The Herd with Colin Cowherd — "3 & Out" with John Middlekauff

Episode Date: January 28, 2026
Main Topics: Bills hire Joe Brady as head coach, Brian Daboll joins Robert Saleh’s staff, Bill Belichick denied first-ballot Hall of Fame induction

Overview

This episode of “3 & Out” (with John Middlekauff) dives into a pivotal moment for several NFL franchises and coaches. The main focus lands on the Buffalo Bills’ surprising decision to hire Joe Brady as head coach, the impact of Brian Daboll reuniting with Robert Saleh as the Titans’ offensive coordinator, and a passionate reaction to Bill Belichick being denied first-ballot induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Middlekauff explores the implications of these major moves, contextualizes them within NFL power dynamics, and candidly discusses the pressures facing teams and GMs. The episode’s tone is direct, thoughtful, occasionally humorous, and sharply opinionated.

Detailed Breakdown

1. Joe Brady Hired as Buffalo Bills Head Coach (00:55–18:16)

The Move and Immediate Reactions

• Brandon Beane’s Power
  • Middlekauff opens by labeling Beane “one of, if not the most powerful GM in the league” after firing McDermott and hiring Brady.
  • “Brady will coach the Bills, but Beane’s in charge. He’s running this operation.” (02:46)
• Unusual Opportunity for Joe Brady
  • Notes how rare it is for a young or first-time HC to inherit a franchise QB in his prime.
  • Cites Mike Holmgren with Brett Favre in the '90s, Matt LaFleur with Aaron Rodgers, and John Harbaugh/Minter & Lamar Jackson as loose parallels.
• Joe Brady’s Rollercoaster Path
  • Rise with LSU; questions about how much he actually called the plays.
  • Short, rocky stint with Carolina, then to Buffalo as QB coach and OC.

Implications and Pressure

• “This is an elite job ... but the pressure—now on this job—the bar couldn't be any higher. Higher in Buffalo.” (08:58)
• AFC expectations: Anything less than a Super Bowl or, at minimum, AFC Championship will be seen as a failure.
• Unique for a smaller market team (Buffalo as “Northeast Packers”) to have such an intense spotlight.

On the GM-Head Coach Relationship

• “The best relationships are when they’re close to equal footing. And I don’t even see how it’s debatable right now that Beane’s in charge of the Bills.” (03:40)
• Middlekauff also notes:
  • “You just never know ... But there’s been a lot of, like, Cliff Kingsburys. Brian Daboll left the Bills as a can’t-miss prospect—it didn’t go well with the Giants.” (07:47)

On NFL Popularity and the Bills’ Unique Pressure

• Football dwarfs all other sports in popularity and cultural attention; even small-market teams face massive media and fan scrutiny.
• “There is no excuse for this franchise in the next couple years not to be in the Super Bowl.” (15:46)

2. Brian Daboll Joins Robert Saleh’s Staff (18:49–24:40)

Daboll’s Impact and the Titans’ Turnaround

• Middlekauff cracks: “Find me a better coaching bald combination in league history ... just two guys using Bic razors to shave that head!” (18:52)
• High praise for Saleh if he focuses on defense and Daboll exclusively on offense:
  • “There is no sport where coaching is this important. And if those guys are calling the offense and defense ... you gain credibility back.” (20:08)
• Sees Titans moving from “complete joke laughing stock” to a legitimate operation, though acknowledges major roster holes.

AFC South Competitive Outlook

• Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts are all cited as strong or improving—Titans have a tough path.

Broader AFC Observations

• On the Texans:
  • “If CJ can just steady the ship—just play like Alex Smith—they could be a major, major player again.” (21:42)

3. Jets' Dysfunction and Draft Realities (24:41–32:42)

Jets Spiral Further

• “I don't think it could have gone any worse for Aaron Glenn. I really don't.”
• Critique of Jets’ staff upheaval and the notion that “draft picks” will save them.

Shifting College/NFL Draft Dynamics

• College players staying in school for NIL deals = shallower draft talent pool.
• “This draft ain't saving you. You're not going to look up and go, God, they got Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Cam Chancellor out of that one.” (27:41)

4. Bill Belichick DENIED First-Ballot Hall of Fame (32:43–38:30, 47:22–50:15)

Anger and Disbelief

• Middlekauff is shocked and indignant that Belichick failed to secure enough votes (40 out of 50 required).
• “If Bill Belichick is not a first ballot Hall of Famer, I don’t know who is.” (34:19)
• Attributes Belichick's denial to personal grudges:
  • “Because he was a dick to you ... you can't with a straight face tell me Bill Belichick isn’t a first ballot Hall of Famer.” (35:13)
• Compares Belichick's obvious credentials to the likes of Tom Brady, Jerry Rice, Lawrence Taylor.
• Calls for voters’ names to be revealed:
  • “We need to dox them. I need to know who they are so I can immediately unfollow them ...” (36:04)
• Laments football culture and how personal beef can overshadow professional greatness:
  • “Try to be nice to people ... Bill never gave a [bleep] about that. It’s coming back to bite him even if it’s unfair.” (49:00)

5. Audience Q&A Mailbag (33:16–51:52)

Highlights and Quotes

• Steelers QB Prospects:
  • “I do not see it [with Cade Klubnik]. Nussmeier ... doesn’t have a big arm. In that division, I need a big arm quarterback in the AFC.” (33:36)
• Ownership Styles:
  • “Jimmy Haslam is unintentionally doing this. ... Jerry’s an outlier. Jerry never shuts up.” (38:15)
• On Coaches (Kevin Stefanski & Kevin O’Connell):
  • “Do players like him? I’m not saying they don’t ... it’s pretty clear people like Kevin O’Connell a lot and that matters to me.” (40:14)
• Sean McVay and Strategic Mistakes:
  • “If McVay could do it over, he would have called basically two plays that he would have had to throw to [Puka or Davante].” (43:45)
• Pro Bowl Irrelevance (“Shador Sanders” Pro Bowl add-in):
  • “The Pro Bowl ceased to exist a long time ago ... Shador does not represent the symbolic nature of the embarrassment that this thing is now. That happened years ago.” (54:40)

Advice for Aspiring Coaches & Podcasters

• Coaching:
  • “Developing a couple relationships ... those things are like a spider web. ... Find a way to meet and follow coaches at D1 programs.” (51:52)
• Local Podcast Sponsorship:
  • “Go to small businesses in your area ... develop relationships ... be your own sales guy. You gotta guerrilla warfare.” (50:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Bills’ Standards:
  “Anything less than an AFC championship game will be viewed as a disaster.” (11:09)
• On Belichick’s Hall of Fame Snub:
  “If Bill Belichick is not a first ballot Hall of Famer, I don’t know who is.” (34:19)
• On Ownership Drama:
  “Jimmy Haslam is the poor man’s Jerry Jones ... I don’t think he’s trying. Jerry’s an outlier.” (38:15)
• On the Pro Bowl:
  “They should just do like, random stuff, four guys racing the 40, maybe swim ... I wouldn’t even have a football around because it’s just making a mockery of what it used to be.” (55:32)
• On NFL Pressure:
  “It’s entertainment, and I would bet on them [Bills] being pretty good. ... There is no excuse for this franchise in the next couple years not to be in the Super Bowl.” (15:46)

Key Timestamps

• 00:55 — Opening, Joe Brady hired as Bills HC, Beane’s power.
• 05:00–12:00 — Uniqueness and pressure of the job; parallels; GM/coach relationship.
• 15:00–18:16 — NFL popularity, pressure context; closing of Bills/Brady segment.
• 18:49–24:40 — Brian Daboll to Titans, AFC South coaching landscape.
• 24:41–32:42 — Jets organizational dysfunction, NFL draft realities.
• 32:43–38:30 — Belichick’s HOF snub; indignation.
• 33:16–51:52 (Selected) — Mailbag: Steelers, ownership, coaching, sponsorship, Pro Bowl.
• 51:52–end — Advice for aspiring coaches; Pro Bowl as TV spectacle.

Tone & Style

Middlekauff is casual yet insightful. He’s unafraid of strong opinions, quick to blend humor with analysis, and shows genuine passion (especially in defending Belichick and critiquing NFL culture). The show balances big-picture takes with granular details and direct Q&A, making it friendly to both die-hard and casual fans.

Summary

This loaded episode dissects seismic NFL coaching changes, questions the logic of NFL Hall of Fame voters, and reflects on evolving league dynamics. Middlekauff’s emotional, candid analysis spotlights the unique pressures awaiting the Bills, the intrigue of high-profile coaching pairings, and the sometimes irrational forces shaping NFL legacy. Whether discussing personnel strategy or lamenting the fall of the Pro Bowl, he delivers direct, unvarnished football commentary with memorable turns of phrase throughout.