The Herd with Colin Cowherd – “3 & Out - Thanksgiving Games Preview, Mailbag, Would Love Have More Success in Minnesota”

Date: November 26, 2025
Host: John Middlekauff (from 3 & Out, presented by Zone Pouches)
Production: iHeartPodcasts & The Volume

Episode Overview

This episode is a dense Thanksgiving-week rundown for NFL fans, hosted by John Middlekauff. He previews the Thanksgiving Day NFL slate, fields a lively listener mailbag, and offers pointed commentary on quarterback situations, coach performances, and current league storylines — particularly with the Vikings, Packers, 49ers, and more. The tone is candid, irreverent, and loaded with seasoned football insight, making it a must-listen for fans heading into a pivotal week of NFL action.

Key Segments & Topics

Thanksgiving Games Deep Dive

(Begins at 03:40)

• Historical Perspective: John notes this may be the best back-to-back trio of Thanksgiving games in recent history: “This is one of, if not the better three game stretches in Thanksgiving history.” (03:42)
• Packers vs. Lions:
  • Picks the Packers outright: “I’m taking the Packers... pains me. I’m a Dan Campbell, Jared Goff, Jameer Gibbs guy, love Laporta too, but…that’s a pretty big blow.” (05:54)
  • Concerns about Detroit’s offense and defense: “There's just something off defensively. They look like last year at the end of the season when they have a bunch of injuries.” (04:20)
• Cowboys vs. Chiefs:
  • Picks Cowboys +3 at home; respect for their offensive surge: “I like Dallas +3. Their offense... fun to watch.” (08:41)
  • On resilience and memorable moments in football: “Every once in a while you are part of a game you can talk about 10, 20 years later. I was at that game when they were down 21 nothing…storming back.” (07:30)
• Bengals vs. Ravens:
  • Leans Bengals +7 (“A lot of points, but I don’t know…”), doesn’t see how Ravens lose: “If I was going to lean, I would take the Bengals +7. Lot of points... but I don’t see how the Ravens lose.” (12:14)
  • Forecasts Ravens dominance barring catastrophic injuries.

Mailbag & In-Depth Listener Q&A

(Begins at 13:20, resumes throughout)

Quarterbacks: JJ McCarthy, Bryce Young, & Vikings’ Situation

• On JJ McCarthy (Vikings):
  • No faith after limited flashes; criticizes the modern wait-and-see rookie model:

  “He doesn't show flashes. You watch this guy, he is completely over his head… You have an elite coaching staff and you’re paying a premium—you gotta make decisions. You can’t keep waiting.” (16:00)

  • Durability concerns and comparisons to Sam Darnold and Trey Lance.
• On Bryce Young Trade Fallout:
  • Affirms Bears’ GM Ryan Poles unequivocally won the deal:

  “It’s one of those, if you are the Panthers, you regret badly. ... Bryce just seems like a fantastic guy, just not a very good player.” (15:05)

• On QB Development & Roster Decisions:
  • Slams the “Green Bay model” misapplied elsewhere—sometimes teams pre-decide outcomes based on draft capital, not true competition.

  “Daniel Jones knew they were going to go with J.J. McCarthy because they just drafted him high. It literally happened to him.” (20:32)

Coaching Critiques & 49ers’ Internal Drama

• Brandon Aiyuk Contract & Front Office Politics:

  “Kyle deserves a lot of the blame for the Aiyuk situation… No move is made without [Shanahan] signing off on it.” (25:09) “As long as your talent outweighs your problems, you’re going to be on the court. The moment the ratio goes problems over talent, you’re done.” (28:40)

  • Quotes Doc Rivers in relation to player value vs. problems.
• On Draft Blunders and Personnel Mistakes:
  • Travis Hunter trade critique (Jaguars): “Anyone with any sort of understanding about the NFL… in what world is a guy going to be able to play both ways?” (30:44)
• Josh McDaniels & NFL Worst Coaches:
  • “Josh McDaniels is the only guy who's been a head coach twice and didn’t make it to the end of year two, either year. ... That’s pretty hard to do.” (40:08)
• On Team Building: Talent, Ego, and Structure:
  • Insight on over-involved owners vs. the benefit of Green Bay’s structure: “Not having an owner really benefits the Packers. There’s not a billionaire breathing down their throat.” (19:06)

NFL Quick Hits

• Scheme & Personnel Discussions:
  • “If you don’t look good for Kyle Shanahan, you aren’t good.” (18:34)
  • On IUK: “You want people to play for you. You want your own guys on the team, and that’s friends with Aiyuk. So it’s a delicate situation.” (26:58)
• Mailbag Cornucopia:
  • Covers topics from aggressive Chiefs offense, why Eric Bieniemy’s not more in demand, fan delusion on Twitter, all the way to why the Steelers are “stuck in no man’s land” (50:49–56:10).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On sports talk shows’ repetitive nature:

  “I don’t know how First Take writes their headlines... Is that the biggest win of Dak’s career? It would be fucking exhausting. I couldn’t do those topics every week.” (07:00)

• On player durability and contracts:

  “The chances you are ever making $25 million a year if you don’t own and sell a business are slim to none. ... Giving that up—it honestly just makes me at a loss for words.” (37:35)

• On football culture & draft mistakes:

  “You could miss on every draft pick if you’re winning 11 games a year. No one’s going to say anything.” (33:23)

• On internet fandom & arguments:

  “No one ever goes, yeah, good point, I changed my opinion. You can’t get worked up for people on the Internet. It’s extremes.” (44:32)

• On overtraining and injuries:

  “Training has changed dramatically. ... There has to be a strenuous toll on your body because, like you said, the games now, it’s never been faster.” (47:22)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:40 – Thanksgiving Games Preview
• 13:20 – Mailbag begins: Bears-Panthers trade, rookie QBs, Vikings dilemma
• 25:09 – Niners’ Aiyuk contract drama discussed
• 30:44 – Jaguars’ Travis Hunter draft critique
• 36:49 – Brandon Aiyuk, contract realities, and NFL financial wisdom
• 40:08 – Worst NFL coach discussion (“manure pile”)
• 44:32 – Fan behavior and internet arguments
• 47:22 – Athlete training, injuries, and modern game speed
• 50:49–56:10 – Steelers stuck in “no man’s land,” Bears outlook, Eagles’ struggles

Analysis & Takeaways

• Thanksgiving Football is Must-Watch: Middlekauff's excitement for the holiday slate is underscored by deep X’s & O’s takes, plus some clever gambling talk (eg. “If you’re going to bet the Packers, just take them outright.” (05:54))
• QB Evaluations Are Ruthless: He’s unmoved by ‘rookie patience’ and sharply dismisses both Bryce Young’s and JJ McCarthy’s chances to develop if they don’t flash immediately in a modern NFL built on quick results.
• Team-Building and Ownership Structure Matter: The host deconstructs how power structures (owners versus football people) can make or break both franchises and coaching careers.
• Coaching and Personnel Moves Under the Microscope: Whether it’s the 49ers bungling the Aiyuk contract, the Jags’ two-way Travis Hunter experiment, or Josh McDaniels’ historically bad track record, Middlekauff does not hold back.
• Relatable, Real-Life Parallels: The host frequently makes analogies to dating, business, and everyday decision-making — making the football talk accessible and engaging.

Episode Mood and Language

John Middlekauff’s style is sharp, candid, and unfiltered — he’s not afraid of profanity (“That was a massive win by Dak Prescott... I couldn’t be in that business… I just couldn’t do those topics day after day, which in a weird way I respect because you’d have to fake it at a certain point.”), and he regularly veers off-script for asides and stories that keep the tone lively and authentic.

For New Listeners

If you’re a football fan who wants sharp analysis, honest QB takes, and some inside-baseball NFL culture, this episode is loaded with actionable insights and entertaining takes on some of the biggest teams and personalities in the league right now.