The Herd with Colin Cowherd – 3 & Out (Oct 29, 2025)

Mike Tomlin’s Future, Lamar’s Leadership, and a New Era in College Football

Episode Overview

In this episode of the "3 & Out" podcast (a sub-show on The Herd with Colin Cowherd), host John Middlekauff dives into three main themes:

• The uncertain future of Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers following a period of mediocrity.
• Insight into Lamar Jackson's evolving leadership with the Ravens and locker room dynamics.
• The rapid changes in college football, especially the emergence of the GM role and increased money flow for off-field staff.

The conversation also features Middlekauff answering football mailbag questions, mainly around coaching prospects, NFL team trajectories, and QB development.

1. The Mike Tomlin Conundrum: Steelers at a Crossroads

[03:45–19:40]

Key Points

• Respect for Tomlin’s Legacy: Middlekauff repeatedly stresses admiration for Mike Tomlin’s coaching prowess and leadership abilities.

  • “I have a ton of respect for the guy. He's had a remarkable career.” (04:58)

• "The Tomlin Spot": Tomlin’s legendary record as a home underdog is highlighted (“70% winning percentage”), but even that reputation is fading as results stagnate.

• Steelers’ Decline: Despite rare coaching churn (three head coaches in 75 years), Pittsburgh hasn't won a playoff game in a decade.

  • The team is stuck in a cycle—“the hamster wheel”—winning enough to make the playoffs but not progressing, especially compared to division rivals like the Ravens and Bengals.

• Roster Flaws:

  • Defense is highly paid but “atrocious,” despite Tomlin being a defensive specialist.
  • Aging stars (e.g., T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward) lack consistency; offense lacks explosivity and depth at running back and receiver.
  • Quarterback play described as “no future”—current QB is 41.

• Is It Time For a Change?

  • Both Tomlin and the organization may need a fresh start: “If I was a betting man, I say this team feels 9 and 8ish.” (13:18)
  • The core message: Tomlin’s leadership may have lost its impact; even legendary voices can “run dry” in the same place after 15–17 years.

Notable Quote

“If you’re the Steelers...is it time for some new blood? Mike Tomlin, once upon a time, gave you that 15, 17 years ago.”
-- John Middlekauff [14:34]

Tone

Candid but respectful; Middlekauff doesn’t call for Tomlin’s firing, but clearly pushes the organization to reflect on its direction.

2. Lamar Jackson and the Power of Locker Room Leadership

[19:40–26:40]

Key Points

• The Ping Pong Table Story: Following a loss, Lamar Jackson ordered all games and TVs removed from the Ravens’ locker room to refocus the team.
• Player-Driven Standards: Middlekauff highlights the significance of leadership coming from star players, not just coaches or management.
  • Coaches need buy-in from top players for culture and discipline to stick.

Notable Quote

“I told [Kaneko], our head equipment guy, I told him to take all the games, the ping pong tables, and turn the TVs off. If we could have taken out the TVs, they'd have been out too...We had to focus.”
-- Lamar Jackson (as quoted by Middlekauff) [21:23]

• Why It Matters: Player ownership signals championship culture (referencing the “Patriot Way” and examples like Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions).
• Contrast with Steelers: Middlekauff indirectly contrasts Lamar's proactive leadership with the aging message in Pittsburgh.

Notable Quote

“When you have a player who’s the best player on your team, the leader of your team, preaching the message...the best teams have buy-in from the locker room.”
-- John Middlekauff [23:46]

• Middlekauff on Ravens: He admits his renewed faith in the Ravens given Jackson’s leadership:
  • “Maybe I’m back on the Ravens bandwagon because I’m surely off the Steelers.” [26:00]

3. College Football’s New Era: The Rise of the GM and the Business of Personnel

[24:00–38:28]

Key Points

• Dramatic Change in College Football:

  • Transfer portal and NIL have made roster management akin to free agency.
  • The academic side of transfers has virtually vanished: “You could have a 0.0 for multiple years and transfer to any school that wanted you to play football, which I’m all for.” [25:17]

• Emergence & Value of College GMs:

  • Ten years ago these roles barely existed; now, top Power 4 program GMs command $750,000–$1.5 million salaries.
  • NFL scouting talent is being siphoned into college for GM/personnel jobs—career advancement can be faster, money better, and job responsibilities broader.
  • The next wave: “These GMs are going to become the power brokers and help lead the coaching searches in the future.”

• Networking & Career Advice:

  • Middlekauff stresses that personal connections drive success:
    “…your network is your net worth.” [34:54]
  • Aspiring football personnel people should view college as a land of opportunities—easier upward mobility and increasing financial rewards.

• Transfer Portal as a Hybrid Job:

  • Today’s college GMs need to manage “transfer portal free agency” and high school recruiting, skills best honed by those with NFL personnel backgrounds.

Notable Quotes

“If you’re at a college somewhere and you want to work football, there’s never been an easier time ever to get into the personnel world in college.”
-- John Middlekauff [36:12]

“It is hard to move up in the NFL...in college much easier...and they pay seven figures to live in towns where you could buy a mansion for a million dollars.”
-- John Middlekauff [33:25]

4. Middlekauff Mailbag

[38:29–78:00, selected highlights]

The second half is dominated by listener questions—here’s a selection of topics covered, with timestamps to specific answers and summary responses:

Mailbag Highlights

Ryan Day as NFL Candidate

• [38:29–41:30]
• Q: Would Ryan Day be a candidate for the Steelers or other NFL jobs if he wins again at Ohio State?
• A: Absolutely—his NFL experience and dominance at OSU make him an ideal candidate for a blue-blood NFL job if it opens.

Cardinals’ Kyler Murray Future

• [41:31–43:43]
• Franchise direction and GM/coach security will determine whether Kyler stays. Prediction: if new people come in, he’s likely gone.

Chargers Fan Base

• [43:44–45:07]
• The franchise struggles for fanbase continuity due to moves (SD to LA), which impacts question volume and perception.

Coaching Archetypes

• [46:30–48:40]
• Ranking Mike McDonald (defensive mind) among head coaching prospects compared to offense-first names. Advantage still goes to coaches great with QBs, but McDonald is “the lone guy” defensively he’d take above others.

Seattle Seahawks Outlook

• [48:41–51:20]
• Middlekauff is bullish—they can win the division, especially with current Niners’ injuries.

Caleb Williams & QB Development

• [52:33–56:29]
• Discussion of development arcs for first-round QBs versus reclamation projects; skepticism about Caleb’s future as a pocket passer due to history/style.

Troy Aikman Criticism of Caleb

• [59:50–66:53]
• Defends Aikman’s cred, counters online outrage, and contextualizes Aikman’s experience with elite QBs and expectations for professionalism (e.g., attending meetings).

Chiefs/Broncos/Raiders Schedules

• [68:09–70:56]
• Broncos still in the division race but need big wins; next two games (Texans, Raiders) are pivotal before facing Chiefs.

Packers & Vikings Debate

• [73:10–74:36]
• Compares Packers’ “underachieving” with Rodgers to Vikings’ ongoing QB struggles; “Packers is not even debatable” as less frustrating.

Ben Johnson & QB Types

• [76:13–77:45]
• No clear answer on Ben Johnson’s QB preference (relating to Caleb Williams vs. Bo Nix); speculation is that coordinators rarely have time to do deep evaluations unless their team will draft those players.

5. Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Tomlin’s Message Running Dry

  “There’s a reason...you can’t imagine still being at my house at 40 years old, listening to my parents tell me what to do...the message kind of runs dry.”
  -- John Middlekauff [12:39]

• On Accountability and Buy-In

  “Your best players...are the hardest workers by far. Period. Or as the kids say, full stop.”
  -- John Middlekauff, citing Dan Campbell [22:30]

• On Coaching Patience in Modern College Football

  “Whenever I hear these coaches are like, ‘We need more time.’ The money bought the time, buddy.”
  -- John Middlekauff [39:33]

6. Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------------------|----------------| | Mike Tomlin/Steelers discussion | 03:45–19:40 | | Lamar Jackson & Locker Room Leadership | 19:40–26:40 | | College Football’s New Era & Personnel Discussion | 24:00–38:28 | | Mailbag (selected highlights throughout) | 38:29–78:00 |

Summary Tone and Takeaways

• The episode is conversational, insightful, and a blend of hard-nosed realism with respect for the people in the industry.
• Middlekauff isn't shy about challenging sacred cows (Tomlin, college coaching timelines, franchise trajectories) but brings a practitioner’s empathy born of experience.
• The big throughline is the need for adaptability, both for football programs and people working in the industry. Sticking to the old way—whether that’s a head coach’s message, QB development, or personnel hiring—is a recipe for stagnation as the landscape rapidly evolves.