Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out: Joe Brady introduced in Buffalo, Jimmy Haslam MAD at people, Fugazi Friday
Release Date: January 30, 2026
Host: John Middlekauff

Overview

This episode of "3 & Out" is a classic Fugazi Friday, with John Middlekauff breaking down the biggest NFL stories of the week. The main theme revolves around the NFL's chaotic coaching carousel, focusing on Joe Brady's introduction as Buffalo's head coach, the Cleveland Browns' much-maligned hiring process and owner Jimmy Haslam's frustration, plus broader reflections on dysfunctional franchises, coach-hiring practices, and the subjective nature of sports awards. The tone is candid, insightful, and humorously judgmental, peppered with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, industry gripes, and offbeat personal stories. The episode also features Middlekauff's popular mailbag segment.

Key Segments and Discussion Points

1. Joe Brady's Introduction as Buffalo Bills Head Coach

Timestamps: 01:40 – 14:40

• Embracing a Tough Situation:
  Middlekauff describes Joe Brady as stepping into a high-pressure environment, given the controversial firing of former head coach Sean McDermott while GM Brandon Beane was retained. Brady’s trajectory—ascending from position coach to coordinator, and now head coach—stands out.

  • “This is not an easy spot for him because it was a very polarizing decision to fire the coach when the GM was kept.” (03:22)

• Impressions from the Press Conference:
  Middlekauff is impressed by Brady’s poise, gratitude to McDermott, and emotional intelligence.

  • “My personal takeaway watching [Brady] talk was coming from the heart... he went out of his way to go on and on about the opportunity that Sean McDermott gave him, how much he learned from him…” (06:10)

• Comparing Coaching Situations:
  Brady's situation is contrasted with other hires (like Jesse Minter replacing Brandon Staley or Jim Harbaugh in LA) where relationships with predecessors differ.

• Expectations and Pressure:
  The Bills job is framed as uniquely pressure-filled, second only to perhaps the Eagles in annual expectations. Middlekauff believes Brady knows what he’s getting into.

  • “There is not a job probably next year beside maybe the Eagles where expectations are as high. There just aren’t.” (09:40)

• Leadership and Energy:
  Middlekauff insists on “juice” for head coaches. He thinks Brady has it and likes that he’ll continue calling plays, rather than abdicating the responsibility as some new head coaches do.

  • “I hate people that lack energy. You don’t need to be bouncing off the walls 24/7 but you got to have a little juice to you. And Joe Brady clearly has juice.” (11:36)

2. Dysfunction in Cleveland: Jimmy Haslam and the Browns Coaching Search

Timestamps: 15:30 – 22:00

• Dysfunction at the Top:
  Owner Jimmy Haslam bristled at critiques calling the Browns “dysfunctional,” but Middlekauff argues that’s well-earned. He details how the Browns strung Jim Schwartz along, never intending to give him the HC job, only to keep him around until they found their offensive guy.

  • “Jim Schwartz has already cleared out his office. Double middle fingers, is pissed off, which I totally understand.” (17:35)
  • “Your job search was led by the idea that candidates had to do homework and write essays for your hiring committee. That is embarrassing.” (18:41)

• Ownership Meddling:
  Middlekauff draws parallels to Jed York’s infamous “you can’t fire the owner” quote after Jim Harbaugh’s departure from San Francisco, emphasizing, “The Jets and Browns have absolutely no chance with these owners.”

  • “It’s a decision making situation and these guys just can’t stay out of their own way...” (20:30)

• Lack of Football Sense:
  The Browns' requirement that candidates do “homework” and write essays is sharply criticized as tone-deaf and out of step with NFL culture.

  • “To force someone to do your homework like this ain’t the Ivy Leagues, buddy. This is the NFL.” (21:06)

3. Fugazi Friday: Subjective Awards and Out-of-Touch Recognition

Timestamps: 22:51 – 26:55

• Fugazi of Subjective Awards:
  Middlekauff rails against Hall of Fame voting and other subjective awards, arguing for objective criteria—win the Super Bowl, you earn your trophy, no voting required.

  • “I’m out on the subjective awards, right? ...You win the NBA championship, you win the US Open, the Seattle Seahawks in a week, win the Super Bowl. That is an honor... It is objective.” (22:53)

• Hall of Fame Snubs:
  He lambasts voters who withheld support for icons like Bill Belichick because of “old-timers,” suggesting that prolonged debate alone means a player likely isn’t truly HOF-worthy.

  • “If you've been on the ballot that long, you're probably not a Hall of Famer.” (24:16)

4. On Coaching, Parenting, and Respect

Timestamps: 26:55 – 31:00

• Sympathy for Stay-at-Home Parents:
  Middlekauff humorously admits he underestimated the grind of parenting, especially with newborns.

  • “To think that just like staying at home with the kid is easy... once you see it firsthand... Ton of respect for, you know, the moms out there just staying at home. That is, it’s hard.” (29:29)

• Anecdotes on Judgment:
  He reflects on his own self-proclaimed “judgmental” tendencies, laughing at his nickname “Judging John” and connecting that to a career in radio and scouting.

Mailbag Highlights

Timestamps: 31:39 – 73:00
Middlekauff answers a wide array of listener questions with his trademark candor and wit.

Chiefs Rebuild (31:40+)

• Expects major changes: Chris Jones “gone,” Kelsey likely done, and Kansas City set for a foundational draft with the ninth pick.

Lions OC Moves (34:00+)

• Praises Detroit’s hiring of Drew Petzing and Mike Kafka, recalling Petzing’s effective stint with the Cardinals despite adversity.

Specialist Roles (37:00+)

• Explains why punters can’t often fill in as kickers, detailing just how little specialists often collaborate in practice: “Part of the reason coaches don’t respect those positions is they’re just dicking around...”

Weather Effects (39:00+)

• Reiterates the primacy of wind over cold in hindering play, especially for QBs and kickers.

The Lame-Duck Coordinator Problem (41:00+)

• Addresses the strange status of coordinators under play-calling head coaches, noting they're often in a “weird spot” and at risk of being scapegoats.

Cam Ward’s Upside in Tennessee (44:00+)

• High on Ward’s physical gifts and even more optimistic with Daboll coaching him, sees parallels with other top QBs’ early struggles on bad teams.

Patriots Dynasty as Best Sports Run (46:00+)

• Considers Boston fans the luckiest in recent decades given the Patriots, Red Sox, and Celtics’ success.

Puka Nacua Trade Speculation (51:00+)

• Pushes back on the idea that a touchdown dance controversy (with accidental social implications) might cost Nacua his job, emphasizing on-field production always wins out.

Belichick and HOF Voting (49:27, 62:00+)

• Dismisses conspiracy theories that voters timed Belichick’s induction with Brady’s, instead blaming “vendettas” and subjective processes.

The Baby Diaper Industry Rant (64:00+)

• Entertaining tangent on the absurd profitability of the baby-products business: “There are people... in the baby business... like the Federal Reserve. They are just printing coin.”

Defending the Joe Brady Hire (67:00+)

• Reiterates positive impression from Brady’s presser; wants to reserve judgment on results but sees solid leadership and player rapport.

Coordinator Retention and Pay Structure (70:00+)

• Argues against paying coordinators close to head-coach money, emphasizing the inherent ambitions of top assistants to become head coaches anyway.

Philly OC Search & "Egggate" (71:00+)

• Dismisses the idea that fans egging a coach’s house is what’s scaring top OC candidates, suggesting instead the fickle nature of the Philly job and the quick “stink” of being fired are to blame.

Notable Quotes

• On Brady’s Emotional IQ:
  “This guy understands... anyone that’s married, or have volatile work situations, you got to be careful sometimes how you get into a conversation in various situations in life. And this was one.” (06:49)

• On Ownership Dysfunction:
  “Browns and the Jets fall under that category of like money ain’t their problem. It’s a decision-making situation and these guys just can’t stay out of their own way and they’re clearly extremely involved...” (20:30)

• On HOF Voting:
  “When Bill Belichick or Tom Brady or Ray Lewis or... Aaron Donald, you just get up, I’m presenting [them] and you sit down.” (62:00)

• On the Relentlessness of Parenting:
  “...it’s just relentless. It’s just non stop. It’s like, you know when the rain comes, eventually... the rain’s gonna stop... rain just keeps on coming. There’s another pee,... another cry, another. Awake at 2am...” (28:55)

Memorable/Funny Moments

• The Relentless Rain of Diapers:
  “I do the kid for like an hour. I’m like, I need a break. I mean it’s a lot, lot of respect...” (29:09)

• On Judging Parenting Before Parenthood:
  “My college roommate’s girlfriend... used to call me Judging John... Actually turned out to be appropriate.” (28:40)

• Egging House as Rite of Passage:
  “Guarantee 15, 16 year-old boys we do dumb shit. I did the most moronic stuff known to man... My dad would have like take me to the backyard and throwing eggs at me. Those days are done.” (72:00)

Key Takeaways

• The Joe Brady hire in Buffalo is polarizing but shows promise, at least in terms of intangibles and leadership.
• The Browns and Jets’ ownership dysfunction remains a dead-end for their franchises, regardless of money spent.
• NFL coach hiring and Hall of Fame voting processes remain rife with “fugazi” logic—subjectivity, pettiness, and outmoded practices abound.
• Offbeat: Parenting with newborns is harder than John once acknowledged; the baby-products business is “printing money.”
• In the end, winning and production—on the field, as a coach, or in business—remain the only true currency of value in sports and life.

Timestamps Index (approximate)

• Joe Brady Press Conference & Buffalo Hire: 01:40 – 14:40
• Cleveland Browns Dysfunction & Jimmy Haslam: 15:30 – 22:00
• Fugazi Awards, HOF Discussion: 22:51 – 26:55
• Parenting & Personal Anecdotes: 26:55 – 31:00
• Mailbag: 31:39 – 73:00 (with topics above detailed)

This summary should cover all the major insights, controversies, and moments for listeners who want a thorough but accessible recap of the episode’s content and tone.