Being a diehard sports fanatic is ordinarily awesome. But it comes with its perils. Boredom in the off-season can near kill you. Bye weeks hurt. Your favorite players getting injured can destroy your fantasy team. The risks are real, but the one thing you shouldn’t have to worry about is finding the best sports podcasts to listen to when you’re in need of a good sporting fix.
39 sports podcasts for diehard fans [NBA, NFL and more]
To help, we’ve sourced the best sports podcasts available right now and counted down the top 39. If you truly are a sports-crazed maniac, you’ve certainly come to the right place.
39. Not The Top 20
“A podcast about the Football League from George and Ali, two keen observers” — the tagline for the Not The Top 20 Podcast says it all. The show’s hosts, George and Ali, get together a few times a month to cover the world game, particularly the Premier League. If you’re a fan of English Football, and you want a podcast that exposes the grassroots fan’s perspective on the game, this one’s for you.
Not The Top 20 comes in at number 39 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
38. The Terrace Scottish Football Podcast
No points for guessing what The Terrace Scottish Football Podcast is about. The long-running show covers Scottish Football, by a few friends whose collective passion for the game bubbles over on the mics two or three times a week. If the subject matter is up your alley, you’ll love this show for the humor and chemistry between its roundtable of hosts.
The Terrace Scottish Football Podcast comes in at number 38 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
37. Around The Rim with LaChina Robinson
LaChina Robinson is an ESPN basketball analyst. On her show, Around The Rim with LaChina Robinson she and Terrika Foster-Brasby breakdown everything from the world of women’s basketball, from the NCAA Women’s Basketball league to the WNBA. If you’re a fan of elite women’s basketball, you’ll enjoy Robinson’s entertaining but meticulous coverage.
Around The Rim with LaChina Robinson comes in at number 37 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
36. The Second Captains Podcast
Having won a swag of awards (including the honor of being the most downloaded podcast in Ireland), The Second Captains Podcast is a critically acclaimed sports podcast focussing on European Rugby, English Soccer, and more. A gaggle of Irish hosts with charming accents dissect their favorite games weekly and if you’re looking for some international sporting flavor, go no further than The Second Captains Podcast.
The Second Captains Podcast comes in at number 36 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
35. The Bill Barnwell Show
Bill Barnwell is a sportswriter who writes for ESPN.com. In 2017 he launched his own podcast, The Bill Barnwell Show, dedicated to sport, particularly the NFL. Barnwell’s relaxed hosting style makes him a pleasure to listen to and he hits the mics weekly with special guests to cover the game from both a commentator and fan’s perspective.
The Bill Barnwell Show comes in at number 35 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
34. Hot Takedown
Hot Takedown podcast is an NBA product of the politics and sports blog, FiveThirtyEight. The show releases episodes weekly with a “roundtable” of NBA experts and commentators from the FiveThirtyEight stable. The team dissects the developments in the game analytically and interviews special guests for news and insights into the week’s play.
Hot Takedown comes in at number 34 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
33. The Rub Catch Up - Triple M
If you’re a tragic fan of Australian Rules Football, you’ve probably heard of the notorious Triple M radio show and podcast, The Rub Catch Up. Built on a 10+ year reputation for merging serious football commentary with laugh-out-loud entertainment, the in-season-only show boasts a hosting line-up of the most authoritative, entertaining and polarising figures in the game (from past players to journalists). It airs live on Triple M in three regular slots across each weekend of the Australian Rules Football season.
The Rub Catch Up – Triple M comes in at number 33 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
32. College Hoops Today with Jon Rothstein
Jon Rothstein is a college basketball “insider” for CBS. His podcast, College Hoops Today with Jon Rothstein, is his outlet to share his passion for and knowledge of the game. Packed with breaking news and insights, and guest interviews with coaches and players, if you have an interest in American college basketball you’ll quickly become obsessed with this show.
College Hoops Today with Jon Rothstein comes in at number 32 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
31. The Mike Lupica Podcast
Mike Lupica is a sports reporter and columnist best known for his provocative reporting in the New York Daily News and his appearances on ESPN. Mike’s podcast, The Mike Lupica Podcast sees him diving deep into rich conversations about sport and life with well known sporting identities like Charles Barkley, Reggie Jackson, and Billie Jean King.
The Mike Lupica Podcast comes in at number 31 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
30. The Ringer MLB Show
Bill Simmons is a dominant force in the world of sports podcasting and The Ringer MLB Show is another notch on his belt. Adopting the conversational but informative hosting style synonymous with all the shows on The Ringer network, Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann get together every couple of days in-season to discuss all things baseball.
The Ringer MLB Show comes in at number 30 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
29. Fangraphs Baseball
Hosted by Carson Cistulli, Fangraphs Baseball is the flagship podcast released by FanGraphs.com, one of the country’s leading baseball coverage and player stat sites. With special guests from the website and other commentators, the show drops twice weekly and is packed full with special coverage, commentary and analysis about all things baseball.
Fangraphs Baseball comes in at number 29 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
28. The Woj Pod
The host of The Woj Pod, Adrian Wojnarowski is an ESPN sports columnist with a unique ability to probe into the stories and politics that linger under the surface of the NBA. His show sees the Woj do what he does best — take his listeners behind the scenes of the sport, interviewing players, commissioners, general managers and other guests to bring his listeners an inside look.
The Woj Pod comes in at number 28 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
27. CBS Sports Eye on College Basketball
The title of the CBS Sports Eye on College Basketball podcast says all you need to know about what the show is about. Host Gary Parrish delves deep into the world of NCAA Basketball, hitting the mics with guest hosts and interviewees every couple of days to discuss results, players, playoffs and more. If you’re an enthusiast of college basketball, this one’s for you.
CBS Sports Eye on College Basketball comes in at number 27 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
26. The Big Podcast with Shaq
Shaquille O’Neal has joined the long-line of fellow celebrities and former sports stars to launch their own podcast. His show, the aptly named The Big Podcast with Shaq, sees the NBA Hall of Famer and talk show host John Kincade get together weekly to “shoot the shh”. The two, who share a vibrant hosting chemistry, keep a focus on sport, particularly NBA, but stray into talking about everything from news, entertainment, and the popular controversies of the day.
The Big Podcast with Shaq comes in at number 26 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
25. The Ringer NFL Show
If you’re a big NFL fan, you’ll dig The Ringer NFL Show. The editorial and writing staff from The Ringer share the hosting duties and draw in a growing roster of expert interviewees, from Michael Lombardi to Kevin Clark, plus special guests from the ranks of the ex-players and coaches.
The Ringer NFL Show comes in at number 25 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
23. Only a Game
One of its long-time broadcasts, Only A Game had been on the air for almost twenty-five years before NPR decided to launch it as a podcast on its own podcasting network. Hosted by Bill Littlefield, the long-running host of the show in its original radio form, Only A Game drops weekly and covers American mainstream and collegiate sport.
Only a Game comes in at number 23 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
22. Kanell & Bell
Ex-NBA player Raja Bell and ex-NFL player Danny Kanell joined forces and launched their own sports podcast in November, 2017. The show, Kanell & Bell, sees the pair diving deep into all the big topics surfacing in both games, from the NBA biffs to the feud between Brady and Belichick.
Kanell & Bell comes in at number 22 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
21. Football Ramble
The Football Ramble started as a humble podcast in 2007 and has since evolved into “the largest independent football brand in the UK.” Listening to the four hosts and friends, Marcus, Pete, Jim and Luke talk about football (soccer) is kind of like listening to the grown-up, slightly more mature cast of The Inbetweeners talk about it. If you love the round-ball game, and you want to seriously laugh out loud listening to four British guys sharing your passion, The Football Ramble is guaranteed to win you over.
Football Ramble comes in at number 21 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
20. Football Weekly
Hosted by Sky Sports football analyst and presenter, Max Rushden, Football Weekly is a product of The Guardian. With episodes dropping twice-weekly, the show sees Rushden and other analysts and commentators covering the round-ball game from all over the world, but with a special focus on the English Premier League.
Football Weekly comes in at number 20 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
19. Men in Blazers
Men in Blazers is a product of the NBC Sports Network. It sees a few men, wearing blazers, talking about soccer. A simple concept, the show’s British hosts are wonderfully humorous and self-deprecating, which makes it a joy to listen to. If you’re a fan of soccer, we implore you to check out this show and you’re best bet is to start with the episode released on 9 January 2018, with comedian and talk show host John Oliver appearing as the special guest.
Men in Blazers comes in at number 19 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
18. The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Colin Cowherd was one of the inaugural co-hosts on ESPN’s SportsNation before he joined Fox Sports, where he hosts The Herd with Colin Cowherd. Broadcast as a radio show on Fox Sports Radio and syndicated as a podcast, the show sees Cowherd open each episode with one of his famous and sometimes controversial soliloquies about the sports he covers, featuring the hottest topics of the day across football, basketball and baseball.
The Herd with Colin Cowherd comes in at number 18 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
17. The Ringer NBA Show
The Ringer NBA Show is another product of Bill Simmons’ podcasting network. If you’re an NBA fan, check it out — its rotation of hosts keeps the show fresh and their collective coverage of the game is engaging, conversational and topical.
The Ringer NBA Show comes in at number 17 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
17. The Right Time with Bomani Jones
ESPN sports journalist, Bomani Jones is the regular host of the The Right Time With Bomani Jones. A product of ESPN Radio, the show has a special focus on the NFL (while still covering the other major leagues) and sees Jones and other fill-in guests cover previews and reviews of the games in classic ESPN style.
The Right Time With Bomani Jones comes in at number 16 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
15. 30 For 30 Podcasts
ESPN has taken their classic 30 For 30 documentary concept and brought it to podcastland. Billed as a collection of “sports stories like you’ve never heard before”, the 30 For 30 Podcasts is a listening delight. Each new instalment sees the legendary team behind the original 30 For 30 series tell some of the most captivating unheralded sports stories, from the trials of Dan and Dave to the birth of UFC.
30 For 30 Podcasts comes in at number 15 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
14. First Take
Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman know what it takes to create compelling audio: conflict. So when they get together almost daily to discuss sport for ESPN on their First Take podcast, they make sure to build the show around debate, conflict and heated discussion. With a primary focus on the major leagues, in each new episode the pair narrows in and wrangles over the hot topics of the day.
First Take comes in at number 14 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
13. Fantasy Focus Football
If you’re a fantasy football player, you’ll love the Fantasy Focus Football podcast. ESPN fantasy buffs, Matthew Berry, Field Yates and Stephanie Bell share the hosting duties a few times a week to discuss fantasy football tactics and strategy, player injuries, game previews, and more.
Fantasy Focus Football comes in at number 13 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
12. Effectively Wild
Effectively Wild is a joint podcasting product of The Ringer and FanGraphs. Hosts Ben Lindbergh (The Ringer) and Jeff Sullivan (FanGraphs) meet twice-weekly to delve deep into the analytical side of the MLB. If you’re a baseball fanatic, you probably already have Effectively Wild on your subscribed list but, if you don’t, make sure it gets a stream soon.
Effectively Wild comes in at number 12 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
11. The Total Soccer Show
The Total Soccer Show is just that, a total soccer show. A Brit (Daryl Grove) and a Yank (Taylor Rockwell) host the show (almost) every day, covering soccer from every angle. From the US Men’s National Soccer Team to the EPL, if you’re a rabid soccer fan lend your ear to The Total Soccer Show.
The Total Soccer Show comes in at number 11 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
10. The Lowe Post
Zach Lowe is a sports columnist, journalist, and podcaster who founded The Lowe Post podcast in 2017. Renowned as one of the sharpest print opinionists and analysts covering the NBA, Lowe’s podcast sees his detailed journalistic style emanate from the headphones as he interviews a swag of special guests to collectively cover the game.
The Lowe Post comes in at number 10 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
9. Dunc’d On Basketball Podcast
Nate Duncan is an NBA salary cap expert, analyst and writer who launched his own show, the Dunc’d On Basketball Podcast, as a way to share his knowledge of the game. This one is perfect for the NBA fanatic and you’ll be repaid handsomely for your listening attention with comprehensive game wraps, draft analysis and salary cap forecasts and reviews.
Dunc’d On Basketball Podcast comes in at number 9 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
8. The Dan Patrick Show on PodcastOne
Dan Patrick is an American sports broadcaster who was a long-time sporadic anchor of ESPN’s SportsCenter and writer for Sports Illustrated. His podcast-distributed radio show, The Dan Patrick Show sees Patrick hit the mics almost daily to discuss the latest developments in American sport and to host special guests, from Mark Wahlberg to Reggie Miller to Adam Sandler.
The Dan Patrick Show on PodcastOne comes in at number 8 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
7. PTI
Humorous. Thought-provoking. Passionate. Insightful. Hosts of the PTI (Pardon the Interruption) podcast, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, hit the mics almost daily to discuss and debate the biggest topics in major sport. If you’re a fan of the major leagues, particularly the NFL, you’ll seriously appreciate PTI thanks mainly to the dogmatic stylings of Kornheiser and Wilbon and the dynamic chemistry that brews between them.
PTI comes in at number 7 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
6. Jalen & Jacoby
The Jalen & Jacoby podcast is a joint project by friends, NBA analyst Jalen Rose and writer David Jacoby. The show is currently distributed on ESPN Radio and sees the pair meet daily to riff on all things NBA. The power of the show comes from its listening tempo — episodes just seem to skip by — and the bustling chemistry between Jalen and Jacoby.
Jalen & Jacoby comes in at number 6 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
5. The Steve Austin Show
In the greatest way possible, listening to Steve Austin speak on his podcast is like listening to the narrator of a Mark Twain novel. The Steve Austin Show sees Austin interview fellow wrestlers, MMA fighters, Hollywood celebs, stunts folk, and more. While this is a fantastic sports podcast for the raw quality of each episode, the great power of the show comes from Austin’s hosting prowess which, to say the least, is mesmerizing.
The Steve Austin Show comes in at number 5 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
4. Dan Le Batard with Stugotz
The Dan Le Batard with Stugotz show is a local Miami radio show that syndicates internationally as a podcast by the ESPN Radio network. Hosts Dan Le Batard and Jon “Stugotz” Weiner meet daily to talk about all the latest news in American sport and pop culture. With a unique, self-deprecating hosting chemistry, there’s never a dull moment between Batard and Stugotz.
Dan Le Batard with Stugotz comes in at number 4 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
3. Something To Wrestle with Bruce Prichard
Bruce Prichard is a manager and producer for the WWE and was the original manager for The Undertaker. His show, Something To Wrestle with Bruce Prichard, which he hosts with Conrad Thompson, sees the pair lift the veil on the world of professional wrestling. They meet weekly to tell stories, interview guests and discuss the latest news and developments about all things wrestling.
Something To Wrestle with Bruce Prichard comes in at number 3 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
2. The Bill Simmons Podcast
Bill Simmons is a long-time sports journalist and podcaster who worked as a columnist and analyst for ESPN for most of the 2000s and founded The Ringer in 2016. The Bill Simmons Podcast is the flagship podcast product released by The Ringer every few days and sees Simmons interview other reporters and commentators from the news site, plus athletes, sport officials, filmmakers, pop culture players and more.
The Bill Simmons Podcast comes in at number 2 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
1. Pardon My Take
Pardon My Take is one of the most popular US sports podcasts of all time, and it’s no wonder why. The show was launched in 2016 by the Barstool Sports sports blog and podcasting network and is dripping in comedic and satirical gold. If you’re looking for a sports podcast that strives to always look at the funny side of sport and sports media, join the million or so others who listen to each new instalment of Pardon My Take.
Pardon My Take comes in at number 1 as one of our best sports podcasts. Heard this podcast before? Leave it a review.
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