New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

Cooper Kupp and AJ Barner Are Super Bowl Champs & Drew Brees Talks Hall of Fame | EP 179

February 11, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl 60 against the Patriots 29-13, marking the first time in the show's history that neither the Eagles nor the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, leading to the inclusion of Seahawks champions Cooper Kupp and AJ Barner as guests. 
  • Travis Kelce recounted his positive experience on Kylie Kelce's podcast, 'Not Gonna Lie,' and shared his recent success at the Waste Management Pro-Am, where his shot on the 16th hole was an athletic highlight. 
  • Seahawks rookie tight end AJ Barner shared the hysterical backstory behind his nickname "Captain Hook," which originated from cracking his head on a hook in a stadium bathroom stall before the Super Bowl, and discussed the team's 'grind meat, carry water' mentality. 
  • AJ Barner shared the team mentality of the Seahawks revolves around the phrase "grind meat, carry water," evolving from the common saying "chop wood, carry water." 
  • Drew Brees recounted the emotional shock of learning he was a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer during a surprise visit from Dan Fouts, which he initially mistook for a family outing. 
  • Drew Brees detailed his difficult free agency decision between the Miami Dolphins, who subjected him to rigorous medical testing due to his shoulder injury, and the New Orleans Saints, who offered immediate, unwavering belief in him as their franchise quarterback despite the city's post-Katrina state. 
  • Drew Brees shared a story about defending his huddle by physically removing Coach Doug Marone, which solidified a strong bond with rookie guard Carl Nicks. 
  • Drew Brees identified being hit by Zach Thomas in 2003 as the hardest hit he ever took, describing it as a 'trauma moment' that led to an interception. 
  • Drew Brees highly praised Darren Sproles as a generational player whose work ethic and route-running ability in space were exceptional, noting he actively pushed for the Saints to acquire him. 

Segments

Sponsor Reads and Show Updates
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Empower encourages investing to afford luxury experiences, while TurboTax offers full-service expert tax filing to reduce stress.
  • Summary: Empower promotes using investments to fund aspirational purchases like premium sports experiences or rare collectibles. TurboTax Full Service Experts can complete taxes the same day, ensuring users receive deserved returns. Emirates Premium Economy Class offers enhanced comfort features like wider leather seats and premium dining options.
Post-Super Bowl State and Show Preview
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(00:02:11)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts acknowledge the unusual post-season feeling as neither the Chiefs nor the Eagles won Super Bowl 60.
  • Summary: Travis Kelce humorously admits to not sleeping well following the Super Bowl, contrasting with Jason’s observation of his excitement. The episode is announced to feature Super Bowl 60 champions Cooper Kupp and AJ Barner, alongside Hall of Famer Drew Brees. Upcoming guests for future episodes include Troy Aikman, John Hamm, and Chris Stapleton.
Travis’s NGL Appearance and Golf Experience
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(00:04:56)
  • Key Takeaway: Travis Kelce’s first impression of Kylie Kelce was that she was a sweetheart with an underlying toughness, evident when she discussed water sports.
  • Summary: Travis enjoyed his appearance on ‘Not Gonna Lie,’ noting his chemistry with Kylie and admitting he never reads the rundown. Kylie adopted a wild river otter at the Philly Zoo in Travis’s name. Travis described his experience at the Waste Management Pro-Am’s 16th hole as walking into an arena, crediting his caddy for advising him to club up on a 150-yard shot that landed two feet from the pin.
Super Bowl 60 Recap and Analysis
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(00:12:46)
  • Key Takeaway: The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl 60, showcasing a team with few weaknesses and minimal trailing time throughout the playoffs.
  • Summary: The Seahawks were considered the more talented team across the board, proving too much for the well-coached Patriots team led by Mike Vrabel. Seattle trailed for only 1 minute and 35 seconds across the entire postseason, demonstrating consistent dominance. Coach Mike McDonald, who is the same age as Jason Kelsey, is credited with leading the team to victory in his second year.
Interview with Cooper Kupp
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(00:17:21)
  • Key Takeaway: Cooper Kupp emphasized that the most valuable part of winning the Super Bowl is the shared memory of the journey and adversity overcome with teammates.
  • Summary: Kupp confirmed he was enjoying the win but was sleep-deprived due to family duties, not partying. He praised new coach Mike McDonald for his humility and collaborative leadership style, which fosters accountability. Kupp detailed the chaotic near-miss on his Super Bowl touchdown play due to potential miscommunication on the formation, which he corrected on the fly.
AJ Barner’s Super Bowl Touchdown Story
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(00:36:40)
  • Key Takeaway: AJ Barner scored the only touchdown in Super Bowl 60 after successfully navigating a potential formation error and avoiding a collision with a linebacker.
  • Summary: Barner described blacking out momentarily after scoring, feeling the play was designed perfectly as a Zorro concept run. He credited quarterback Sam Darnold for delivering the pass despite knowing he was about to be hit by a linebacker. Barner explained his mantra, ‘grind meat, carry water,’ as a mentality adopted from his time at Michigan to emphasize physical play in the trenches.
Seahawks ‘Grind Meat’ Mentality
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(00:51:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The Seahawks’ mentality is encapsulated by the phrase “grind meat, carry water.”
  • Summary: The team embraces a mentality of physical grinding, especially in crucial four-minute drills, leading to the adoption of “grind meat” as a team mantra. This concept is an adaptation of the common saying “chop wood, carry water.” The team aims to play bully ball and dominate in the trenches.
Farewell to Guests
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(00:52:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Jason and Travis express deep appreciation for Cooper Kupp and AJ Barner.
  • Summary: Travis expresses his honor in having AJ Barner on the podcast, noting he always knew Barner would achieve great things. The hosts conclude their segment with Kupp and Barner, acknowledging their status as A1 people and ball players. They transition to non-football Super Bowl topics after thanking the guests.
Super Bowl Week Party Recap
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(00:52:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The New Heights party was the best event of Super Bowl week, featuring arcade games and many notable attendees.
  • Summary: Travis declared the New Heights party the best of Super Bowl week, noting it was star-studded and included many people who helped produce the show. He enjoyed playing arcade games, something he rarely gets to do. Travis also mentioned his personal goal of drinking a beer at every place he visited in San Francisco that week.
San Francisco Super Bowl Experience
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(00:54:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Chris Stapleton delivered the coolest performance Travis had ever seen at a Super Bowl.
  • Summary: Travis shouted out the tie-dye shop Love on Hate in San Francisco where he bought his jacket. He estimated drinking 60 to 70 beers throughout the week while enjoying the city’s culture. Travis highlighted seeing Loud Luxury and Shibuzi, but emphasized Chris Stapleton’s performance as the best he has witnessed at a Super Bowl.
Stadium Location Debate
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(00:56:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Travis strongly prefers stadiums remain downtown, contrasting with the trend of owners moving venues to the outskirts for better opportunities.
  • Summary: Travis noted that while San Francisco hosted the Super Bowl well, the stadium’s distance from the city center was a negative, contrasting it with Cleveland’s centralized Gateway District. He expressed concern over the Kansas City Chiefs moving away from Arrowhead, viewing it as a necessary but heartbreaking business decision. He argued that fans pay significant money and stadiums should remain in the heart of the cities.
Stamps of the Week Awards
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(00:59:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Jeff Stoutland and Sam Darnold received the Stamps of the Week/Year for coaching legacy and perseverance, respectively.
  • Summary: Jeff Stoutland received the Stamp of the Week for his 13 years as the Eagles’ offensive line coach, developing numerous Pro Bowl linemen like Lane Johnson. Sam Darnold received the Stamp of the Week/Year for weathering criticism and achieving a Super Bowl championship, earning widespread support. Raising Cane’s sponsored this segment, and Travis met founder Todd Graves at the New Heights party.
Drew Brees Hall of Fame Induction
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(01:05:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Drew Brees was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a first-ballot selection, an honor he learned about unexpectedly.
  • Summary: Brees’s induction was announced by Dan Fouts during a planned family dinner, which was a complete surprise to him. He immediately became emotional seeing his family’s reaction, fulfilling his desire to play long enough for his children to remember his career. Brees confirmed he will be inducted as a New Orleans Saint, though Dan Fouts presented the news due to their prior connection.
Brees’s Career Adversity and Move
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(01:21:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Drew Brees’s career nearly ended with a dislocated shoulder in San Diego, leading him to trust the New Orleans opportunity over Miami.
  • Summary: Brees detailed how doctors gave him only a 25% chance of playing again after his 2005 shoulder injury, which tested his faith. He was heavily courted by the Dolphins, who emphasized perks like no state income tax, but their medical staff expressed significant doubt about his recovery. Brees chose New Orleans because the organization immediately declared him ‘our guy,’ viewing the move as a calling to help resurrect the city post-Katrina.
Coaching Under Sean Payton
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(01:32:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Sean Payton’s coaching style blended the installation wisdom of John Gruden with the confrontational intensity of Bill Parcells.
  • Summary: Brees noted that Payton’s offensive installation resembled John Gruden’s, while his confrontational moments mirrored Bill Parcells. Payton excelled at ordering chaos by providing clear ‘keys to victory’ and instilling confidence, often using humor to keep players like high-performing defensive backs accountable. The relationship was highly collaborative, with Brees developing deep trust and recall regarding Payton’s play-calling intent over 15 years.
Forgotten NFL Guards Discussion
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(01:38:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Jari Evans is highlighted as an elite, often forgotten, five-time All-Pro right guard from Philadelphia.
  • Summary: Jari Evans was identified as a player people forget, ranking in the top 15 guards in recent years and achieving five All-Pro selections. He was considered by some to be the best guard in football for a long period, alongside Carl Nicks. The discussion confirmed Evans is a Philadelphia native.
Carl Nicks Rookie Story
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(01:38:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Drew Brees threw Coach Doug Marone out of the huddle to support a struggling rookie Carl Nicks, earning Nicks’ lifelong loyalty.
  • Summary: Rookie Carl Nicks, drafted in the fifth round, was forced into starting left guard early in a difficult 0-8 season. During a grueling practice, Nicks was exhausted, prompting Brees to physically remove the O-line coach from the huddle to assert leadership and support the struggling player. This action immediately earned Brees the respect and loyalty of Nicks, who later became the highest-paid guard in football.
Welcome to the NFL Moment
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(01:40:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Drew Brees’ ‘Welcome to the NFL’ moment involved being hit so hard by Zach Thomas in 2003 that he did a double backflip.
  • Summary: The hardest hit Drew Brees ever took was from Zach Thomas in 2003 during a play action fake against Miami. Thomas read the guard pull and closed a 15-yard gap incredibly fast, hitting Brees square in the side of the head. The impact caused Brees to underthrow the ball by 15 yards, resulting in an interception, though the play was negated by a flag for the hit.
Darren Sproles Appreciation
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(01:42:21)
  • Key Takeaway: Darren Sproles’ leadership was demonstrated through his full-speed work ethic, and Brees actively lobbied the Saints to acquire him after Reggie Bush was traded.
  • Summary: Sproles’ leadership style was non-verbal, characterized by treating every practice rep as a Super Bowl-level effort. Brees worked out with Sproles in San Diego and, sensing Reggie Bush’s impending trade in the 2011 lockout year, urged Sean Payton to acquire Sproles. Brees was often furious that defenses failed to utilize Sproles in space, noting his exceptional ability on choice routes against linebackers.
Sproles Blocking Ability
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(01:44:39)
  • Key Takeaway: Darren Sproles was an underrated boxer who would willingly step up to absorb hits from linebackers like Navarro Bowman when needed.
  • Summary: During a 2013 two-minute drive against the 49ers, Brees asked Sproles to ‘bow up’ just one time against Navarro Bowman. Sproles, possessing a low center of gravity, was an underrated boxer who consistently showed all-out effort and was willing to engage physically when the situation demanded it.
Episode Wrap Up and Scheduling
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(01:45:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The ‘New Heights’ show will be off the following week, returning with fresh episodes on February 25th, and sponsors like Xfinity are highlighted.
  • Summary: The hosts thanked guests Drew Brees, AJ Barner, and Cooper Kupp for appearing on the episode of ‘New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce.’ The show will take a week off and resume new episodes starting February 25th. Xfinity was promoted for its five-year price guarantee on internet service.