Tony Romo, Conor McGregor Blows Out His Knee, The World Cup Is All Blue Bloods + Mt Rushmore Of Guys You Want To See Ride A Horse

Episode of Pardon My Take · July 13, 2026 · 2 h 32 min

The Pardon My Take crew recaps Conor McGregor's injury and the World Cup, then interviews Tony Romo about his career, broadcasting and golf.

Summary

The episode opened with the hosts reacting to Conor McGregor's comeback fight ending about 15 seconds in with a torn ACL. PFT Commenter and Dan Katz both concluded McGregor was likely already hurt and aggravated the injury in the fight, citing video of him visiting a knee specialist and favoring his leg during the walkout, while Max Delente disputed that. They also praised Paddy Pimblett and debated who will be the UFC's next star.

The hosts then discussed the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals featuring Spain, France, England and Argentina, a VAR yellow card for flopping against Switzerland that PFT Commenter defended, England's history with Argentina, and FIFA's plan to expand to 64 teams. Shorter segments covered an NBA Summer League altercation between Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, LeBron James's pending decision, MLB All-Star week, the leaked Madden 99 Club, Wimbledon, and a "Who's Back" roundup including a bison attack at Yellowstone, Mardy Fish's American Century Championship win, and Katz's upcoming 50-50 raffle check at Wrigley Field.

Tony Romo, recorded at the American Century Championship, accepted the hosts' teasing about his broadcast noises and described his aim to teach viewers why plays happen. He argued football is simple at its core, discussed league trends and coaching hires, praised Sean Payton and Bill Parcells, recounted his rise as an undrafted free agent including a staff vote over Drew Bledsoe, confirmed his famous no-logo hat came from a pizza commercial, described Dan Campbell's leadership, called failing to win a Super Bowl for Dallas his one regret, and told stories about his relentless throwing regimen, golf practice and playing hurt.

The episode closed with a draft of the Mount Rushmore of guys the hosts would want to see ride a horse, with picks including Guy Fieri, Donald Trump, Yao Ming, Jameis Winston, Shaq and Danny DeVito, and lamentation that nobody picked Andy Reid.

Chapters

3:09
Conor McGregor's knee and UFC recap
The hosts debate whether McGregor entered his comeback fight already injured and discuss Paddy Pimblett and the UFC's future stars.
14:31
World Cup semifinals
Discussion of the blue-blood semifinal field, England's history with Argentina, the Swiss flop red card, and FIFA's expansion plans.
25:44
NBA Summer League and LeBron watch
The Bam Adebayo–Tyler Herro altercation, Summer League standouts, and speculation on how LeBron James will announce his decision.
29:16
MLB All-Star week, Madden and Wimbledon
All-Star starters, a legends home run derby, the Madden 99 Club leak, Aaron Donald rumors and Wimbledon.
38:55
Who's Back of the Week
Animal videos, artificial turf returning after the World Cup, Mardy Fish's golf title, MSG's VIP list, the Cubs raffle and a new Rays stadium.
57:30
Tony Romo on broadcasting and football strategy
Romo discusses his broadcast noises, teaching viewers, football fundamentals, league trends, and coaches like Sean Payton.
1:13:17
Romo's rise with the Cowboys
Romo recounts his first practice moments, a pivotal Seattle preseason game, his debut interception, and the coaches' vote over Drew Bledsoe.
1:25:52
The pizza hat, leadership and retirement
Romo confirms the no-logo hat origin, describes Dan Campbell, discusses quarterback leadership and his decision to retire.
1:40:07
Wisconsin Dells, work ethic and golf
Romo talks family vacations, never skipping a day of throwing, and overcoming the chipping yips with help from tour pros.
1:48:32
Favorite interceptions
Romo tells stories of playing hurt against Washington in 2013 and his final career drive against the Eagles.
Linked moment · 2:06:23Skip to 2:06:23 using a listen link in the info box.
2:06:23
Mount Rushmore of guys to see ride a horse
The hosts draft their picks and list honorable mentions, lamenting that nobody picked Andy Reid.
2:22:50
Wrap-up
Katz mentions singing the anthem at a charity event, followed by birthdays and the numbers game.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

PFT Commenter
PFT Commenter says his slow-motion review suggests McGregor was favoring his leg during the walkout.
“He does seem to be favoring his leg in the walkout”
Listen from 4:39 · Conor McGregor ACL injury at UFC 329
Dan Katz
Katz believes McGregor was already hurt and worsened the injury once the fight began.
“I think he was hurt and then he hurt it even more as soon as the fight started”
Listen from 5:09 · Conor McGregor ACL injury at UFC 329
PFT Commenter
PFT Commenter defends the VAR card against the Swiss player as the correct call to discourage flopping.
“I didn't hate to see it because I thought it was the right call. And I thought the guy flopped. And I want to get flopping out of soccer”
Listen from 22:14 · Video assistant referee
PFT Commenter Didn’t happen
PFT Commenter predicts a France–Argentina World Cup final.
“And so I think we're on a collision course for France and Argentina”
Listen from 23:29 · 2026 FIFA World Cup
Dan Katz Prediction · due Dec 2026
Katz predicts Aaron Donald will return to play for the Los Angeles Rams this season.
“aaron donald is going to be a ram this year and we're all just gonna have to deal with it”
Listen from 34:54
PFT Commenter
PFT Commenter criticizes stadiums reinstalling artificial turf after the World Cup as disrespectful to players.
“It's such a slap in the face to every player that plays on the stadiums where it's like, yeah, they could put grass down for a month if they really wanted to”
Listen from 44:20 · 2026 FIFA World Cup
Dan Katz
Katz says he convinced the Cubs to run a one-day 51-49 raffle to mark his 50-50 winnings check day.
“I've convinced the Cubs in honor of my big check day for winning the 50-50. For a one-day only, we're running a 51-49 raffle”
Listen from 51:48 · Chicago Cubs 50/50 raffle
Tony Romo
Romo says his broadcasting goal is to teach viewers why teams make the decisions they do.
“I want to teach. And I think that's one of the biggest things was just, I want people to understand why”
Listen from 59:24 · NFL broadcasting
Tony Romo
Romo argues football is fundamentally simple and rarely produces genuinely new schemes.
“you start to understand the game is very simple at its core. So there's not like a whole bunch of new brand new stuff coming”
Listen from 1:04:54 · Football strategy and schemes
Tony Romo
Romo says NFL trends follow whichever teams are winning, as the league copies them.
“And so the trends go with the times of who's winning. So whoever's winning, you want to go ahead and copy that”
Listen from 1:06:30 · Football strategy and schemes
Tony Romo
Romo praises Sean Payton, saying teams would prefer him over many other coaches.
“But I think you'd rather have a Sean Payton than a lot of other coaches. I can tell you that”
Listen from 1:11:50
Tony Romo
Romo argues coaches with job security tend to make more aggressive decisions.
“I think you're more aggressive when you're actually safe”
Listen from 1:12:40
Tony Romo
Romo says his natural gift was seeing the field quickly, though he was initially a poor thrower.
“The Lord gifted me with the ability just to see it faster, but I was a horrendous thrower of the football”
Listen from 1:13:44 · Tony Romo's NFL career
Tony Romo
Romo recounts that Parcells had coaches vote between Bledsoe and him, and he believes Parcells knew the outcome, which Romo narrowly won.
“I have a feeling that Parcells knew how the vote was going to turn out, but ended up being me barely”
Listen from 1:24:34 · Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo
Romo confirms his signature no-logo hat originated from a pizza commercial wardrobe.
“I did start the no logo hat. You're right. That's so true. But it did start at the pizza”
Listen from 1:27:16 · Tony Romo's NFL career
Tony Romo
Romo argues a quarterback need not be a vocal rah-rah leader but must know the game.
“you don't have to be the rah-rah guy. That's a little bit overrated in some ways, but you do have to know the game”
Listen from 1:33:37 · Football strategy and schemes
Tony Romo
Romo says his one career regret is not bringing a Super Bowl to Dallas.
“the only regret I guess I would have is that my job was to bring a Super Bowl to Dallas and I didn't do it”
Listen from 1:35:21 · Dallas Cowboys
Tony Romo
Romo says NFL owners have offered him head coaching jobs.
“I've been offered like head coaching jobs in the nfo and it's from owners and that's always flattering”
Listen from 1:38:19 · Tony Romo's NFL career
Tony Romo
Romo recounts that after his college coach suggested moving him to tight end, he vowed to throw every day, a habit he kept for 12 years.
“That was the day I literally said, I'm never skipping a day of throwing the football”
Listen from 1:44:18 · Tony Romo's NFL career
Tony Romo
Romo says he spent two years overcoming the chipping yips and enters the tournament in better form.
“I got into the chipping yips a couple years ago, and it took literally two years to get out of it”
Listen from 1:45:59 · American Century Championship
Tony Romo
Romo says playing through a back injury in 2013 turned a herniated disc into a ruptured one and affected the rest of his life.
“it ends up going from a herniated disc to a ruptured disc because I played”
Listen from 1:51:44 · Tony Romo's NFL career

People

In the conversation

Dan KatzBarstool Sports personality known as Big Cat, co-host of Pardon My Take
PFT CommenterBarstool Sports writer and co-host of Pardon My Take
Hank LockwoodPardon My Take contributor and Boston Celtics fan
Max DelentePardon My Take producer and Philadelphia 76ers fan whose bachelor party is referenced
ZachNewest Pardon My Take staff member, Knicks fan
MemesPardon My Take staffer and New York Knicks fan
Tony RomoFormer Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS NFL analyst

Discussed

Conor McGregorIrish mixed martial artist and former UFC two-division champion
Paddy PimblettEnglish UFC fighter whose walkout Von described
Erling HaalandNorwegian striker who showed off his LAN party setup
Lionel MessiArgentine footballer and World Cup winner
Gianni InfantinoPresident of FIFA
Diego MaradonaArgentine footballer who led Napoli to Serie A titles
Bill ParcellsFormer Dallas Cowboys head coach
Sean PaytonDenver Broncos head coach
Drew BledsoeFormer NFL quarterback replaced by Romo in Dallas
Dan CampbellDetroit Lions head coach and Romo's former teammate
Mardy FishFormer tennis pro and American Century Championship winner
Jim NantzCBS sports broadcaster and Jonas family friend
James DolanOwner of the New York Knicks
LeBron JamesLos Angeles Lakers forward cited as a longevity outlier
Scottie SchefflerWorld No. 1 golfer and defending PGA champion
Andy ReidKansas City Chiefs head coach
John HarbaughNFL head coach, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens and, in this episode, of the New York Giants

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From the publisher

UFC 329 was a major flop after Conor McGregor blew out his knee in record speed and Paddy the Baddy is back (00:00:00-00:12:53). We talk World Cup and its the best 4 teams in the semis as people are mad about red cards and it may finally be coming home for England (00:12:53-00:24:24). We talk some national sports podcast topics, Madden 99 leaked, Wimbledon and more (00:24:24-00:38:41). Who's back of the week including guys getting trucked by Bisons, Big Cat getting his big check at Wrigley, and our guy Mardy Fish wins the American Century Championship (00:38:41-00:59:06). Tony Romo joins the show to talk football, his career, the Wisconsin Dells, his famous Pizza Hut hat, the noises he makes on the broadcast, favorite interceptions and more (00:59:06-02:07:47). We finish with the Mt Rushmore of guys wed want to see ride a horse. You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Netflix. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/pardon-my-take

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 30, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Football·Comedy Interviews·Soccer