The Herd with Colin Cowherd – 3 & Out: Caleb Williams & Bears Secure HUGE WIN vs. Jalen Hurts & Eagles

Host: John Middlekauff
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd, iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Date: November 29, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, John Middlekauff reacts to the Chicago Bears’ stunning 9-3 record and their dominating win over the Philadelphia Eagles, led by rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. Middlekauff breaks down Coach Ben Johnson’s case for Coach of the Year, contrasts the Bears’ physical identity with the Eagles’ struggles, and dissects key moments from the game. He also touches on broader NFL playoff implications and closes with insights into the ongoing Lane Kiffin coaching drama in college football.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Bears’ Statement Win over Eagles (03:18–13:00)

• Unexpected Dominance:
  Middlekauff expresses surprise at the Bears’ performance:
  • “I didn't expect that. You know, I took the Bears reluctantly as a, as a touchdown underdog. And I said coming into this game I was expecting weird … And that actually happened.” (03:54)
• Physical Game Plan & Running Attack:
  • The Bears ran for 280 yards, doubling the Eagles in first downs (28 vs. 14).
  • "Ran it down Tangio's throat. Just physically dominated the Eagles. Philly's just in a free fall, lost two games now in the last five days." (03:32)
  • Ben Johnson’s emphasis on the run: “They ran it 47 times… his two backs had 40 carries for basically 250 yards and two touchdowns. Most of these coaches will not do that because they won’t keep calling the run.” (08:00)
• Caleb Williams Assessment:
  • Flashes of star potential and moments of inconsistency:
    “Caleb Williams would go 17 of 36 for 4.3 yards a target and throw one touchdown and have a bad pick… Meanwhile the Bears cruise to a victory.” (10:25)
  • Williams’ physical gifts highlighted: “On the touchdown pass that Caleb threw to Cole Kmet in the end zone, which was just an awesome pass. I mean that's why it's like, yeah, he's got number one overall physical freak elite traits.” (06:20)
  • Noted wildness: “Caleb can be very frenetic and I think it leads to some of his poor passes on what should be for NFL standards… lay up throws, he can be pretty inaccurate, but he can also make plays like that.” (07:09)

2. Ben Johnson: Coach of the Year Frontrunner (13:00–18:30)

• Immediate Impact:
  • "Ben Johnson immediately had taken a franchise… that had become kind of a joke and has them nine and three." (07:19)
  • Coach’s attention to detail and physical culture:
    “I see a detailed tough guy. And toughness isn’t about… you don’t have to look like Mike Vrabel or Dan Campbell to be a tough guy. It’s a mentality in which you play.” (18:05)
• Comparison to Other Elite Coaches:
  • “I've been calling him the Midwest Kyle Shanahan… he's one of the best run schemers in the league.” (08:25)
  • “As an offensive coordinator, he was so good in Detroit… You just never know when a guy goes from being the offensive coordinator to now the head coach, slash, offensive coordinator… He hasn’t skipped a fucking beat.” (09:12)
• Franchise Revival:
  • "If I'm a Bears fan, we had fallen on hard times. Our ownership had taken a lot of shit, but they opened up the checkbook. They paid this guy a lot of money… The ROI on this, he's been worth every penny and more. It looks like one of the greatest hires in… the history of the franchise." (13:55)

3. Eagles’ Free Fall: What’s Wrong in Philly? (11:00–13:30, 24:00–29:00)

• Offensive Struggles:
  • “Their offense just sputters… Jalen, I don't give a shit what his stats are. He has not played well this year. The offensive coordinator clearly is not doing a good job. The offensive line has not played well and Jalen has just been extremely erratic.” (06:40)
  • "They're always in third and long and they don't have a good offense. Meanwhile, I'm watching the Bears, like, be the most efficient offense in the league." (15:42)
• Chemistry & Coaching Issues:
  • “Something’s off with Jalen… And I've been saying this for a while. If you work with someone in a close capacity… if you don’t like them… it’s hard to function.” (25:41)
  • AJ Brown and Hurts relationship highlighted: “Eventually I crack. Like, I actually support AJ in this situation because I'm watching Jalen… his quarterback's also not playing that well.” (26:32)
• Eagles Defense Overstressed:
  • “You get to the point, like… Eventually they just tap out if they're playing with a bad offense… the margin for error for your offense is just so small.” (27:33)

4. The Bears' Physical Identity (20:00–23:30)

• Toughness Through Scheme and Practice:
  • “When you watch the Bears, there's a toughness to their team because of the way the coach calls plays.” (22:07)
  • “Toughness is created in practice by the mentality and the plays in which you run in practice… When you're running four and five wide receiver sets… the physicality in the trenches is not required.” (19:45)
  • “That's why I call him the Midwest Kyle Shanahan... his teams historically have been really, really tough because of the way they practice.” (22:37)

5. NFC Playoff Picture & Bears Outlook (33:41–37:21)

• Playoff Race:
  • “We got a pretty clear outlook when it comes to the NFC playoffs… more than likely is going to be the Bears or the 49ers.” (33:41)
  • “The Bears feel like one of those teams. Like, I'm done counting out. I really am.” (35:54)
• Pressure on Established Teams:
  • “...there’s so much pressure on some of these teams. And you kind of see it with Philadelphia. It’s just natural in that organization. That’s their mentality. But it feels like they're cracking a little bit and this happened a couple of years ago.” (36:26)
• Respect for Overachievers:
  • “Honestly, the teams I had the most respect for this year… the Bears had no business being, like, it's crazy, they're 9-3. Honestly, the 49ers have no business being 8-4. Half their teams on injured reserve.” (36:14)

6. Lane Kiffin Saga in College Football (37:21–42:34)

• Kiffin’s Dilemma and College Coach Poaching:
  • Lane Kiffin’s uncertainty about leaving Ole Miss for LSU, and the spectacle it creates
  • “It just... It's kind of become Real Housewives. If he does end up staying, was all this drama necessary? Does he actually lose any equity if he ends up staying? Especially if he wins a couple playoff games? Probably not.” (38:10)
• Changing Face of College Coaching & NIL Impact:
  • “We're just in a different time. We have to recalibrate a little bit how this operates.” (41:19)
  • “Your ability to steal coaches adds a reality show element that the NFL just doesn't have.” (41:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Bears' Transformation:

• “Ben Johnson immediately had taken a franchise… that had become kind of a joke and has them nine and three.” (07:19)

On Physical Identity and Coaching:

• “I see a detailed tough guy. And toughness isn’t about… you don’t have to look like Mike Vrabel or Dan Campbell to be a tough guy. It’s a mentality in which you play.” (18:05)
• “That's why I call him the Midwest Kyle Shanahan... his teams historically have been really, really tough because of the way they practice.” (22:37)

On the Eagles’ Downtrend:

• “Their offense just sputters... and Jalen has just been extremely erratic.” (06:40)
• “You get to the point, like… Eventually they just tap out if they're playing with a bad offense… the margin for error for your offense is just so small.” (27:33)

On Playoff Hopes & Surprises:

• “The Bears feel like one of those teams. Like, I'm done counting out. I really am.” (35:54)

On Lane Kiffin & Changing College Football:

• “We’re just in a different time. We have to recalibrate a little bit how this operates.” (41:19)
• “Your ability to steal coaches adds a reality show element that the NFL just doesn't have.” (41:55)

Key Timestamps

• 03:18 — Start of Bears/Eagles immediate game reaction
• 06:20 — Breakdown of physicality, running game, and key TD pass by Caleb Williams
• 13:00–18:30 — Extended reflection on Ben Johnson’s methods and cultural shift in Chicago
• 24:00–29:00 — Deep dive into Jalen Hurts, Eagles internal issues, and coaching mismatches
• 33:41–37:21 — NFC playoff picture and the Bears' playoff path
• 37:21–42:34 — Lane Kiffin coaching saga and college football’s evolving landscape

Summary Takeaways

• The Bears are one of the NFL's most surprising and physical teams, with rookie QB Caleb Williams and Coach Ben Johnson transforming the franchise's identity.
• Ben Johnson should be considered a Coach of the Year frontrunner for his immediate and detailed impact, instilling a culture of physicality and toughness.
• The Eagles are in freefall, with offensive stagnation, chemistry and coaching issues, and their playoff hopes in jeopardy despite their talent.
• The playoff outlook suggests the Bears and 49ers are poised for postseason football, with established teams like the Packers and Eagles facing pressure.
• College football coaching drama remains unpredictable and tumultuous, highlighted by the Lane Kiffin situation and the broader impact of NIL and the transfer culture.

This episode captures a key turning point in the NFC hierarchy, punctuated by the Bears’ resurgence and the Eagles’ unraveling, all packed with Middlekauff’s candid and energetic insights.