Episode 189 - Rodgers' Last Dance, AFC North Chaos, and Historic Postseason Masterclasses

Episode 189 - Rodgers' Last Dance, AFC North Chaos, and Historic Postseason Masterclasses

From In The Zone With Anthony by Anthony Smith

May 21, 2026 · 29 min

About this episode

Anthony Smith analyzes recent developments in the NFL and NBA, focusing on Aaron Rodgers' retirement announcement and the NBA postseason.

​On this packed, hard-hitting edition of In The Zone, host Anthony Smith breaks down a week of seismic shifts, historic comebacks, and ruthless front-office execution across both the gridiron and the hardwood. ​First, we head to the NFL where the football world is still reeling from Aaron Rodgers' announcement that the 2026 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers will officially be his last ride. Anthony dives deep into the numbers of a legendary career, the poetic reunion with Mike McCarthy, and what this farewell tour means for the black and gold. Staying in the AFC North, we look at the quiet confidence brewing in Baltimore as new head coach Jesse Minter shrugs off early voluntary absences, while Joe Burrow issues a terrifying warning to the rest of the league, declaring the Bengals have "everything they need" to take over. ​Then, we transition to the court for a wild look at the NBA postseason and executive shakeups. Jalen Brunson puts on a superhero cape to lead the New York Knicks back from a grueling 22-point deficit against the Cavs, exposing a glaring defensive weakness in the process. Finally, we break down the ultimate luxury-tax power move down in Texas, where new Team…

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Host: Anthony Smith

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Organizations: Pittsburgh Steelers, Bengals, New York Knicks, Cavs

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