Podcast Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd – 3 & Out: Browns Found Their "Filler" Coach, Why McCarthy Gets No Respect, Mailbag

Host: John Middlekauff
Date: January 29, 2026
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Episode Overview

This episode of 3 & Out, hosted by John Middlekauff, is packed with timely football talk, featuring reactions to the Browns' new head coaching hire, a sharp take on the "bridge coach" trend, a spirited defense of Bill Belichick's Hall of Fame snub, and a full mailbag segment covering a wide swath of NFL and general sports topics. Middlekauff’s signature directness and humor—plus his willingness to call out league cultures and media obsessions—are on full display.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Browns’ "Bridge" Coach Hire (Todd Monken)

• Browns' New Coach as a ‘Filler’
  • The Browns hired Todd Monken—a nearly 60-year-old, longtime coordinator and former college head coach, but not a "hot" candidate.
  • The search process seemed off-putting; the best available coaches weren't interested due to the toxic reputation of the job and odd requirements from ownership.
  • Monken is viewed as a "bridge coach," similar to how teams use temporary QBs before their true franchise player arrives:

    "This does feel a little bit bridgy. You know, the top guys were not interested in the job." (03:00)

  • Ownership is accused of running a process more befitting a university president than a football coach.
  • Middlekauff questions why they didn't just promote DC Jim Schwartz, who is well-liked by players.
• Comparison to Other Teams
  • References Caserio’s situation with the Texans—having to bring in coaches as stopgap solutions before finding the right fit.
  • Both the Browns and Texans bear the “stink” of being connected with Deshaun Watson.

Timestamp 01:19–07:50

2. Bill Belichick, Hall of Fame Voting, and Legacy

• Hall of Fame ‘First Ballot’ Snub
  • Bill Belichick did not get in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, reportedly in part due to Bill Polian “leading the charge” against him over the 2007 Spygate scandal.
  • Middlekauff lambasts the process and the media insiders who let envy and old grudges interfere with Hall of Fame voting:

    “For the other people to follow suit, the sheep herd mentality is an embarrassment for the league.” (13:25)

  • Suggests the Hall of Fame voters are losing credibility:

    “It’s an embarrassment for football if Bill Belichick isn’t a first ballot Hall of Famer. Just shut down the f***ing Hall of Fame.” (15:30)

  • Draws parallel to other industries and awards, dubbing many mainstream awards as out-of-touch and meaningless, using Bill Belichick and Joe Rogan as examples of people recognized by popular consensus but sometimes overlooked by institutional gatekeepers.
• On Great Coaches and Great Players
  • Rebukes those who diminish Belichick’s accomplishments by attributing everything to Tom Brady, arguing it's common (and necessary) for great coaches to benefit from great talents.

    “Most great coaches have great players. It’s pretty rare that they don’t...You got to be a great coach. You’re gonna... Joe Torre won a lot with Hall of Famers.” (22:00)

Timestamp 07:51–24:45

3. Why Mike McCarthy Gets No Respect

• Branding vs Results
  • Listeners ask why McCarthy is ridiculed, while Harbaugh and Tomlin are revered: all have similar resumes (one Super Bowl with elite QBs, winning records, playoff success and misses).

    “He has a branding issue. His resume is the same as Tomlin and Harbaugh. It really is.” (25:10)

  • McCarthy’s perceived lack of charisma, physical appearance, and branding work against him, while Harbaugh and Tomlin project leadership and vitality.
  • Harbaugh noted for team-rallying skills; McCarthy excels on offense and QB development, which matter even more in today’s NFL.

    “Mike’s skill really is coaching the quarterbacks, coaching the offense which never has mattered more.” (26:00)

Timestamp 24:46–29:55

4. Mailbag Highlights

Coaching Hires & Trends

• Joe Brady in Buffalo: Risk vs. Reward

  • Concern about hiring a first-time head coach with Josh Allen poised for a Super Bowl window. Middlekauff notes championship history with inexperienced coaches (e.g., Steve Kerr, Sean McVay), emphasizing the unpredictable nature of coach success.

    “Sometimes in life you got to take risks and people have done it before…It’s a little like the draft.” (33:30)

• Philip Rivers’ Coaching Future

  • Believes Rivers will eventually be an NFL head coach, perhaps after cutting his teeth as an offensive coordinator (a lucrative step that helps decide if he wants to commit the time/lifestyle):

    "My guess is Philip Rivers is a head coach in the next five years." (41:00)

• Trend: Defensive Coaches in the Super Bowl

  • With two defensive coaches in the Super Bowl, he doesn’t foresee a big swing away from “hot young OCs.” Mike Vrabel (alpha, not defined by scheme) would be hired in any environment.

Sports Business and Media

• Washington Post Cuts, Newspapers Dying
  • Middlekauff says newspapers’ demise was consumer-driven, not Bezos’ fault, and lambasts media self-importance:

    “If you resent business…and honestly, if you resent money, you’re probably not going to make it.” (52:00)

  • Draws analogies to Blockbuster vs. Netflix and importance of business adaptation.

NFL Team/Player Insights

• Rookie Contracts and Winning Super Bowls

  • Having a cheap, Hall of Fame-level QB helps, but overall roster strength and health are critical—pointing to Niners’ recurring injury woes as a barrier.

• Joe Burrow/Bengals Narrative

  • Disagrees with the notion that the Bengals are "wasting" Burrow; recognizes that he extends plays and sometimes creates sacks, but the front office has spent to build around him.

• Shador Sanders/Cardinals

  • Skeptical that anyone seriously graded Sanders as a first-round QB, doubts the Cardinals’ ability to fix their problems under current ownership.

• 49ers’ struggles vs Rams, Defensive Coordinators

  • Kyle Shanahan’s run-based offense can get ‘stuck’ against certain defensive schemes, while McVay’s dropback game is better equipped to exploit those matchups.

Life/Parenting Advice

• Preparing for a Newborn (Planned C-Section)
  • Practical, empathetic advice for dads: bring snacks, bedding, be supportive, and practice patience with your spouse post-delivery.

    “You just gotta hold it together…even when you’re at the hospital, the nurses are coming in every couple hours. The help you get in the first two days is insane…Once you come home, it’s just like—it’s on you.” (37:30)

Quick Takes on:

• Brooks Koepka returning from LIV Golf (believes return of stars will further erode LIV; PGA’s history and context make tournaments matter)
• Pro Bowl ("It's been abolished…Just call it something else." 1:21:00)
• Assistant Coaching Vetting (depends on history—more for “red flag” backgrounds)
• Stafford’s Playoff Criticism (puts more blame on McVay than Stafford for short-yardage failures)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Browns' Head Coaching Situation:

“It does feel like [the Browns] are trying to hire a university president rather than a football coach.”
(03:35, John Middlekauff)

On the Belichick Hall of Fame Vote:

“It’s an embarrassment for football if Bill Belichick isn’t a first ballot Hall of Famer. Just shut down the f***ing Hall of Fame.”
(15:30, John Middlekauff)

On Mike McCarthy’s Reputation:

“He has a branding issue...He’s talked about in a weird way, like he’s Freddie Kitchens or Jim Tomsula, which I think he’d tell you, ‘Well, Jerry and the Rooneys don’t believe that because they’ve hired me.’”
(27:05, John Middlekauff)

On NFL Coaches:

“John Harbaugh’s ability to rally the team—the team meetings—was just second to none. It was elite.”
(26:30, unnamed assistant coach relayed by Middlekauff)

On Adaptation in Business & Media:

“If you resent business—and honestly, if you resent money—you’re probably not going to make it.”
(52:00, John Middlekauff)

On Parenting:

“The hardest part is you gotta feed them every couple hours for months on end…patience with her as well…it’s a pretty traumatic experience and then a come down on your body.”
(38:30, John Middlekauff)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |-----------------------------------------------|--------------| | Browns’ Coaching Hire & Toxic Reputation | 01:19–07:50 | | Belichick Hall of Fame Snub & Media Gripe | 07:51–24:45 | | Why McCarthy Gets No Respect | 24:46–29:55 | | Joe Brady as Head Coach, OC Trends | 33:30–36:15 | | Rivers’ Coaching Trajectory | 41:00–42:30 | | Legacy Media, Newspapers’ Demise | 50:00–55:10 | | Super Bowl Outcomes, Roster Building | 58:10–60:00 | | Parenting & C-Section Tips | 37:30–39:00 | | Burrow/Bengals Narrative | 1:07:45–1:10:30| | Pro Bowl’s Meaningless New Era | ~1:21:00 |

Tone and Style

Middlekauff delivers his insights in a candid, slightly irreverent style—mixing humor, exasperation, and deep football knowledge. He’s quick to call out foolishness in league decisions, media self-regard, and internet consensus, but remains practical and empathetic when it comes to topics like coaching careers and parenting.

For New Listeners

This episode is a strong mix of high-level football analysis, industry cynicism, and honest life advice. If you want real talk about what’s happening behind the scenes in the NFL (without recycled talking points), and can appreciate a blunt take on both football and business, Middlekauff’s 3 & Out delivers.