The Herd with Colin Cowherd: 3 & Out – Super Bowl Preview, Fugazi Friday, Mailbag (Feb 6, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this episode of 3 & Out with John Middlekoff, the focus is on an in-depth preview of the upcoming Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Middlekoff dives into the most intriguing storylines: Sam Darnold’s Cinderella ascent, the coaching legacy implications for John Schneider and Mike Vrabel, and the broader narratives shaping both franchises. The episode also serves up Fugazi Friday—Middlekoff’s take on things that seem off or insincere in the football world—and concludes with a robust listener mailbag tackling coaching, roster moves, and the state of the NFL’s hiring practices. The discussions are candid, engaging, and laced with Middlekoff's signature irreverence.

Main Episode Segments

1. Super Bowl Preview: The Sam Darnold Human Interest Story

[00:00–19:50]

• Darnold’s Redemption Arc:
  Middlekoff centers much of the show on Sam Darnold, marveling at the rapid transformation from dismissed backup to Super Bowl starter.

  "Could you meet a human being that follows sports that would be like, 'I hate Sam Darnold. Loser. Can't wait to root against him.'...there's an element to Sam Darnold that's hard to root against." – John Middlekoff (08:25)

• Historical Quarterback Turnarounds:
  Drawing comparisons to Rich Gannon, Steve Young, and Jim Plunkett, John emphasizes how rare it is in the modern NFL for a quarterback to rebound as spectacularly as Darnold.

• League-wide Impact:
  Darnold’s Seahawks success has reached beyond Seattle. Middlekoff points to the Vikings, claiming that his resurgence contributed to their GM’s firing, and that narrative dominoes will linger wherever Darnold goes next.

  "There are ripple effects of the Sam Darnold success… their general manager just got fired." (13:17)

• The Likeability Factor:
  Middlekoff underscores how universally liked Darnold is among both media and players. “In a league that gossips about everybody… never heard a bad word about him.” (16:58) He shares Christian McCaffrey’s praise regarding Darnold’s attitude and humility.

• Super Bowl Stakes:
  The significance of a Darnold-led victory and MVP: "If Sam Darnold in Seattle won the Super Bowl, and Sam Darnold won the Super Bowl MVP...it would be more of an issue for Minnesota trying to overcome that narrative, which would never go away." (14:40)

2. Legacy Stakes for John Schneider and Mike Vrabel

[19:52–34:43]

• John Schneider's Hall of Fame Resume:
  John touts Schneider potentially joining an exclusive club of GMs to win titles with different coaches and QBs.

  "John Schneider has a chance to pull the Howie of winning multiple Super Bowls with two different coaches and two different quarterbacks. That is a remarkable accomplishment." (22:56)

• Vrabel and Drake Maye:
  On the Patriots' side, Middlekoff shifts focus to head coach Mike Vrabel and young QB Drake Maye. He posits that Vrabel, if victorious, would "go on the short list of guys who have won a Super Bowl for the team that he played for and also won a Super Bowl coaching them." (24:08)

  • The nostalgia and “family” angle for Patriots fans: “You win three rings as a player… then you come back and resurrect the franchise… you get pretty legendary status." (26:00)

  • On the franchise’s future: "This Vrabel Dray Maye operation, which is going nowhere… into next year, they will definitely be one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl again." (29:26)

• Coaching Experience Edge:
  Middlekoff underscores the Patriots’ huge advantage in coaching experience, with Vrabel and OC Josh McDaniels having numerous Super Bowl appearances.

  "I think the combination of Vrabel and Josh is elite... I would bet on him [McDaniels] being there for the foreseeable future." (33:53)

3. Fugazi Friday—Things That Make You Shake Your Head

[39:44–53:35]

• Tom Brady's Neutral Super Bowl Stance:
  Middlekoff takes Brady to task for declining to openly root for the Patriots:

  "When Tom Brady... is asked about who he's rooting for and says he has no dog in the fight, I gotta red flag that. That's absolutely embarrassing." (40:07)

  He contends that Brady’s ambivalence is a letdown for Patriots fans, contrasting it with legends like Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers who always openly support their old teams.

• NFL’s International Expansion—Australia Game Complaint:
  John calls out the league for greed in scheduling 49ers vs Rams in Melbourne, Australia.

  "To force teams to take a 15-hour-plus flight to play one of the best games on both their schedules, to me, seems pretty insane. It really does… Seems like a tad greedy." (43:35)

4. Mailbag: Listener Q&A, Analysis, and Rants

[53:36–end]

A lively segment where John delivers rapid-fire takes on listener questions, ranging from draft strategy to coaching hires.

• Patriots’ Coaching Advantage:
  "It’s the thing that gives me pause for making an uncomfortable bet on Seattle and I’m not going to do it...I’m not going to bet the farm against the coaching staff." (54:49)

• Titans vs Jets Regrets:
  On whether the Titans or Jets will look worse for their respective franchise errors: "The Titans…he got fired for being mean. Think about that…Sam Darnold never sticks around when they get drafted high and they’re really bad." (57:40)

• Patriots Respect:
  "You win the Super Bowl, they can't say bleep. They can never take away your ring… Like when you guys first won it in 2001, no one saw coming." (59:44)

• NFL Head Coach Hiring Diversity/“Rooney Rule”:
  John unpacks the complexity of league diversity initiatives and why candidate cycle and job desirability matter more than raw numbers. “This year was pretty terrible in terms of the candidates. Some of the guys that were hired…” (1:01:28)

• Jeremiah Love or D-lineman for KC?:
  "Andy wants to throw the ball to the running backs...I would expect them to draft one of the defensive linemen. Whoever the best defensive lineman on the board is what I would expect them to do." (1:04:23)

• Deshaun Watson’s Career:
  "He has not been a good quarterback for five seasons. Like, that’s a wide gap. I’d be stunned. I think if they cut him, no one touches him now." (1:06:51)

Most Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Darnold's Likeability:

  "In a league that gossips about everybody...never heard a bad word about him." – John Middlekoff (16:58)

• On John Schneider’s Potential Legacy:

  "To do it at the same franchise with multiple iterations...an incredible potential accomplishment for John." (23:45)

• On Brady’s ‘No Dog In the Fight’:

  "For him to go corporate...that is something that should irk the fans because it kinda feels like he doesn't give a [bleep] about Boston. Like, truly doesn't." (40:20)

• On NFL’s Expansion to Australia:

  "A 15 hour flight...You could watch the Godfather trilogy and still have time to read a book...Seems like a tad greedy." (42:50)

Timestamps & Key Segments

• Sam Darnold’s Story & Super Bowl Narrative – 00:00–19:50
• John Schneider's & Vrabel’s Legacies – 19:52–34:43
• Fugazi Friday (Brady & Australia Game) – 39:44–53:35
• Mailbag Segment – 53:36–end

Episode Tone & Style

John Middlekoff is blunt, insightful, and not afraid to call things as he sees them. The tone is irreverent and conversational, mixing hard football analysis with inside stories, locker-room humor, and honest listener feedback. There’s a sense of nostalgia and tradition—especially regarding the Patriots—but also cynicism around league decisions and football culture.

Bottom Line

This episode offers a comprehensive, entertaining Super Bowl preview through the lens of redemption, legacy-building, and the quirks that make the NFL so captivating. The Darnold narrative is central, but Middlekoff makes space for coaching chess matches, league politics, and passionate fan mail. Skip the ads, but don’t miss the mailbag—a goldmine for diehard football fans seeking sharp, unfiltered perspective.