Jay Glazer on NFL Insider Secrets, Spygate, Dating Disasters, and Why MMA Beats Boxing
THE TAPE ROOM — EXHIBIT #009 | Original Interview: September 17, 2014
Listen to the Original Jay Glazer Interview — September 17, 2014:
This isn’t a reconstructed conversation or a collection of quotes borrowed from somebody else’s reporting.
It’s the original interview, recorded September 17, 2014, with Jay Glazer discussing the NFL media business, his career, Spygate, what its like to go on a date with him, MMA, and a whole lot more.
The recording captures a specific moment in NFL history, before another decade of social media, streaming, and around-the-clock football coverage changed the media landscape even further.
And it preserves something that’s easy to lose when old articles disappear into the internet’s basement:
The actual conversation.
Jay Glazer is a cool dude. I thought so when I interviewed the FOX Sports NFL insider back in September 2014, and after digging this recording out of the archives, I stand by that assessment.
Here’s a guy who knows practically everybody in the NFL, breaks stories before the rest of the media knows there’s a story to break, and apparently can’t even take a woman on a date without some NFL coach interrupting dinner.
And the best part? He’s going to answer the phone.
Every. Single. Time.
During our original interview, Glazer pulled back the curtain on the strange world of NFL insiders, including how he gets his information, the Spygate scoop that changed his career, the elaborate precautions surrounding his Richie Incognito interview, and why he’d rather watch MMA than boxing.
He also talked about spending his early reporting career making next to nothing, the downside of Twitter, and the pressures surrounding the NFL during one of its most difficult weeks in 2014.
The whole thing is a pretty fascinating time capsule.
And yes, Jay Glazer really is a cool dude.
What Happens When Jay Glazer Goes on a Date? The NFL Calls.
I asked Glazer what his typical day looks like as an NFL insider. Is he constantly texting general managers? Getting calls from coaches? Trading information with agents?
Glazer told me he’d been out on a date the previous evening and had to establish some ground rules with the woman beforehand. Namely, if the phone rings, he’s answering it.
She wasn’t much of a football fan, which apparently made the arrangement somewhat difficult to explain. But Glazer wasn’t apologizing.
“It’s about relationships.”
That’s the secret to his entire operation. He explained that you can’t build a network of NFL sources by calling people only when you need something. You have to answer when they call, too.
Even if you’re on a date. Even if the woman sitting across from you couldn’t care less about the injury status of a third-string offensive tackle.
Romance is temporary. An NFL scoop is forever. And I paraphrase, lol.
How Does Jay Glazer Get His NFL Insider Information?
[03:21]
Here’s where the conversation gets especially interesting.
Glazer explained that being an NFL insider isn’t simply about collecting phone numbers and asking for secrets.
It’s about developing relationships with people who trust you.
He described himself as an information broker, explaining that loyalty and the exchange of information are central to the job.
“You want information, you gotta give information.”
He also revealed that one NFL head coach regularly called him at an absolutely ridiculous hour.
The coach’s commute to work began around 5 a.m. his time, which meant Glazer’s phone rang at approximately 3 a.m.
And the coach apparently enjoyed waking him up.
Glazer, who admitted to being something of a practical joker himself, couldn’t really complain.
That’s the life of an NFL insider: questionable sleeping habits, interrupted dates, and a phone that never shuts the hell up.
What Was Jay Glazer’s Biggest NFL Scoop? Spygate.
[06:01]
When I asked Glazer which scoop he was most proud of, he didn’t hesitate.
Spygate.
Specifically, obtaining the video evidence associated with the New England Patriots’ infamous videotaping scandal.
Glazer described how the scoop arrived during his earliest days working in the FOX NFL studio alongside Howie Long, Terry Bradshaw, Jimmy Johnson, and the rest of the crew.
Initially, there was some understandable skepticism about surrendering several television segments to the new guy.
Then everyone learned what he had: The actual video.
According to Glazer, Howie Long wanted to make absolutely sure he’d heard correctly. Once it became clear that Glazer really had the footage, Long welcomed him aboard.
Glazer described the experience in four words:
“My life changed that day.”
It wasn’t just a big scoop. It established his credibility with one of the most recognizable NFL broadcasting teams in America. And the story didn’t end when the footage aired.
Glazer also discussed the pressure surrounding subsequent inquiries into how he’d obtained the material, including contact from Senator Arlen Specter.
Suddenly, breaking an NFL story involved a whole lot more than talking football on television.
Is Being an NFL Insider Like James Bond?
[10:08]
After hearing about Spygate and the importance of protecting sources, I had to ask the obvious question.
Was this basically a James Bond lifestyle? Secret sources. Hidden meetings. Covering your tracks. Glazer’s comparison was a little different.
“Definitely a lot of Ray Donovan.”
He then told me about the elaborate arrangements behind his interview with former Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Richie Incognito.
The interview took place in California, and Glazer wanted to keep the circumstances under wraps.
He described arranging for Ronde Barber to meet him at a hotel bar, navigating different sections of the hotel, and taking precautions to avoid drawing attention to the interview.
All while Incognito was still uncertain about whether he would actually sit down and talk. According to Glazer, Barber played an important role in helping make the interview happen.
Think about that for a second.
An NFL reporter sneaking around a hotel with a former Pro Bowl defensive back, trying to arrange an interview without tipping off the competition.
That’s a hell of a lot more interesting than another press conference about taking things one game at a time.
How Much Money Did Jay Glazer Make Before Becoming Famous?
[12:21]
Here’s something I didn’t expect.
Glazer told me that during the first 11 years of his career, the most he earned in a single year was $9,450.
Not $94,500. Nine thousand, four hundred and fifty dollars.
He described living in a miserable apartment near Spanish Harlem, where the refrigerator partially blocked the bathroom door.
He worked other jobs to make ends meet, including bartending and boxing, while continuing to pursue his reporting career.
It’s easy to look at somebody who’s made it onto national television and assume there was some reasonably comfortable path to getting there.
Glazer’s version involved a lot of lousy living conditions and financial uncertainty. By the time we spoke in 2014, he understood how far he’d come.
And he wasn’t taking it for granted.
Who Does Jay Glazer Consider the Greatest NFL Insider Ever?
[08:42]
Naturally, I asked Glazer to identify the greatest insider of all time.
Was it him? Chris Mortensen? Somebody else? His answer was immediate:
Will McDonough. The OG!
Glazer credited the pioneering NFL reporter with helping establish the profession that Glazer and so many others eventually entered.
He also reflected on how dramatically the business had changed.
Once upon a time, the competition might have been one or two other prominent NFL reporters. By 2014, it seemed like everybody with an internet connection wanted to break NFL news.
Glazer wasn’t especially concerned with making other journalists happy, though.He was focused on doing the job his way and providing for his family.
What Did Jay Glazer Think About Twitter and Sports Journalism in 2014?
[13:55]
Remember when Twitter was still largely celebrated as this wonderful new tool that connected sports fans directly with reporters and athletes?
Glazer had a more complicated relationship with it. On one hand, social media allowed reporters to establish exactly when they broke a story. That mattered in an industry where credit for reporting could become a serious point of contention.
On the other hand, Glazer wasn’t particularly fond of the nastiness. He joked that somebody could announce they’d cured cancer and people online would still find something to complain about.
And considering this interview took place in 2014, it has aged well.
Why Did Jay Glazer Say MMA Was Better Than Boxing?
[15:50]
For my final question, I switched gears. Was boxing better than MMA? Glazer’s answer?
No. Not even a little hesitation.
Glazer, who had a background in both boxing and mixed martial arts, argued that boxing cards were too dependent on the main event.
You could spend an entire evening waiting for one fight, only to watch something disappointing happen.
MMA, in his view, delivered a more consistently entertaining experience across an entire card.
He also contrasted the strategic rhythms of boxing with the explosive nature of MMA, describing mixed martial arts as a much more immediate, aggressive experience.
Why Was Jay Glazer Talking About Captain Morgan and Pirates?
[00:42]
One important piece of context: This interview was arranged in connection with a 2014 Captain Morgan Talk Like a Pirate Day charity campaign.
Glazer discussed efforts benefiting organizations supporting wounded military veterans and people facing hunger in New York City. He also talked about his history of visiting and training with military personnel, including trips associated with Thanksgiving. The timing mattered.
September 2014 was a particularly difficult period for the NFL, with domestic violence and child abuse controversies dominating the headlines.
Glazer acknowledged the seriousness of those issues while expressing frustration that football, ordinarily an escape from the real world, had become consumed by them.
The charity campaign offered him an opportunity to do something positive and have some fun in the process. And, naturally, I managed to work a little pirate talk into the interview’s closing moments.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jay Glazer
When did Paul Eide interview Jay Glazer?
Paul Eide interviewed FOX Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer on September 17, 2014.
How does Jay Glazer get his NFL information?
In this interview, Glazer explained that his reporting depends on building trusted relationships with coaches, executives, agents, and other NFL sources. He emphasized loyalty, availability, and the exchange of information.
What was Jay Glazer’s biggest NFL scoop?
Glazer identified obtaining the Spygate video as his most important scoop, saying it changed his career and helped establish his place on FOX’s NFL studio team.
Did Jay Glazer interview Richie Incognito?
Yes. Glazer described the precautions surrounding a 2013 interview with Incognito and explained how Ronde Barber helped facilitate the conversation.
Does Jay Glazer prefer MMA or boxing?
Glazer strongly favored MMA in this 2014 interview, arguing that its fight cards offered a more entertaining experience than boxing events built around a single main event.
THE TAPE ROOM — EXHIBIT #009
Subject: Jay Glazer
Interviewer: Paul Eide
Original recording date: September 17, 2014
Original article: Jay Glazer Is a Cool Dude
Source: Original recorded telephone interview
Archive: I-80 Sports Blog — THE TAPE ROOM
THE TAPES ARE THE EVIDENCE.
