The Herd with Colin Cowherd: “3 & Out” Episode Summary

Date: September 17, 2025
Host: John Middlekauff (via The Volume and iHeartPodcasts)
Main Focus:
A massive listener mailbag covering the Chicago Bears quarterback situation (Caleb Williams), the run game struggles, NFL offensive line philosophy, Tom Brady’s relationship with the Raiders, league trends, and burning questions from fans around the NFL.

Episode Overview

This episode is entirely listener-driven, as John Middlekauff, host of “3 & Out,” dedicates the show to answering a packed mailbag of football questions. He provides deep analysis on Caleb Williams and the Bears' offensive problems, discusses the value of offensive lines in the current NFL, tackles rumors and intrigue around Tom Brady's NFL involvement as both commentator and Raiders minority owner, and weighs in on developing storylines from QB controversies, struggling superstars, and organizational philosophies across the league.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams Isn't the (Biggest) Problem

• Listener Question: Why do people blame Caleb Williams for Chicago’s struggles and not the run game? Is a trade for a running back on the horizon?
  • John’s Take:
    • Caleb Williams is absorbing excessive criticism because of his #1 pick status and the off-field drama surrounding his arrival in Chicago (demands for equity, initial reluctance to play for the Bears).
    • The real culprit is the non-existent run game: “DeAndre Swift can't find the f---ing gap and stutter-steps like a ballerina before making a decision.” (Listener, 03:00)
    • All successful QBs lean on a run game, and the Bears have completely neglected theirs.
    • John criticizes GM Ryan Poles for investing in skill positions (like WR Rome Odunze at #9 overall) instead of the offensive line, and calls into question Poles' competence:
      • “It's fair to assume he has no clue what he's doing, which is crazy. Like, decent amount of GMs feel overwhelmed." (John Middlekauff, 06:00)
    • The situation is likely to get worse if the Bears don't beat the defensively weak Cowboys.

2. Offensive Line Investment: League-Wide Trends & Fan Frustration

• Listener Question: Why don’t more teams prioritize the O-Line like the Packers, Eagles, and Lions do?
  • The offensive line is foundational, but its lack of “sexiness” and highlight potential means fans—and even some GMs—undervalue it come draft day:
    • “Drafting an offensive lineman on Thursday night or even Friday night is just not as sexy...but you can't operate without it.” (John, 09:20)
    • Skill positions can far more frequently be found later in the draft, but a good O-line is often directly tied to sustained franchise success.
    • Teams (and analysts) that ignore the trenches are doomed to repeat their mistakes; the Bears are a prime example this season.

3. Quarterback Hot Seats & Trade Rumors

• Kirk Cousins:
  • The Falcons’ benching of Cousins and speculation on trading him to the Bengals or others is “not happening” because of cost and lack of fit.
    • “The Bengals are cheap so they would have no interest on taking his, you know, $27 million prorated over the next 15 weeks. They believe in Jake Browning.” (John, 13:35)
  • The Midwest ties for Cousins aren’t strong enough to outweigh financial/practical obstacles.
  • On McCarthy’s struggles and possible conspiracy behind his “injury,” John raises an eyebrow, noting it feels suspiciously like giving the young QB a breather, not a real injury sit.

4. Tom Brady, Broadcasting, and Raiders Conflicts

• Listener Concern: Should teams (like the Commanders) be worried about Brady’s information access as a broadcaster and partial owner of the Raiders?
  • John refers to Bruce Arians: “Those meetings [with broadcasters] could be a little overblown...but the optics of Brady sitting in that coaching box, even if nothing actually changed, is something that’s going to be hard for teams to shake.” (John, 22:00)
  • The information flow is inevitable, and human nature dictates people share info with trusted colleagues.
  • Brady is unlikely to let his strict fitness/diet regimen slip: “That chiseled jawline, he’s not eaten cheeseburgers and onion rings…he is as dialed on the diet as ever.” (John, 24:15)
  • Ultimately, every team must be extra careful about what they share with the broadcast crew when Brady is around due to his new dual role.

5. Rule Changes & The 'Tush Push'

• Teams are seeking to counter the Eagles' infamous “tush push,” but John believes the debate is more about execution and personnel than about hand placement rules (28:51).
  • “It does feel like the beginning of the end for this thing…this play gets axed at the end of the year. It’s just a boring play to watch.” (John, 29:40)

6. Chiefs’ Offensive Woes & Andy Reid's Legacy

• Fans express concern about the drop-off in KC’s offense since Matt Nagy returned as OC, with specific worry about a lack of skill position depth and running back production.
  • John acknowledges the front office focus on O-line and their cap constraints:"When you’re paying two guys a ton... a lot of pressure on the draft...not everything’s perfect all the time." (John, 33:10)
  • The Rice incident (Lamborghini crash) is noted as a major setback for WR depth.
  • The “Andy Reid effect”: “Best thing that ever happened to your organization was Andy Reid. Without Andy, there’s no Mahomes.” (John, 37:00)
  • On roster-building: Should they trade for Alvin Kamara if available for a late pick? Yes, but only if it fits the overarching draft plan—they’ll need to start rebuilding other positions soon.

7. Team Quick Hits

• Chargers: Winning ugly but have elite pass rushers like Maxx Crosby who change games.
  • On Geno Smith's limitations: "That’s why he’s Geno Smith. This isn’t Joe Burrow, this isn’t Lamar Jackson.” (John, 39:50)
• Eagles: Aggressively in ‘championship mode,’ likely to trade for a starting corner or pass rusher during the season if needed.
  • “If the guy would start for them, I'd be stunned if the Eagles don’t trade for him." (John, 57:00)
• Giants: If Daniel Jones keeps underperforming, it could cost coach Brian Daboll his job, but it’s more a roster/coaching issue than a single scapegoat (51:17).
• Detroit Lions: Jameson Williams’ extension praised as a sign of organizational maturity—his speed/Talent is "like having a truck and a Ferrari." (John, 63:00)

8. Baker Mayfield’s Career Rebirth

• John is effusive on Mayfield's emergence in Tampa:
  • "I've loved Baker since he was at Oklahoma. He’s one of my favorite college players...most of us are not Andrew Luck at 22. Most of us are slappies. Most of us are idiots. It takes some bumps in the road to mature." (John, 54:30)
• Baker’s athleticism, family situation, and weight loss are highlighted as keys to his late-career surge.
• “He's a gamer. Some guys just got that shit deep in their veins.” (John, 77:30)
• John rejects the idea that Baker would have succeeded in Cleveland long-term; sometimes, “people are meant to break up.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Bears' Offensive Struggles:

  • “DeAndre Swift can't find the f---ing gap and stutter steps like a ballerina before making a decision.” (Listener, 03:00)
  • “I think it's fair to assume [Ryan Poles] has no clue what he's doing, which is crazy… they should have taken an offensive lineman.” (John, 06:00)

• On O-Line Value:

  • “Drafting an offensive lineman ... is just not as sexy as some of these other positions. But it is, you can't operate without it.” (John, 09:20)

• Tom Brady’s Dual Roles:

  • “The optics of Brady sitting in that coaching box, even if nothing actually changed, [are] something that’s going to be hard for teams to shake.” (22:00)

• On 'Tush Push':

  • “It does feel like the beginning of the end for this thing … this play gets axed at the end of the year.” (29:40)

• On Andy Reid and the Chiefs:

  • “Best thing that ever happened to your organization was Andy Reid. Without Andy, there’s no Mahomes.” (37:00)

• On Baker Mayfield:

  • "I've loved Baker since he was at Oklahoma ... It takes some bumps in the road to mature ... Some guys just got that shit deep in their veins.” (54:30, 77:30)

• On Sam Darnold & Bust GMs:

  • “When a guy's a bust, it's more on the coaching staff than the GM...not everyone just flourishes from day one. Some guys take some time." (John, 70:00)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 02:23 – Show kickoff, mailbag intro
• 03:00 – Caleb Williams/Bears run game deep dive
• 06:00 – Ryan Poles & draft philosophy critique
• 09:20 – The value and invisibility of O-Line picks
• 13:35 – Kirk Cousins trade talk/Cincy & QB market
• 22:00 – Tom Brady’s dual roles and info concerns
• 28:51 – The “tush push” play and likely rules changes
• 33:10 – Chiefs offensive concerns and roster building
• 39:50 – Chargers, Raiders, and Geno Smith analysis
• 51:17 – Giants, Daniel Jones, and Brian Daboll’s job
• 54:30 – Baker Mayfield late-career rise
• 57:00 – Eagles' trade and championship mentality
• 63:00 – Jameson Williams extension & Lions maturity
• 77:30 – John on the unquantifiable “gamer” quality in QBs

Final Thoughts

This episode is a rapid-fire, fan-driven NFL analysis masterclass, with John Middlekauff candidly dissecting front office decisions, coaching philosophies, and league trends. The show’s tone is unfiltered, direct, and a touch irreverent, making for both entertaining and insightful listening—particularly for fans of the Bears, Chiefs, and anyone following the NFL’s evolving storylines around quarterback controversies, run game struggles, and the complicated role of star players-turned-part owners like Tom Brady.

Recommended for: Hardcore and casual NFL fans alike, especially those fascinated by quarterback development, front office strategies, and the intersection of broadcasting and team ownership.