By Spencer Combs | The Defiant Coach | SpencerCombs.com
Sometimes you walk into a room and just feel the energy before a single word is spoken. That’s exactly what happened when I walked into Studio 3 at BuzzTV in Jacksonville this week for an appearance on The Horse’s Mouth with Tom McManus.
If you’re not familiar with the show — get familiar. It’s one of Jacksonville’s most unique media platforms, and once you see it you’ll understand immediately why it works.
Tom McManus: From Jacksonville Jaguars Linebacker to Jacksonville’s Favorite Bartender-Host
Here’s what I love about Tom McManus. Before he was a linebacker on the inaugural Jacksonville Jaguars team in 1995 — one of the most storied expansion franchises in NFL history — he was tending bar in Massachusetts and Chicago. And when his playing days ended after five seasons with the Jags, he didn’t disappear. He built a second career in media, radio, and television, eventually creating The Horse’s Mouth — a talk show set at an actual bar where guests “sidle up to the bar” and have real conversations about sports, business, and life.
No gossip. No hearsay. No agendas. Just the straight-up truth, right from the source.
Tom played with the Jaguars during some of the franchise’s best years — they made back-to-back AFC Championship games in 1996 and 1997. And he brings that same competitor’s mentality to how he hosts. He’s direct, he’s warm, he keeps things moving, and he genuinely loves Jacksonville. Sitting across from him at that bar, you feel it immediately.
If you want to find Tom, follow him on X at @meathead55 or catch The Horse’s Mouth on the Daily News Network and 1010XL/92.5 FM, the flagship station of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Episode — Watch It Right Here
The Horse’s Mouth: Be Teal — with Brian Martin, Spencer Combs, Tom Reber, and David Johnson. Aired May 2026 on the Daily News Network / BuzzTV.
You can also watch the full episode on the Daily News Network at dailynewsnetwork.com.
The Crew Around the Bar
What made this particular episode special was the mix of people in the room. Tom Reber, the connector who brought me in, surrounded himself with people who actually do things in Jacksonville. Here’s who was there:
Tom Reber — Planet Home Lending
Tom Reber is a mortgage professional and a fixture on The Horse’s Mouth. He’s the kind of guy who shows up everywhere in Jacksonville’s business community because he genuinely loves connecting people. His take on the current lending landscape was sharp — talking about how people who bought homes at 2% rates are sitting on equity they can strategically deploy rather than mourn the rate they used to have. Smart framing. He’s the kind of lender who thinks like a financial strategist, not just a transaction processor.
Brian Martin — Round Table Realty
Brian has one of those careers that tells you a lot about a person — he started in property management, moved into residential new construction, took a swing at commercial, and landed in residential real estate. That’s a guy who wasn’t afraid to learn the hard way. Tom McManus pointed out that starting in property management is actually a great foundation for a real estate career because you learn to work with people under pressure. Brian confirmed it. If you’re in the Jacksonville real estate market and need someone who’s seen the full spectrum of the industry, Brian Martin at Round Table Realty is worth a conversation.
David Johnson — Be Teal
David brought something different to the table — the “Be Teal” movement, which gave the episode its name. The energy he carries and the mission behind what he’s doing in Jacksonville is worth paying attention to. Look him up.
What I Got to Share
Tom gave me a few minutes to talk about what I do — coaching business owners and high performers who are getting stuck between their strengths. I shared a framework I’ve been developing for twenty years: almost every entrepreneur falls into one of two patterns. You’re either a natural Builder — wired for momentum, action, and growth — or a natural Operator — wired for systems, structure, and refinement. The problem is most people lean so hard into whichever one they’re naturally good at that they build the wrong thing. Builders burn out. Operators build elaborate cages.
Tom seemed to enjoy the “elaborate cage” line, which made my day.
I also got to mention my book Momentum and Mastery — which is built entirely around how these two patterns have to work together to get the results you’re actually after. If that sounds like your situation — you can find it on Amazon or at SpencerCombs.com.
Why Shows Like This Matter
Jacksonville is a city that punches above its weight when it comes to business energy and community leadership. The Horse’s Mouth is one of the platforms that reflects that. Tom McManus built something genuinely local and genuinely good — a place where business owners, real estate professionals, mortgage lenders, entrepreneurs, and community figures can sit down together and have a real conversation.
That’s increasingly rare. And increasingly valuable.
If you’re a Jacksonville business owner, community leader, or entrepreneur and you haven’t found your way onto Tom McManus’s bar stool yet — I’d encourage you to reach out to the Daily News Network. The Horse’s Mouth airs on DailyNewsNetwork.com and across BuzzTV’s Jacksonville platforms.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
If anything from this episode landed for you — whether it’s the Builder vs. Operator framework, the lending strategy conversation with Tom Reber, or the real estate market insights from Brian Martin — I’d love to hear from you.
Find me at SpencerCombs.com or take the free pattern assessment at UnshakeableSecrets.com to find out exactly which pattern Cultural Gravity is using against your business right now.
And if you’re in Jacksonville — let’s grab a coffee. Or a bar stool somewhere.
Stay Defiant.
Spencer Combs | The Defiant Coach SpencerCombs.com | @spencerdcombs
Spencer Combs is a business strategist, NLP Master Practitioner, and author of Momentum & Mastery. He coaches entrepreneurs and high performers across the country from his base in Jacksonville, Florida. Learn more at SpencerCombs.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tom McManus? Tom McManus is a former middle linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he played from 1995 to 1999 as an undrafted free agent out of Boston College. After his NFL career he built a second career in media and is the creator and host of The Horse’s Mouth, a Jacksonville talk show airing on the Daily News Network and BuzzTV.
What is The Horse’s Mouth with Tom McManus? The Horse’s Mouth is a Jacksonville-based talk show where Tom McManus hosts guests at a bar setting to discuss sports, business, and life. It airs on the Daily News Network, BuzzTV, and 1010XL/92.5 FM — the flagship radio station of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The show’s Movers and Shakers segment features Jacksonville business leaders and entrepreneurs.
What does Spencer Combs do? Spencer Combs is a Jacksonville-based business strategist, NLP Master Practitioner, and author of Momentum and Mastery. He coaches entrepreneurs and high performers who are stuck between their natural strengths — helping them identify whether they’re a Builder or an Operator, and building the balance between both to create sustainable results.
What is the Builder vs Operator framework? The Builder/Operator framework is a diagnostic concept developed by Spencer Combs over twenty years of coaching. Builders are wired for momentum — great at starting, moving, and generating energy. Operators are wired for mastery — great at systems, structure, and optimization. Most entrepreneurs over-rely on whichever pattern comes naturally and get stuck as a result.
Where can I watch The Horse’s Mouth with Tom McManus? Full episodes air on the Daily News Network at dailynewsnetwork.com and on BuzzTV. The show also airs on 1010XL/92.5 FM in Jacksonville.