Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: HOUR 2 – Nick Wright is on the Bills Bandwagon, The Justin Herbert-Jim Harbaugh Connection (Dec 23, 2025)

Overview

In this engaging second hour, Colin Cowherd welcomes Nick Wright for a spirited conversation revolving around NFL playoff contenders, quarterback narratives, coaching philosophies, and team hierarchies. They dig into Nick Wright’s newfound affection for the Buffalo Bills, analyze Trevor Lawrence’s evolution, assess Justin Herbert’s relationship with Jim Harbaugh, and discuss broader league topics such as the future for Mahomes, the uniqueness of Caleb Williams, and coaching careers. The episode is packed with quotable insights, honest skepticism, and characteristic Cowherd wit.

Herd Hierarchy: Top 10 NFL Teams (03:15)

Colin presents his weekly "Herd Hierarchy," dissecting the current NFL power rankings with frankness and a hint of skepticism toward several hyped teams.

• #10 Buffalo Bills:

  • Issues: Josh Allen is banged up; offense struggles when he’s hurt; lack of downfield passing; struggles stopping the run.
  • Colin’s skepticism: “I am not as high on Buffalo as everybody else.” (04:00)

• #9 49ers:

  • Pass defense is suspect; Kittle’s injury is hugely impactful.
  • “George Kittle’s now hurt. Do you realize Kittle this year is worth a touchdown to their offense? That is insane.” (05:12)

• #8 Texans, #7 Denver, #6 Jaguars, #5 Eagles, #4 Bears, #3 Patriots, #2 Rams, #1 Seahawks – each ranked with supporting details, focusing on situational football, offensive/defensive strengths, and playoff potential.

  • On Seahawks: “If you turn the sound down when you watch the Seahawks, they look like the best team in the league.” (07:58)

Nick Wright Joins: On the Bills Bandwagon (09:02)

Why Nick is Backing Buffalo

• Nick previously saw Buffalo as the AFC’s #2 team, and despite roster shortcomings, believes Josh Allen is the best healthy QB available in the AFC playoff field.
• "The hurdle for him...has been Patrick Mahomes four out of five years and Joe Burrow the other year, the fact that neither...are going to be in the playoffs means this is wide open." (09:42)
• Nick critiques the oversimplified narrative about Buffalo’s supporting cast: "People wish Josh Allen had better receivers…but I guess he just has to settle for having the rushing champ, a good to very good offensive line and really good tight ends." (09:32)

Jacksonville Jaguars: Emerging Trust or Another Letdown?

• Colin draws a car analogy comparing the Jaguars franchise to the unreliable reputation of Jaguar cars: “They look good, but I don’t trust them on a long roadie. Why do you suddenly trust them?” (11:28)
• Nick’s outlook: Praises OC Liam Cohen’s work, and the leap made by Trevor Lawrence's consistency:
  • "What Trevor’s problem had been...his 20 worst plays of the season are brutal. Looked like the worst plays you’ve ever seen...The last month he has kept the highlight throws and cut out the other stuff." (12:11)
  • “During this run, Colin, they are beating teams by an average of 18.8 points per victory. That is...a transformation.” (13:16)

Mahomes, Andy Reid, and the Chiefs’ Future (13:53)

• Colin raises concerns about Mahomes’ career post-Andy Reid and missing elite weapons.
• Nick emphasizes the rarity of dynastic runs:
  • “Are they going to make seven straight conference championship games? Are they going to make five out of six Super Bowls including three straight? I think the odds are no.” (15:06)
  • But: "I think they will go into every season over the next, I believe, five to seven years with the best quarterback in the league." (16:16)
• On Mahomes’ current load: “I think we saw on Sunday how much offensive load Patrick is carrying—because he goes out and they instantly become the worst offense in football.” (17:43)

Quarterback Talk: Caleb Williams, Justin Herbert & Comparisons (17:56)

Caleb Williams’ Uniqueness & Critiques

• Colin floats comparisons between Caleb Williams and Josh Allen.
• Nick on the media’s criticism of Caleb’s personality and style:
  • "People were, without saying it, ‘I think the guy’s too effeminate.’...They didn’t like that he [painted his nails]. I thought that critique from the beginning was nonsense." (19:26)
• On development concerns: “The him not being great at layups is a fair critique...but if you were to ask me, Colin, here are 15 traits that make a quarterback…pick one that is most fixable. I would say not great at layups.” (20:37)
• “The stuff he is great at, not only is it not fixable, it’s not teachable.” (20:54)
• Optimism about pairing Caleb Williams with innovative coaches like Ben Johnson.

Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh’s “Sympatico” Relationship (29:25)

• Cowherd lauds Herbert’s resilience, especially given his O-line injuries and Harbaugh’s confidence in him.
  • Harbaugh quote: "Justin Herbert. As far as quarterback performances go, that was a Picasso. Just incredible play by him and just dialed in like he always is." (29:50)
• On Herbert’s durability: “There’s not a single player in the league [Harbaugh] would pick up the phone [for]; there’s not a single trade he would make to get rid of Justin Herbert.” (30:39)
• Producer J. Mac further praises Herbert, even comparing his 2025 performances favorably against Mahomes given adversity.

Coaching Carousel & The Value of Waiting for the Right NFL Job (42:22)

• Colin discourses on why coaches like Robert Saleh, Ben Johnson, and Mike Vrabel should be choosy:
  • “A good coaching candidate should be like a good actor. Wait for the right script. But both professions are weirdly insecure.” (43:03)
• On Robert Saleh’s next move: “He’s coached the Jets. He’s been in a bad movie with a bad director before and a bad script, so he doesn’t want to do that again.” (46:04)
• “There’s not as many good jobs as you think.”
• Colin lists examples—good organizations versus jobs to avoid, emphasizing patience and career mindfulness over money and title.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trevor Lawrence’s Growth:
  “The last month he has kept the highlight throws and cut out the other stuff.” (12:11) — Nick Wright

• On Caleb Williams’ Public Perception:
  “If he’s good, absolutely [locker rooms will follow him]. As long as he’s good, no one will care.” (19:53) — Nick Wright

• On Mahomes’ Place in NFL History:
  “If you were to ask me how many more Super Bowls does Patrick Mahomes win, I would probably say two or three.” (16:36) — Nick Wright

• On the Bears' Trick Plays:
  “Maybe that’s not when you call your trick play that involves snapping the ball between your tight end’s legs…Maybe save that for a lower leverage moment.” (21:32) — Nick Wright

• On Coaching Choices:
  “A good coaching candidate should be like a good actor. Wait for the right script.” (43:03) — Colin Cowherd

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Herd Hierarchy NFL Rankings: 03:15 – 09:00
• Nick Wright Joins / Bills Discussion: 09:02 – 13:53
• Jaguars, Trevor Lawrence Analysis: 10:53 – 13:53
• Mahomes & Chiefs Dynasty Discussion: 13:53 – 17:56
• Caleb Williams QB Discourse: 17:56 – 22:32
• Justin Herbert/Jim Harbaugh Segment: 29:25 – 32:43
• Robert Saleh & Coaching Carousel: 42:22 – 46:04

Style & Tone

• The conversation is incisive, lively, and candid—typical of Cowherd’s style—with Nick Wright providing energetic, evidence-based counterpoints.
• Frequent analogies (car brands, acting, movie scripts) keep the discussion colloquial and relatable.
• Big-picture takes on football culture, behind-the-scenes insights on coaching decisions, and open skepticism toward popular narratives.

Ideal For…

Listeners who want more than game summaries—Cowherd and Wright deliver sharp perspective on what shapes teams’ playoff fates, the unspoken variables of coaching, and the personal traits that make quarterbacks and head coaches special (and sometimes divisive). The segments are loaded with data, trends, comparisons, and broad NFL wisdom, making this a great catch-up for serious fans and newcomers alike.