The Herd with Colin Cowherd — Super Bowl Week Preview

Episode Date: February 3, 2026
Host: Colin Cowherd
Guest: NFL Scout John Middlekauff
Theme: Previewing Super Bowl Week and dissecting major NFL storylines: Sam Darnold’s redemption arc, GM/coaching dynamics (especially in Minnesota and Las Vegas), franchise valuation debates (Seahawks and Lakers), and the evolving lens for evaluating quarterbacks.

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into some of the NFL’s most compelling topics surrounding Super Bowl week. Colin and John Middlekauff explore the surprising career resurrection of Sam Darnold, the low valuation of the Seahawks franchise, the firing of the Vikings GM (and the deeper reasons behind it), the potential for success with new coaching hires (notably Clint Kubiak in Las Vegas), and changing attitudes toward quarterback "mistakes" in today’s high-offense league.

Their conversation is as candid as ever, with memorable anecdotes and authentic assessments of high-stakes NFL decisions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Vikings GM Firing: Beyond the Surface

Timestamps: [03:01]–[17:43]

• Team Dynamics & Leadership: Colin and John break down why the Vikings parted ways with their general manager (GM). While the official reason touched on paternity leave, they agree the real issues were poor draft results and an inability to build a strong relationship with the coaching staff, especially head coach Kevin O’Connell.
  • "Couldn't figure out how to get along and gain the respect of the coaching staff... he drafted extremely terrible." — John [05:07]
  • Decision-making that validated prior (possibly mistaken) picks, especially at QB (JJ McCarthy), raised red flags.
• NFL Grind Culture: There’s a strong theme here about the “badge of honor” in the NFL being relentless work, often at personal sacrifice.
  • "There are jobs, and I think NFL is one of those, where it is a badge of honor to have no life." — Colin [15:31]
• Takeaway: The outcome was mainly about poor personnel choices and failing to win over the coach—paternity leave was a small factor, but emblematic of a “not all in” culture.

2. Kubiak to the Raiders: An Underrated Home Run Hire

Timestamps: [22:13]–[28:04]

• Optimism for Kubiak in Las Vegas:
  • Colin tabs Clint Kubiak as the most likely new head coach to surprise with success over the next four years, citing cap space, roster talent, and schematic fit (particularly with rookie QB Fernando Mendoza).
  • "Mine is Clint Kubiak...I kind of think that’s a sneaky good hire." — Colin [22:35]
  • John agrees, emphasizing Kubiak’s authenticity, scheme fluency, and the family’s football pedigree. He quotes an NFL coach: "I love the guy. He’s all ball...no ego, easy to see why Brady liked him." [23:54]
  • Both highlight the Raiders’ flexibility—especially with assets like Max Crosby—and the opportunity to rebuild for the long term.

3. Seahawks Franchise Valuation: An Undersold Super Asset

Timestamps: [42:52]–[50:08]

• NFL vs NBA:
  • John and Colin compare the Seahawks' reported sale value (~$6 billion) to the Lakers’ $10 billion figure, arguing Seattle is actually a far better purchase today due to built-in revenue and operational advantages.
  • "Tell me another business in America...the 49ers will exist. The Bears will exist. If I was a billionaire...No sports league outside of the Premier League has more leverage than the NFL." — Colin [44:10]
  • The Seahawks offer a stable GM, a potentially generational coach, loyal fans, new stadium, and a location flush with corporate money.
  • "You inherit the two hardest guys to acquire in the business: a coach and a GM. They're all under contract, going nowhere." — John [46:53]

4. Sam Darnold: From Bust to Top 10 Quarterback?

Timestamps: [28:04]–[34:29]

• The Changing Arc of NFL QBs:

  • Colin marvels at Darnold's rise; once labeled a bust, he’s now on the cusp of a Top 10 status. He compares this to rare “second act” QBs like Jim Plunkett.
  • "If Darnold wins a Super Bowl…start of next season, where do we put him?" — Colin [28:04]
  • John says he’s “easily a top-10 quarterback” now, stressing Darnold’s physical gifts, enhanced game management, and how a change in situation (like linking with Shanahan) can alter a career.
  • "No one ever disputed his physical capabilities...I mean, look at Caleb. He's only on in fourth quarters of games and they're winning. Darnold, when he's on, is damn good.” — John [30:12]

• Grit & Mental Growth:

  • Darnold’s mental toughness and willingness to adapt are lauded.
  • "He's been a different guy now, down the stretch, not making mistakes…" [31:39]
    "Sam's seeing a lot...sometimes you just get lucky who drafts you. Sam Darnold got the wrong end of that court." — John [33:53]

5. The Era of Big-Offense and Interceptions: QB Mistakes Redefined

Timestamps: [34:29]–[40:27]

• Interceptions Less Damning:
  • Colin opines that the proliferation of snaps and more aggressive offenses means interceptions are less of a death knell for QBs.
  • "With more snaps, more mistakes from the quarterback are OK. I am less critical of the interception than I was 10 years ago..." — Colin [34:29]
  • John agrees, connecting this to modern thinking in other sports (“no one cares if you strike out anymore in baseball”, “everyone’s gunning threes in basketball”).
  • "So you just throw more touchdowns. So live with the interceptions. Who cares? ... That's why Josh Allen and Mahomes were tailor made. Let it fly." — John [36:58]
• Safe Isn’t Good Enough:
  • Colin notes that quarterbacks who play it too safe (Derek Carr, Kirk Cousins, Alex Smith) stall their teams’ ceilings; a big-play mindset matters more now.
  • "What I don't want is safe. That's what I don't want. Like, that's, I think, that shortened the career of Derek Carr. Not enough juice." — Colin [38:21]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On GM/Coach Relationships:
  • "How could I ever look at you the same if you go, are we really in the bunker together?" — John on a GM taking time off during cutdowns [05:07]
• On NFL Culture:
  • "You lose the respect of other people in the building...if you don't sacrifice for the job. I'm sorry, but that's just the way it is." — Colin [15:36]
• On Kubiak’s Fit for the Raiders:
  • "He’s all ball...no ego, easy to see why Brady liked him." [23:54]
• On Darnold’s Redemption:
  • "If Darnold wins a Super Bowl...start of next season, where do we put him? What is he as a quarterback?" — Colin [28:04]
• On Changing Offense:
  • "The days of those Rodgers stat lines—you know, 38 touchdowns and 3 picks—that's over. It's never going to happen again." — John [39:12]
• On NFL Franchise Value:
  • "If you told me I could own anything in the world, the two things I would own is an English Premier League soccer team and an NFL team." — Colin [50:08]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Vikings GM firing/GMs and coaches dynamics: [03:01]–[17:43]
• Kubiak & underrated new coaching hires: [22:13]–[28:04]
• Darnold’s redemption & changing QB evaluations: [28:04]–[34:29]
• Rethinking interceptions & aggressive football: [34:29]–[40:27]
• Seahawks franchise valuation vs Lakers: [42:52]–[50:08]

Tone & Style

The conversation is lively, blunt, and often irreverent—Cowherd and Middlekauff aren’t afraid to question conventional wisdom or poke holes in prevailing narratives. There’s an underlying admiration for relentless work ethic, an appreciation for football’s evolving strategies, and a sharp eye on where sports intersects with big business and culture.

This tightly focused episode offers a must-listen breakdown for anyone interested in how NFL value—on the field, in the staff room, and at the franchise level—is built, measured, and sometimes surprisingly recalibrated.