unCovering the Birds with Jeff McLane Audacy

Reed Blankenship could feel it - the tingling, the puncture. He couldn’t bring himself to look, but he knew it wasn’t good. Immediately, he called out for help. He was hurt - badly. In a snap second, Blankenship's trajectory changed. All of a sudden, the persistent, hard-working kid from northern Alabama farm country wasn’t so sure what the future held. Would he be able to attain his NFL dreams? Fast forward a few years later, and Blankenship, who went undrafted in 2022, has staked his claim on a pivotal role on the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense. What helped Blankenship overcome adversity? Which factors in his life shaped his character? How did the 25-year old go from undrafted rookie free agent to starting safety? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Eagles beat reporter Jeff McLane profiles one of the team's emerging contributors. 

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes in Season 3 dropping throughout the spring. 

It didn’t seem right. It didn’t feel fair. Jason Kelce’s iconic career as a Philadelphia Eagle came to an end in crash and burn fashion. After a promising start to the year that had experts pegging them as Super Bowl favorites, the team fell apart. There would be no repeat trip to the Super Bowl, or second championship ring. A storybook finish wasn’t in the cards. But as the pain of the Eagles’ demise receded, Kelce was able to look back on his 13-year run with pride. He brought the franchise a title, and gained thousands of adoring fans along the way. Now that football’s done, what’s next? In the second installment of “Kelce’s Last Stand,” The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane continues his journey through the Pro Bowler’s final go-round, detailing how he handled the Eagles’ collapse and what the future could hold for him. 

Click here to listen to Part 1.

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Season 3 begins Friday, April 19th, with new episodes dropping throughout the spring. 

Jeff McLane had a hunch. He covered every moment of Jason Kelce’s tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles, from the day the team drafted him to Kelce's iconic Super Bowl victory speech on the Philadelphia Art Museum steps. The two had gotten to know each other well. Kelce wasn’t tipping his hand much heading into the 2023 season, but as far back as last summer, there were signs: the veteran offensive lineman was getting ready for an exit. A few months later, Kelce officially retired. In this two-part story, McLane, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s award-winning Eagles beat reporter for over 15 years, takes you on a “fly-on-the-wall” journey through Kelce’s last hurrah, as told from the perspective of Kelce himself and people close to him. What was really going on behind the scenes during the Eagles’ roller coaster season? How much did their eventual collapse factor into his decision? What opportunities does Kelce have lined up next? Listen to both parts of “Kelce’s Last Stand” now to hear the final chapter of a Philadelphia sports star’s iconic playing career. 

Click here to listen to Part 2.

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Season 3 begins Friday, April 19th, with new episodes dropping throughout the spring. 

When did a legend realize it was time? What convinced a star’s teammate to join him in taking a bold, yet controversial, stance? Why did a mainstay turn to cannabis to cope? How did one player escape from the cumulative effects of head trauma, while another suffered from them? These are just some of the questions nationally-recognized reporter Jeff McLane sets out to tackle on Season 3 of unCovering the Birds. A veteran of the Philadelphia Eagles beat for The Philadelphia Inquirer for over 15 years, McLane has access to sources and scoops you won’t find anywhere else. Join him as he peels back fresh layers to stories you might have only heard parts of before, or never knew about at all.

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Audacy. You can listen to unCovering the Birds on the Audacy app, Inquirer.com/podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

New episodes start April 19th, 2024. 

Follow Jeff McLane on X. You can read his qork at inquirer.com/mclane_jeff. 

Rare is it that a reporter on the Philadelphia Eagles beat gets an off night, but such was the case February 21st, 2024. So how did unCovering the Birds host Jeff McLane spend it? Dishing about the Eagles, of course, with fellow veteran reporters Zach Berman, from All City PHLY, and Jimmy Kempski, from PhillyVoice.com. In a round table Q&A recorded live at Fitler Club in Philadelphia, the trio zeroed in on the biggest storylines surrounding the Eagles as the offseason gets ready to kick into high gear, from Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts to Howie Roseman and the roster. The group also took questions from fans in the audience. Get the inside scoop as the Eagles set sights on building towards what they hope will be a bounce-back season.

unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts.  

Host: Jeff McLaneExecutive Producer, Philadelphia Inquirer: Renee IfillDirector of Podcasting, KYW Newsradio: Tom RickertProducer: Brian Seltzer

It took more than a week after a disastrous end to the season for the Eagles to finally signal their plan, but Nick Sirianni is coming back for a fourth year as the team’s head coach. Whether he can clean up the mess from the Eagles’ 1-6 finish will likely determine his staying power beyond 2024, if he even lasts that long. Why would the Eagles spare Sirianni his job? What direction will he head in now that all of his top assistants have been let go? Philadelphia Inquirer beat reporter Jeff McLane checks in with an update about what he’s been hearing as the Eagles’ enter a critical early stage of the offseason. 

Also, a humble grovel:

unCovering the Birds was recently selected as a finalist for the 2024 Sports Podcast Group Awards. Winners are determined by fan voting. If this series is part of your regular podcast listening routine, we’d love for you to click the following link, cast a vote, and help us try to take home ‘Best Team Podcast’ honors. Thanks so much! (voting closes January 28th, 2024)unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. 

Host: Jeff McLaneExecutive Producer, Philadelphia Inquirer: Renee IfillDirector of Podcasting, KYW Newsradio: Tom RickertProducer: Brian Seltzer