Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: 3 & Out - LIVE from The NFL Combine: Seahawks GM John Schneider, Chargers' Matt "Money" Smith
Date: February 26, 2026
Host: John Middelkoff
Guests: John Schneider (Seattle Seahawks GM), Matt "Money" Smith (Chargers play-by-play/LA sports radio)

Episode Overview

This episode of "The Herd" offers an engaging look behind the scenes of the NFL Combine, featuring in-depth interviews with newly crowned Super Bowl champion John Schneider (Seattle Seahawks GM) and Matt "Money" Smith, the long-tenured voice of the LA Chargers and co-host of Petros and Money on AM570 LA Sports. The focus is on team-building after a Super Bowl win, adjustments post-victory, quarterback journeys, Chargers' growth under Jim Harbaugh, the evolution of sports radio, and the state of USC football.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. John Schneider: Inside the Seahawks’ Super Bowl Aftermath and Team Building

[04:26–13:15]

• Immediate Aftermath:

  • Schneider describes the surreal feeling after winning the Super Bowl, scrambling into draft mode while managing coaching changes and team ownership news.
  • Quote [05:41]:
    "Not with free agency, with the draft a little bit... We were, you know, the day after the parade, we were hungover. Actually, not too bad... but we were in offensive [draft] meetings." – John Schneider

• Adapting to Rapid Change:

  • Juggling the departure of key coordinators, free agency preparation, and ownership statements—Schneider credits experience and personal journaling for helping him stay level.
  • Quote [06:38]:
    "You bank [your experiences]... And I journal a lot, too, so that kind of helps me. It's therapeutic." – John Schneider

• Sam Darnold’s Journey:

  • Schneider discusses Sam Darnold's career resurrection, crediting his resilience, humility, and seamless adaptation with the Seahawks:
    • "[In training camp]...it was seamless...he was everything that everybody had talked about. Just hard working, low ego, tough, competitive." – John Schneider [07:49]

• Handling Chaos in the League:

  • Schneider draws parallels between his early NFL years "thrown into the fire" and how quarterbacks like Darnold develop thick skin through adversity.
    • “When you’re thrown into something like that ... it was overwhelming at the time, but then you just kind of keep working ... it really helped me in the future.” – John Schneider [09:25]

• Coaching Staff Continuity:

  • Importance of hiring from familiar systems (new OC from 49ers) for continuity, especially for Darnold.
    • "Keeping the collective together ... similar system, background with the quarterback." – John Schneider [10:04]

• Draft & Free Agency Priorities:

  • Increased importance of agent meetings and player interviews in the Combine era, especially after COVID changed how front offices operate.
    • "COVID really—that was eye-opening ... you're on Zoom with someone for an hour ... You really learn a lot." – John Schneider [12:12]

• Underdog Success:

  • Schneider reflects on the team's run coming from under the radar:
    “There’s something about a team that no one really saw coming. Even though you’d won 10 games the year before... we were under the radar.” – John Middelkoff [12:56]

2. Matt ‘Money’ Smith: Chargers, LA Sports, and the Harbaugh Effect

[17:55–44:37, 47:15–62:28]

A. LA Sports Radio & Sports Culture

• Local Roots:

  • Smith discusses the 20-year history of the Petros & Money show, the power of connecting with LA's car culture, and early adoption of podcasting to retain listeners:
    • "You develop relationships... I've now met people who are in their 30s that tell me they were in middle school when their dad picked them up at school and they would listen to Petros and Money." – Matt Smith [20:45]

• Podcasting Pioneers:

  • "We told iHeart before there was an iHeartradio, 'How can we get this on iTunes?'... we've been podcasting for a long time." – Matt Smith [21:55]

B. The Dodgers’ Blueprint: Effort Over Payroll

• Notable anecdote: Dodgers exec Andrew Friedman refuting the "bought-not-built" narrative, pointing to player work ethic over payroll.

  • "He said, 'Look right behind me... there's Freddie Freeman digging out... Mookie Betts was out here two hours ago fielding grounders at shortstop... These guys bust their ass.'" – Andrew Friedman via Matt Smith [25:00]

• Ohtani as the Ultimate Athlete

  • “Ohtani’s huge... He’s built like Herbert... probably the best QB body in the NFL. That’s who he reminds me of.” – Matt Smith [27:53]

C. Chargers Evolution: From the Rivers Era to Harbaugh

• Philip Rivers’ Legacy:

  • Heartfelt tribute to Rivers' influence, leadership, and loyalty, especially for turning down an Amazon TV offer to stay with his high school players:
    • "He’s the best guy. The money Amazon threw at him was ridiculous... he’s like 'Gosh darn it, I’d be shortchanging my guys.'" – Matt Smith [31:46]
  • On Rivers’ coaching prospects:
    "I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the head coach at NC State." – Matt Smith [32:35]

• Justin Herbert, Playoff Struggles, and O-line Issues:

  • Discussion on how Herbert’s struggles mirror young Peyton Manning/John Elway, blaming O-line injuries and a conservative game plan:
    • "So much scar tissue had built up... unblocked rushers, quick pressures... By the time of that playoff game, it was just so..." – Matt Smith [34:14]
  • On Greg Roman’s game plans:
    "Greg's a great guy... but the game plan was very curious." – Matt Smith [35:51]

• Harbaugh/McDaniels Philosophy: The Run Game’s Resurgence

  • Insight into how coaches like Harbaugh and McDaniel value the run game and physicality, counter to popular belief about modern pass-happy offenses:
    • "Harbaugh loves the physicality of football ... Mike McDaniel said, as an OC, 'I’m delivering a question, the defense is trying to answer it…I’ve got to devise the hardest question for them to answer.'" – Matt Smith [37:24]

• Skill Positions & Prospects:

  • Score for young WRs Ladd McConkey and Trey Harris:
    • "I think Ladd's a legit number one receiver. He could end up with a Jalen Waddle–like season…Trey Harris... he's going to be special." – Matt Smith [40:27, 41:06]

• Harbaugh/Ortiz Synergy:

  • Positive changes with new GM Joe Ortiz and Harbaugh, emulating relationships like Veach/Andy, Shanahan/Lynch, McVay/Snead:
    "You’ve got to have some synergy." – John Middelkoff [42:25]

• Building a Physical Team:

  • Emphasis on drafting physical, nasty players (Joe Alt, Rashawn Slater, Ladd McConkey). [43:57–44:18]

D. Chargers Defense & Khalil Mack

[47:15–50:16]

• Khalil Mack's Impact:

  • Cross-generational leadership, work ethic; persuading younger teammates to increase commitment.
    • "Khalil puts in the work, man... that's all Khalil Mack setting the tone." – Matt Smith [48:49]
  • Chargers expected to push hard to retain Mack.
    • "What's the number? Can we make it work?" [49:16]

• A Hollywood Comp:

  • "Khalil could be a movie star... like Howie Long... got that Schwarzenegger-Howie Long thing." – John Middelkoff [49:16]

• Outlook:

  • Belief that the Chargers will be an "it" team in 2026 if the offense under McDaniels develops:
    • "The division's hard... What's the key to figuring it out? ... It's offense, which is why the McDaniel hire is so exciting." – Matt Smith [50:06]

E. Defensive Staff Changes & Harbaugh’s Coaching Tree

• On DC Chris O’Leary:
  • "Clarity is velocity. I need Derwin [James] to play with velocity, so I need to get this to be easy and clear for him.” [51:00]
• Harbaugh brothers' record on hiring top defensive minds (e.g. Mike Macdonald, Jesse Minter).

F. USC Football: Past Glory & Present Stagnation

[54:19–62:02]

• LA’s USC Football Buzz:

  • During Pete Carroll’s heyday, USC football was arguably on par with Dodgers/Lakers in LA’s sports hierarchy.
    • "USC football is a big deal." – Matt Smith [54:58]

• Leadership Missteps:

  • Critique of coaching hires post-Carroll and wasted opportunity to hire Chris Petersen.
  • Quote:
    "They hired a search firm... Firm said Chris Petersen, no brainer. They're like, 'Okay, Steve Sarkisian.' Washington's like, take him, we'll hire Chris Petersen. Look how that worked out." – Matt Smith [56:13]

• The Lincoln Riley Fit:

  • Consensus between host and guest that Riley is a poor cultural fit, chasing quick fixes via money and high school recruits, but not building substance.
    • "I'm shorting SC football this year. I don't see them as a playoff team." – John Middelkoff [58:20]
  • On Riley's desire to leave, and likely future departures if a job presents itself.

• End of USC–Notre Dame Rivalry:

  • Outrage at the hiatus of the historic matchup:
    • "The idea that you could let ... the end of the most storied college football rivalry outside of Michigan-Ohio State ... is asinine." – Matt Smith [60:22]

• What's Next for USC?:

  • Suggestions for future coaches (Pat Fitzgerald, Chris Petersen) to rebuild culture and toughness.
    • "Get a guy that builds culture ... Let's get this thing back on the tracks." – Matt Smith [61:14]

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• John Schneider on Super Bowl Aftermath:
  “You bank [your experiences]... I journal a lot, too, so that kind of helps me.” [05:41–06:51]

• On Sam Darnold:
  "He was everything everybody talked about. Hard working, low ego... awesome to witness." [07:49]

• Matt Smith on LA Radio Longevity:
  "I meet people in their 30s who rode in the car with parents listening to us... now they do the same with their kids." [20:45]

• Chargers’ Offensive Woes:
  "So much scar tissue had built up... that playoff game, it was just so..." [34:14]

• On Greg Roman:
  "I just thought the game plan was very curious." [35:51]

• Mike McDaniel’s Football Philosophy:
  "He said...the defense is trying to guess the answer to your question... you’ve got to devise the hardest question for them to answer." [37:24]

• On an Underappreciated Skill Player:
  "Trey Harris... blocks his tail off... crazy smart... he's going to be special." [41:06]

• USC Football Decline:
  "I'm shorting SC football this year... I don't see them as a playoff team." [58:20]

• USC–Notre Dame Rivalry:
  "It's asinine. Completely asinine." [60:22]

Timeline of Main Segments

• [04:26] — Interview with John Schneider begins: Post-Super Bowl chaos, plans, Darnold insight.
• [17:55] — Matt “Money” Smith joins: Chargers & LA radio, sports culture, Dodgers.
• [27:27] — Ohtani, MLB-to-NFL athleticism, and the Chargers’ stadium move.
• [31:40] — The Philip Rivers effect, head coaching discussion.
• [34:11] — Justin Herbert’s playoff struggles, offensive coaching debate.
• [37:06] — Harbaugh vs. modern OC philosophy, the “run game” resurgence.
• [40:13] — Chargers skill position deep dive, McConkey and Harris.
• [42:21] — Harbaugh/Oritz partnership, team-building.
• [47:15] — Khalil Mack’s value; leadership lessons; defensive future.
• [50:06] — 2026 Chargers expectations, OC hire, and defensive coaching tree.
• [54:19] — USC football nostalgia, failed transitions, Riley’s future, and rivalry rants.

Summary

This episode provides inside access to championship team management with John Schneider, showcases the psyche and roots of LA sports media with Matt Money Smith, and dives deeply into Chargers and Los Angeles sports culture. It’s rich in storytelling and football philosophy, with notable quotes and honest assessments of the state of NFL and college programs. The episode is a must-listen for football fans eager for front-office perspective, coaching dynamics, and the nuances of sports culture in LA.