The Herd with Colin Cowherd: Richard Sherman Podcast – 49ers–Bears REACTION

Episode Date: December 30, 2025
Main Theme:
Richard Sherman provides an in-depth reaction to the Week 17 Sunday Night Football thriller between the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears, where Brock Purdy and Caleb Williams went head-to-head in a high-scoring bout with playoff implications. Sherman also examines the performance of both teams, discusses the broader NFC and AFC playoff pictures, and highlights the challenges facing the 49ers' defense.

Episode Overview

• Purpose:
  Analyze the 49ers' dramatic win over the Bears, the clash between Brock Purdy and Caleb Williams, dissect defensive concerns for San Francisco, and riff on the evolving playoff picture, particularly focusing on the NFC West and AFC playoff races.
• Tone & Style:
  Candid, energetic, analytical, with personal anecdotes and characteristic humor from Richard Sherman.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. SF 49ers vs. Chicago Bears: Game of the Year?

Timestamp: 03:41

• High-Scoring Offense, Defensive Woes:
  Sherman opens by calling it “might have been game of the year. Obviously nobody's defense decided to show up this week.”
• Brock Purdy's Resilience:
  Despite a rough start (pick-six), Purdy delivers a “surgical” performance:
  • 5 total touchdowns (3 passing, 2 rushing), 24/33, 303 yards.
  • “[Purdy] ended up with five total touchdowns... and a partridge and a pear tree for those still enjoying the holiday season.” (04:04)
• Key Offensive Contributors:
  • “It was Purdy, it was [Brandon] Aiyuk, it was [Christian] McCaffrey and CMC and CMC some more. This was an incredible all-around game for the 49ers offense.” (04:23)
• Shorthanded 49ers:
  • George Kittle and Trent Williams were out, several players in and out of the lineup, but Purdy “elevating this offense to a new level.”
• O-Line’s Bounce Back:
  • “We've been very tough on them this season... they played fantastic football. They kept people off Brock Purdy... even if the pockets were getting kind of tight.” (05:03)

2. Bears and Caleb Williams Show Promise

Timestamp: 05:28

• Bears’ Progress & Coaching:
  • “Chicago Bears... a well-coached, incredible football team. Caleb Williams was 25 of 42 for 330 and two touchdowns... Luther Burden played the game of his life.”
  • Highlights Bears WR Luther Burden: 8 catches, 138 yards, 1 TD.

3. 49ers Defensive Concerns

Timestamp: 06:12

• Nickel Corner Crisis:
  • Upton Stout (nickel corner) exits with concussion; Lucas replaces, “he struggles mightily... They were running the same play. Motion Luther Burton over, option out... If you do that to me multiple times, I'm booking that. You gotta show me something different.” (06:34)
• Youth & Situational Awareness:
  • “This goes back to just a young defense not being as veteran... A veteran defense takes a deep breath, understands it’s simple football, understands down and distance, situational awareness.” (07:12)
• Pass Rush/Front Four:
  • D-line is “last in the league in sacks... they're going to have to correct that.” (08:42)
• Personnel Suggestions:
  • Sherman advocates for more veteran help at nickel: “I thought the 49ers should have, should have went after Asante Samuel Jr. when he was a free agent... I wouldn’t mind them calling KK back... Right now that nickel spot is an issue. If it continues... that's going to be the demise of this team.” (09:03)

4. Playoff Picture & Stakes

Timestamp: 09:39

• NFC West Showdown Preview:
  • All eyes on the win-and-in game: “Everything coming down to next week in Levi’s Stadium... for the division, for the one seed.”
  • “The Rams... they can’t win the division... it’s coming down to the 49ers and the Seahawks. I can't wait to see that game. Honestly, I wish they could flex it to Sunday Night Football so I could sit here on my couch and eat popcorn.” (10:23)
• 49ers’ Resilience:
  • “If you're telling me after Fred Warner went down, after Bosa went down, Brock was out, you still believed this team would have a chance at the one seed? Don’t lie to me... They’re doing it.” (09:52)

5. Injury Updates & Playoff Return Timelines

Timestamp: 11:10

• Fred Warner’s Playoff Status:
  • Sherman lays out a detailed timeline for Warner’s possible return, underscoring the challenge:
  • “Fred is a special individual, but that’s asking a lot, for him to practice and expect to play for the first time that week... If they don't activate him by the first divisional week, then I think it's going to be a long shot for him to play.”

6. Kyle Shanahan and Coach of the Year Debate

Timestamp: 12:15

• Reflects on previous snubs and current narratives:
  • “I remember Kyle not getting coach of the year in 2019... Now they’re saying, ‘Oh well, these first-year coaches deserve it...’ So now it matters... now turning a team from worst to first matters for coach of the year?”
• Expresses frustration that Shanahan doesn’t get his due, regardless of circumstances.

7. Brock Purdy’s Growth and Signature Plays

Timestamp: 13:19

• Highlight Moment:
  • Describes a “Mahomes/Josh Allen” type play:
    “That play in the red zone where [Purdy] scrambled out... juked the defender, looked like he was gonna run, pulled up two more Bears defenders and then hit Juice [Kyle Juszczyk] in the corner for a touchdown. Those are the plays you see Mahomes and Josh Allen making.”
• Playoff Trust:
  • “That’s why Brock’s getting paid the big bucks... you know he’s going to play this way in the playoffs. That’s the big difference between him and some of these other young quarterbacks... He’s shown it in the playoffs.”

8. Quick Note: Eagles vs. Bills – AFC/NFC Implications

Timestamp: 17:36

• Ugly, Low-Scoring Game:
  • “Not often do you see a game end 13–12.”
• Eagles’ Second-Half Issues:
  • “For the Eagles to have no passing yards in the second half again, you’re going to have a hard time quieting those whispers and murmurs... especially if they struggle in the playoffs and go home early.” (18:25)
• Bills Frustration:
  • “This Buffalo Bills loss gives the Patriots the AFC East for the first time in... six years... If the Bills go to Gillette and lose, there’s going to have to be changes.”
• AFC Parity:
  • “This is about as good of a year in the playoffs as the Bills could ask for... How they’re currently constructed, can they make a run? Maybe. But they haven't shown that this season.” (19:47)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Purdy’s Growth:
  “He’s elevating this offense to a new level. Give the O-Line a lot of credit. We've been very tough on them this season. No question about it. They played fantastic football.” — Richard Sherman (05:03)

• On Defensive Simplicity:
  “A veteran defense takes a deep breath, sees what's going on... Have situational awareness.” — Richard Sherman (07:18)

• On 49ers’ Resilience:
  “You can lie to yourself, just don't lie to me.” — Richard Sherman, about fans who thought the 49ers could withstand all their injuries and still grab the 1-seed (09:52)

• On Shanahan’s Award Frustration:
  “Now turning a team from worst to first matters for coach of the year? Because you didn't give it to him when he did it.” — Richard Sherman (12:42)

• On Brock Purdy’s Signature TD:
  “Those are the plays you see Mahomes and Josh Allen making... That’s why Brock’s getting paid the big bucks.” — Richard Sherman (13:38)

• On NFL’s Playoff Drama:
  “You couldn’t have scripted it any better if you're the National Football League—division game for the one seed... What a game. Don’t you love this game?” — Richard Sherman (22:44)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• 49ers-Bears Recap Begins: 03:41
• 49ers Offensive Line and Purdy: 05:03
• Bears’ Performance/Kudos: 05:28
• 49ers Defensive Issues: 06:12
• 49ers Playoff Stakes: 09:39
• Injury/Warner Return Timeline: 11:10
• Shanahan COY Rant: 12:15
• Brock Purdy’s Highlight Play Dissected: 13:19
• Eagles-Bills Playoff Impact: 17:36

Conclusion & Final Thoughts

Richard Sherman delivers an in-depth, spirited breakdown of the 49ers’ high-octane win over the Bears, highlighting Brock Purdy’s ascension, serious defensive concerns, and the razor-thin NFC playoff margins. He calls out coaching award hypocrisies, offers optimism for fans, and sprinkles in candid, often humorous insights about both teams’ trajectories as the regular season reaches its climax.

“What a game. Don’t you love this game?”

For 49ers fans, this episode is both a celebration and a warning: the offense appears playoff-ready, but the defense may determine their fate in the weeks to come.