft was like during the AFL/NFL war.

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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Harvard CTE Report PLUS Evolution of NFL Scouting
    Apr 9 2026

    Former Colts head scout Upton Bell shares about the evolution of scouting from his time in the 1960s working for Don Shula with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. The pair also discusses a recent Harvard CTE study finding that former NFL players are four times more likely to develop CTE, sharing stories of players they've known who were diagnosed with CTE.

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    56 mins
  • Changing Role of the GM Plus Kirk Cousins Signing
    Apr 2 2026

    Former NFL General Manager Upton Bell discusses the changing role of the GM in today's NFL with co-host Michael Jackson of The Game Before the Money. The pair also talk about the Raiders signing QB Kirk Cousins.

    Hear all episodes at UnvarnishedFootball.com.

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    53 mins
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