The Herd with Colin Cowherd — Hour 1: Dec. 15, 2025

"Another great win for the Broncos, Bo Nix is an elite QB, it's time for the Chiefs to rebuild"

Episode Overview

In this packed Monday episode, Colin Cowherd dives headfirst into a wild NFL weekend, spotlighting the Denver Broncos’ improbable surge, the emergence of Bo Nix as a top-tier quarterback, and why the Kansas City Chiefs’ dynasty may be at a crossroads. Colin analyzes huge injuries, surging teams like the Bears, the challenges facing perennial contenders such as Dallas, and the subtle excellence of the Rams and 49ers. The episode is layered with incisive quarterback takes, coaching insights, and pointed analogies, all buoyed by Colin’s trademark candor and wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Denver Broncos & Bo Nix’s Emergence

[03:30–08:00]

• Stop Doubting the Broncos:
  Colin opens asserting Denver and Chicago have been written off too long. The Broncos, he says, "don't have the right feel or look," but are proving critics wrong through grit and consistent late-game heroics.

• Bo Nix’s Breakout Performance:
  Nix, quarterbacking against an elite Green Bay defense, was brilliant — athletic, clever, and “never gets sacked.” Sean Payton, Denver’s coach, has been touting Nix to Colin as a star for years:

  “Sean Payton has been texting me for two years. I got myself a star.” — Colin Cowherd, [04:20]

  • Statistics & Context:

    • Only QB in two years to throw four TDs to four different receivers against Green Bay.
    • 8-for-12 on fourth down, top-five in wins and TDs.
    • Has as many game-winning drives as half Denver’s victories.
    • Outplayed elite defensive coordinators this season.

  • Comparisons:

    • "He reminds me of a right-handed Steve Young. Way, way more athletic than anybody gives him credit for." — Colin Cowherd, [05:30]
    • Addresses skepticism: "I don't know what he needs to do to impress people." — [05:54]

  • Coach’s Take: Payton lauded Nix’s love of the game, calling his energy “contagious.” [07:52]

2. Kansas City Chiefs: Time to Rebuild?

[09:00–15:00]

• Declining Fortunes:
  Devastated by a Patrick Mahomes ACL tear, Kansas City’s broader issues are evident even without injuries. Colin spells out a familiar trajectory for dynasties—roster aging, bottom-of-round draft picks, and struggling to find new stars.

  "They have had a ton of success, but they're struggling to develop new characters... Small Hulk isn't working quite like they thought.” — Colin Cowherd, [10:45]

  • Aging Core:
    Travis Kelce’s "eight, nine surgeries in, and he's got one foot out the retirement door." — [11:01]

  • Personnel Holes:

    • Too many key players aging or hurt.
    • Team is already over the salary cap for next year.
    • Rebuilding, not just retooling, is necessary.

  • Reality Check:
    Chiefs are only 16th in scoring over the past few years despite Mahomes' brilliance, revealing how much elite coaching and quarterbacking masked bigger roster problems. [12:55]

  • Co-host JMac questions Andy Reid’s appetite for a rebuild:
    “Does he want to stick around for a long rebuild? They’ve got like half the roster probably getting turned over.” — [14:18]

3. Chicago Bears’ Arrival

[20:26–24:50]

• Changing the NFC Narrative:
  The Bears, led by Caleb Williams, “check too many boxes not to be a team capable of getting to a conference championship."

  • Strengths:

    • Great in cold weather.
    • Consistently win the turnover battle.
    • Balanced, dynamic offense (their 1st top-5 offense since 1977).
    • Ben Johnson hailed as the best new HC hire since Sean McVay.

  • Colin's Take:

    • “They're not terrible anywhere.” — [21:03]
    • “They rebuilt the interior of the O-line. That's what Chicago did. Impressive.” — [22:57]

  • Coach’s Mindset:
    Postgame, the locker room was focused on not being satisfied with 10 wins:

    “We're on to the next one. 10's great, but it's not enough.” — Bears’ coach, [23:49]

4. Around the League: Eagles, Rams, Lions, and 49ers

[25:08–33:32]

Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts’ Bounce Back

• LB Nakobe Dean:

  “I wouldn't want another quarterback... he can't do no wrong in my eyes.” — [25:38]

• Colin: “I almost look at Raider games as they don't count… but they're easily the most talented team in their division.” — [25:51]
• Eagles expected to grab the 3 seed, viewed as a strong NFC contender.

Rams Outgun the Lions

• Colin: “Rams will make a lot of defenses look like this… they’re stacked.” — [28:22]
• Dan Campbell, Lions head coach, after a blown lead:

  “Do not go numb to the losing... now you have firsthand knowledge of what the top of the NFC looks like. That’s them. We’re not there right now.” — [27:49]

49ers and Brock Purdy Quietly Dominate

• Colin (on Niners' coaching): “Coaching staff of the year in the NFL.” — [31:09]
• On Purdy:

  “He is second in NFL history in passer rating, second in NFL history in yards per attempt, and fourth in NFL history in completion percent [through first 50 starts].” — [33:18]

• Concerns persist about their run defense, but their offense can keep them in games.

5. Quarterback Mastery & Aging Veterans

[33:32–38:00]

• Philip Rivers’ Return:
  Rivers led a disciplined, efficient pocket passing attack for the Colts, displaying the virtues of veteran savviness over raw athleticism.

  “If you master the pocket, if you've seen every defense, you’re going to be okay.” — Colin Cowherd, [35:16]

  Rivers:

  "If I can stay healthy, I feel good... but the catch is we gotta win." — [36:18]

• Tom Brady’s Perspective:
  On trusting veteran QBs pre-snap:

  “Teams that have a great advantage going forward are the ones with the older quarterbacks who the coaches do give them the autonomy to say, ‘Whatever you see out there, you can change the play. We trust you.’” — Tom Brady, [37:11]

• Lessons:
  Colin illustrates “winning from the pocket” and pre-snap reads as critical for long-term QB success.

6. Coaching: The Real NFL X-Factor

[42:28–48:50]

• Coaching Can Transform a Franchise

  • Chicago and Denver's turnarounds are all about hiring the right leader (Ben Johnson, Sean Payton).
  • NBA and MLB have structural barriers, but "football is magic when you get coach + QB right."

• Dallas Cowboys’ Coaching Mediocrity

  • Jerry Jones’ reluctance to spend big on elite coaches has kept the Cowboys from reaching their ceiling.

    “It’s time to spend 12 to 15 million on a coach… The world has changed. Never has a coach been more valuable.” — Colin Cowherd, [46:45]

  • Contrasts with franchises that empowered genius coaches and saw transformation (Harbaugh/Chargers, Payton/Broncos, McVay/Rams).

7. Rapid Fire: Injuries, Other Storylines & Closing Notes

[49:45–51:16]

• Critical Injuries:

  • Mahomes’ torn ACL (9-month rehab), Micah Parsons’ non-contact injury, and their massive impact on contenders.
  • Packers lose Micah Parsons and Christian Watson in one game—offense went stagnant after.

• Coaching Carousel Teasers:

  • Albert Breer to join later; possible coaching changes looming.

• Playoff Watch:

  • Dolphins still "pesky."
  • Chicago and Denver are peer comparisons as dangerous, surging NFC/AFC wild cards.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Bo Nix:

  • “He reminds me of a right-handed Steve Young. Way, way more athletic than anybody gives him credit for.” — Colin Cowherd, [05:30]
  • “The thing about him is like... he loves playing, you know, and so that's contagious.” — Sean Payton (via Colin), [07:52]

• On the Chiefs' Outlook:

  • "It's hard to take away grandpa's keys when he's the only guy in town that's got a ride." — Colin Cowherd, [11:22]
  • “I think it's more of a rebuild than people think. JMac, you were right on that from the very beginning... I had them as a wild card team.” — [14:00]

• On Rams/Lions:
  “Rams will make a lot of defenses look like this… they’re stacked.” — Colin Cowherd, [28:22]

• On Coaching:

  • "It is remarkable to watch JJ McCarthy now from three to four weeks ago… The play calling was excellent, situational football at its best." — Colin Cowherd, [46:45]
  • “Never has a coach been more valuable. And all you have to do is go look at Chicago.” — [48:25]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Bo Nix/Broncos Analysis: 03:30–08:00
• Chiefs Dynasty/Rebuild: 09:00–15:00
• Chicago Bears’ Rise: 20:26–24:50
• Around the NFC/Eagles-Rams-Lions-49ers: 25:08–33:32
• QB Play, Rivers & Brady’s Insight: 33:32–38:00
• Coaching Value, Cowboys’ Ceiling: 42:28–48:50
• Injuries, Playoff Picture, Closing Notes: 49:45–51:16

Conclusion

Hour 1 of The Herd is a testament to why Colin Cowherd remains one of sports radio’s most incisive and entertaining voices. Dense with quarterback talk, coaching philosophy, and sharp analogies, this episode is a whirlwind tour through the NFL landscape as the playoff race heats up and the balance of power begins to shift. If you’re an NFL fan, this is essential listening—and for everyone else, this summary has you more than covered.