The Herd with Colin Cowherd – 3 & Out (October 15, 2025)

Episode Overview

Main Theme:
This episode of "3 & Out" with John Middlekauff is a listener-driven mailbag focused on hot-button NFL topics and college football, responding to audience questions with signature honesty and inside perspective. Key issues include the job status of Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, conspiracy theories around Chiefs playoff officiating, and existential angst among Eagles and Titans fans. Middlekauff also dives into broader football business questions, team management strategies, and the culture of fandom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jordan Love Criticism & Quarterback Evaluation

• Statline Defense: Middlekauff challenges the “poor decision” narrative on Packers QB Jordan Love, citing strong TD-to-INT ratios since late 2023.
  • "Those numbers are better than...I don't think I would've guessed his ratio is better than 3-to-1.” (03:08)
• Favre vs. Love: Comparison with Brett Favre highlights different expectations; Love is seen as more robotic, possibly reflecting the constraints of modern coaching.
• Trust Factor: Success often hinges on how much the play caller trusts the QB, more than raw stats.

2. Should the Ravens Fire John Harbaugh?

• Fan Impatience vs. Practicality: Middlekauff urges patience, noting that firing a successful coach like Harbaugh risks long-term regression unless a sure upgrade is identified.
  • "You cannot fire John Harbaugh unless you go, 'Here is the guy we are hiring instead.'” (07:52)
  • Draws parallels to Eagles’ firing of Andy Reid—successful coaches should only be replaced when a clear, superior plan exists.
• Ravens Outlook: Injuries and a slow start make a turnaround unlikely; even a 6-2 run might only get them back to .500.

3. Could Harbaugh Be Traded or Leave for Another Job?

• Titans Scenario: Unlikely Harbaugh would be traded or jump for organizational downgrades like the Titans or Cardinals.
• Ownership and Loyalty: Working for the Ravens or Steelers offers stability and resources unmatched by franchises in turmoil. Harbaugh’s close relationship with GM Eric DeCosta further cements his Baltimore future.
  • "He could take a deep breath, but that's not really how the Harbaughs are wired. Who's got it better than us? A lot of people besides the Ravens, that's for sure." (14:40)

4. Chiefs Playoff Officiating Conspiracies

• UTEP Study Reference: A listener references a study suggesting Chiefs get more favorable, subjective calls in the playoffs (e.g., roughing, pass interference).
• Middlekauff’s Philosophy: Elite teams and stars always get more breaks (citing Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter) – it’s “how the world works”.
  • "The talented get better breaks. That's the way the world works.” (18:06)
• Human Element: Sports always involve subjective officiating; obsessing over it ruins the experience.

5. Football Podcast Business Strategy

• Audience & Topic Selection: Middlekauff prioritizes content he cares about but watches analytics (YouTube, social engagement) to refine topics.
  • "I just try to talk about things that I'm interested in. I don't fake anything. I'm not doing some of these TV shows where I have to pretend to care." (20:05)
• Sales Savvy: Partnerships and advertising are the podcast’s “lifeblood.”
• Openness to Evolving: Sees social media virality as useful but warns against letting it dictate content too much.

[Notable Quotes & Timestamps]

• On Firing Harbaugh without a Plan:
  "I'm going to fire John Harbaugh because he had a crappy season, because there was a bunch of injuries. Who am I replacing him with? I can't just fire John Harbaugh and go on a search."
  — John Middlekauff (07:52)

• On Chiefs Rigging Theories:
  "Have there been individual situations that were BS? For sure. But I don't think they've won Super Bowls because of the referees."
  — John Middlekauff (18:29)

• On Ravens/Titans Coach Trade:
  "In what world would John Harbaugh be interested in that job?...they're not leaving the Ravens or the Steelers. You're going to have to fire them."
  — John Middlekauff (14:26)

• On Podcast Content Choices:
  "I would say content and ads are my bread and butter when it comes to numbers...I just try to talk about things that I'm interested in."
  — John Middlekauff (20:35)

Additional Mailbag Highlights

6. Titans Coaching Search

• Vrabel’s Firing: Middlekauff criticizes short-sighted Tennessee decisions, arguing that seeking a young offensive mind (like Brian Callahan) doesn't guarantee an upgrade.
  • "With a bad organization...when you know you have something good, you go, we're going to stand by you." (27:34)

7. Eagles, Bills & Quarterback Media Scrutiny

• Jalen Hurts vs. Josh Allen: Hurts gets scrutinized more than Allen despite similar team struggles; Allen is seen as elite, Hurts as replaceable.
  • "Every team beside the Chiefs would take Josh Allen seven days a week and 75 times on Sunday." (56:43)

8. Fan Emotional Pain

• Why Football Losses Hurt More: The scarcity of games makes each NFL loss more emotional than losses in other sports.
  • “Football's greatest asset is scarcity...an individual game is devalued in other sports.” (34:17)

9. On Brutal Honesty and Media Role

• No Team Bias: Middlekauff claims objectivity, motivated by business and entertainment, not passion for any NFL franchise.
  • “I don't have any bias or agenda to this. I will change my opinion if new information comes out. I don't care.” (51:14)

10. NFL & NBA: Business of Winning

• Clippers/Kawhi Leonard Scandal: NBA stars are mini-corporations; shady business isn’t shocking, but the difference is winning justifies the lengths teams go.
  • "If I'm paying, I have a minimum standard. Like, we should be in the playoffs...do you maintain your stardom? Do you play a lot? Do you move the needle? Do you generate me a lot of money?" (61:28)

11. Brandon Staley Critique

• Why He’s Disliked: Middlekauff labels Staley a “fraudulent coach” and a brown-noser, details industry criticism and contrasts with player respect.
  • "I think he's an awful coach. I really do. And I think you or I would've had a decent chance in 2020, the Fugazi season, to coach Aaron Donald in his prime." (67:08)

Segment Timestamps

• 02:56 – Show/Format Overview & First Jordan Love Q&A
• 07:52 – Should the Ravens Fire John Harbaugh?
• 14:26 – Could Harbaugh Be Traded? Ravens/Titans Dynamics
• 18:06 – Chiefs Games are Rigged? (Penalties & Officiating Rant)
• 20:05 – Podcast Business Strategy/Content Selection
• 27:34 – Titans Coaching Cycle Analysis
• 34:17 – Why Losing Football Hurts More Than Other Sports
• 51:14 – On Bias, Media Objectivity, Podcasting for Business
• 56:43 – Eagles QB Discourse, Hurts vs. Allen
• 61:28 – Kawhi/Clippers NBA Comparison to NFL
• 67:08 – Brandon Staley Criticism

Memorable Moments

• Middlekauff’s exasperated summation of football fan pain:

  • "Everything about football beside the game kind of sucks. Like you gotta be a sicko...Most guys you meet, they're like, yeah, just. I knew I needed it to get ready. But I love the games." (35:00)

• On coaches who jump jobs for money:

  • "You start getting huge sums of cash. Not everyone that gravitates to it is the Harbaugh brothers, Mike Tomlin, Andy Reid, and Pete Carroll. It's a lot of guys that have no business being anywhere close to it, but they're just, they're frauds and they're politicians." (69:18)

Tone & Style

Middlekauff is direct, often irreverent, with a behind-the-scenes edge informed by NFL experience, making him more blunt and less attached to hot-take culture. The "3 & Out" podcast is looser and more conversational than many football shows, responding to real fan concerns with sharp, entertaining commentary.

Useful for New Listeners

• If you want authentic, often unsparing NFL analysis guided by listener questions, this episode is emblematic.
• Middlekauff frequently addresses the business, strategic, and psychological elements of football, not just game results.
• Expect plenty of context for each topic—the mailbag format touches on NFL culture, the media, and organizational thinking.

End of Summary