3 & Out - Indiana WINS the National Championship, Saleh named Titans HC, Dad Diaries

What’s up, everybody—big show today, recorded in pieces between newborn feedings and the national title game, with an instant take on Robert Salah to the Titans, the Dad Diaries making a return, and a loaded mailbag; yes, the mailbag never left, I was just in the delivery room and not sleeping.

At the natty, the heavy hitters were in the building, and Fernando Mendoza got hit like it was Sunday and kept getting up, processing, and dealing; he’s more in that Goff–Dak lane—smart, tough, good arm, mobile enough—and that game told me more than any video-game stat line that he can be your starter.

I think the Raiders already know he’s their guy at one and now it’s on them to build a real operation around him—Brock Bowers is a unicorn, the young back flashed late, but they need structure, accountability, and the right coach so the floor isn’t the basement anymore.

Kurt Cignetti is a master class in the long grind—unknown for years, then JMU to Indiana, then a title in his 60s and a monster deal; I thought it might be smoke early, now I’d call Indiana the most complete team anywhere, while Miami should use this run to start owning the ACC and grab that bye next season.

On Salah to Tennessee: he’s an A-plus coordinator and an overqualified number two, but that job is risky given the ownership history and a division stacked with well-run teams; huge loss for the Niners’ defense again, and Kyle’s hire at DC now becomes one of the biggest decisions of his tenure.

Sean McDermott getting fired made sense only because this year was Super Bowl or bust, but the GM staying and getting more juice blows my mind—coaches get graded on wins, GMs should too, and while the Bills job is gold thanks to Josh Allen, the front-office infrastructure isn’t the Ravens and who actually chooses the next coach matters.

Dad Diaries: watching surgeons and nurses treat our biggest day like a smooth Tuesday was humbling, my wife was insanely tough through a C-section and no sleep, and the whole unit had this warm, no-drama energy that made me want to be a better human; we got home fast, everyone’s good, and the diary continues.

Mailbag—Overtime idea: a field‑goal shootout sounds fun, but coaches will never let kickers decide playoff games; I’m good with both teams getting the ball and keeping the rest simple.

Mailbag—Are we underrating Drake May? He’s getting plenty of love and could very well snag MVP with his team sitting in position thanks to the bracket breaking their way.

Mailbag—Turnovers decide January: Mahomes had two total across seven playoff games in those back‑to‑back runs, and that’s the blueprint—be surgical, don’t hand teams points.

Mailbag—Tomlin over McDermott? Not an automatic upgrade; love Tomlin in the league, but swapping just for the splash could land you in the exact same second‑round ceiling.

Mailbag—Why not stack all four divisional games on Sunday? TV math; the league wants one national window at a time, not split audiences and two big matchups cannibalizing each other.

Mailbag—Stefanski timing: you can’t justify firing McDermott to hire him; that’s not a step up.

Mailbag—Niners path back: health is the whole story, and they need a legit back to take some hits off McCaffrey so he’s not held together by grit in December and January.

Mailbag—Bo Nix down, call Philip Rivers? Cool story, not real; Stidham knows the room and the verbiage, and if Payton steals one with a backup, that’s an all‑timer.

Mailbag—Texans trade CJ Stroud for the top pick to draft Mendoza? No; resetting the clock is tempting in theory, but CJ’s still good, and that move doesn’t add up for Houston or Vegas right now.

Mailbag—Do D1 guys really get degrees? Most won’t play on Sundays, so the smart move is leveraging the brand, alumni, and a real major—usually business—and using that network to change your life.

That’s the run—keep the questions coming to @JohnMiddlekauff, Dad Diaries rolls on, and we’ll hit the coaching moves and title‑game fallout next episode.