Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "Best of The Herd"
Release Date: July 18, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Description: The Herd with Colin Cowherd offers a thought-provoking, opinionated journey through the top sports stories of the day. In the "Best of The Herd" episode, Colin delves into critical analyses of NFL team strategies, engages in an insightful conversation with UFC President Dana White, and explores the potential retirement of NBA superstar LeBron James.

1. NFL Analysis: Pittsburgh Steelers’ Defensive Strategy and Team Balance

Timestamp: 04:00 – 16:35

Colin Cowherd opens the episode with a critical analysis of the Pittsburgh Steelers' current strategy, focusing on their substantial investment in defensive players, particularly T.J. Watt.

• T.J. Watt’s Contract Extension
  Timestamp 04:00
  Colin acknowledges T.J. Watt's exceptional performance, stating, “He’s an absolutely great player. Deserves the money. Happy for him.” He discusses Watt's three-year, $123 million extension, emphasizing Watt's value to the team.

• Critique of Steelers’ Defensive Prioritization
  Timestamp 04:30
  Colin criticizes the Steelers for prioritizing defense at the expense of offense:

  “It’s not the talented T.J. Watt, it’s how they prioritize defense... they've gotten worse on offense because the league’s changed.”

  He points out that the Steelers' defense has consistently ranked outside the top 10 in total defense over the past four years, conceding high points in playoff games:

  “In the last five playoff games for the Pittsburgh Steelers, they’ve given up 28, 31, 42, 48, and 45 points... spending all this money on the wrong side of the ball.”

• Comparison with Other NFL Teams
  Timestamp 06:15
  Colin contrasts the Steelers with other successful teams like Detroit, Buffalo, Kansas City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and the Bills, highlighting their balanced approach:

  “Look around at the winningest teams here... pay for defensive stars but keep other positions young and cost-effective.”

• Discussion on Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys
  Timestamp 09:00
  Shifting focus to the Dallas Cowboys, Colin discusses Micah Parsons' contract negotiations:

  “If T.J. Watt gets $41 million, I'm the agent for Micah Parsons. I want $37 and a half... Micah is not in T.J. Watt, Jamar Chase’s class.”

  He criticizes the Cowboys' draft strategies and their inability to maintain roster flexibility, leading to potential financial constraints:

  “They draft so mediocre... have to overpay Dak, CD Lamb, and Micah, trapping them financially.”

• General Manager Insights
  Timestamp 12:25
  Colin highlights the importance of effective general management in building a flexible and successful team:

  “The last five general managers to win Super Bowls... Howie Roseman, Brett Veach, Jason Light, John Schneider... better GMs draft well and maintain roster flexibility.”

Notable Quotes:

• Timestamp 04:00
  Colin Cowherd: “He’s an absolutely great player. Deserves the money. Happy for him.”

• Timestamp 09:15
  Colin Cowherd: “The Cowboys tend to wait and wait and wait. So now Dallas is trapped.”

• Timestamp 12:51
  Rob Parker: “Matter what, you know...”

2. UFC Discussion with Dana White

Timestamp: 31:01 – 41:07

In a prominent segment, Colin engages in a comprehensive discussion with Dana White, President of the UFC, focusing on upcoming events, the growth of the UFC, and future promotions.

• UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier
  Timestamp 31:01
  Colin expresses excitement for UFC 318, featuring Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier:

  “It's going to be a great card highlighted by one of those Classic fights.”

• Dana White on Fighter Profiles and UFC Growth
  Timestamp 32:07
  Dana White highlights Dustin Poirier’s achievements:

  “Look at Poirier's last 11 fights... seven of them are former world champions.”

  He commends Poirier's status as a superstar within the UFC, akin to legends like Jon Jones and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

• UFC’s Expansion into Boxing Promotions
  Timestamp 34:32
  Colin inquires about Dana White’s foray into boxing with the upcoming Canelo vs. Crawford fight:

  “Why did you choose to do boxing?”

  Dana explains the strategic move to diversify UFC’s portfolio and capitalize on high-profile boxing matches:

  “Tickets go on sale today... My first boxing match to promote, other than McGregor, Mayweather, is Canelo versus Crawford.”

• Sourcing New Talent and Future Stars
  Timestamp 37:16
  Dana discusses the mechanisms for discovering new UFC talent through Dana White’s Contender Series:

  “We’ve already had three world champions come off that show.”

• Growth of Pro Sports in Las Vegas
  Timestamp 38:40
  Colin and Dana discuss the increasing acceptance and growth of pro sports in Las Vegas:

  “Vegas is the sports capital of the world right now.”

• Fighter Retirement Decisions
  Timestamp 39:34
  Colin probes Dana on how fighters decide to retire, using Dustin Poirier as an example:

  “Do you ever lead them and say, hey, you should think about retiring?”

  Dana responds by emphasizing the fighters' control over their decisions:

  “There have been guys, but it’s usually guys that are on a skid...”

Notable Quotes:

• Timestamp 32:46
  Dana White: “Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier, UFC 318... one of the more entertaining, likable, interesting guys.”

• Timestamp 34:52
  Dana White: “It was the gambling issue, and once that got over, you could tell... Vegas is the sports capital of the world right now.”

• Timestamp 39:59
  Dana White: “There have been guys, but it’s usually guys that are on a skid and don't want to retire.”

3. NBA Update: LeBron James’ Potential Retirement

Timestamp: 21:09 – 28:22

Colin shifts focus to the NBA, discussing the speculation surrounding LeBron James' possible retirement after the 2025 season.

• LeBron James’ Legacy and Future with the Lakers
  Timestamp 21:09
  Colin explores the idea that LeBron may announce his retirement after the 2025 season, citing organizational dynamics:

  “LeBron knows it. Luka knows it. Everybody in the organization knows it.”

  He compares LeBron’s control over his career to Michael Jordan’s experience:

  “LeBron's arguably the only player in NBA history with control beginning to end.”

• Impact of the New Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
  Timestamp 25:27
  The discussion highlights how the new CBA affects veteran players like LeBron:

  “LeBron's too expensive and too old for a guy that won't... and the smart GMs are getting four and five years ahead on this.”

• LeBron’s Role in Team Strategy
  Timestamp 27:05
  Colin emphasizes that the Lakers may prioritize younger talent like Luka Doncic, potentially leading to LeBron’s retirement:

  “In LA, it was still LeBron was the playmaker... now his play is hard to sign.”

Notable Quotes:

• Timestamp 21:09
  Colin Cowherd: “LeBron for 23 years has been the number one priority of every organization and almost always the best player.”

• Timestamp 25:32
  Dana White: “The Lakers are very comfortable... being in this stage of the LeBron James business.”

• Timestamp 28:22
  Jason McIntyre: [Advertisement segment]

Conclusion

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Colin provides in-depth analyses of key sports topics, offering his seasoned perspective on NFL team management, the strategic growth and diversification of the UFC under Dana White’s leadership, and the future prospects of NBA icon LeBron James. The episode is enriched with candid discussions, expert opinions, and notable quotes that provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the current sports landscape.

Key Takeaways:

• NFL Strategy: The Pittsburgh Steelers' heavy investment in defense, particularly T.J. Watt, may be hampering their offensive capabilities and overall team balance, contrasting with more flexible and balanced strategies of other top NFL teams.

• UFC Growth: Under Dana White, the UFC continues to expand its influence, venturing into high-profile boxing promotions and effectively sourcing new talent through platforms like Dana White’s Contender Series.

• NBA Future: LeBron James is approaching the twilight of his career with potential retirement looming after the 2025 season, influenced by team dynamics, organizational priorities, and the evolving landscape of the NBA’s CBA.

This summary excludes advertisements, introductions, and non-content segments to focus solely on the substantial discussions and analyses presented in the episode.