The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 1 (October 29, 2025)

Overview

This episode dives deep into the current MLB World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays, the struggles of the Dodgers' offense, Toronto’s resurgence, ongoing concerns with the Steelers’ defense in the NFL, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s predicament in Milwaukee (NBA), and a fiery debate about load management and sports legacies. Colin and his co-host bring their signature opinionated, conversational style while blending major storylines from the MLB, NFL, and NBA.

Main Topics & Insights

1. World Series: Blue Jays Even the Series, Dodgers’ Offensive Woes

Key Segments:

• Blue Jays’ offensive firepower vs. Dodgers' struggles ([02:00]-[07:00])
• Shohei Ohtani’s performance and Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s resurgence ([03:15]-[05:30])
• Dave Roberts and Dodgers hitting issues ([05:50]-[06:58])

Discussion Highlights:

• Colin praises Toronto: “We said going in, the Toronto Blue Jays got bat on ball... They got a lot of power hitters. Their guys are all hitting and the Dodgers guys are not. And last night was another example.” ([02:00])
• Notably, the Jays have five players hitting .300+ in the World Series, compared to just one on the Dodgers.
• “Ohtani was fine. He mostly had his stuff. Shohei was sharp. Six innings, gave up six hits. He was fine. Now Vlad Guerrero... was eventually going to break out of it and he did.” ([03:50])
• The Dodgers stranded 18 baserunners the previous game and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position last night, heightening concern about key bats like Muncie, Betts, and Edmond slumping.
  • “Freddie Freeman and Ohtani are carrying the offense. Everybody else for the Dodgers is on sabbatical with a lot of strikeouts.” ([05:10])
• Manager Dave Roberts laments lineup issues:
  • “We haven't found our rhythm. We haven't. It sort of draws dead at certain parts of the lineup and different parts, different innings, different games. You know, guys are competing... But, yeah, you know, my hope is we regroup tomorrow.” ([06:33])

2. Steelers Defensive Struggles

Key Segments:

• Analysis of the Steelers' defense and Tomlin’s predicament ([07:00]-[11:10])
• Impact of hiring new safety Kyle Duggar ([08:10]-[09:30])
• The broader NFL context of defensive coaches and franchise trajectories ([09:00]-[11:07])

Discussion Highlights:

• Colin is candid: “The Steelers are officially broken, but it's the defense that's broken.... Four straight years the most expensive [defense] in the league—and they're bad. It's the worst in Tomlin's era.” ([07:05])
• He compares it to “paying $80/month for a streaming service with no hits…” ([08:05])
• A key theme: top defensive investment yielding little production, and the offense (with Aaron Rodgers) is actually functional.
• Colin questions defensive head coaches: “The really good defensive coaches make an impact immediately... but with Mike Tomlin... I think the franchise is broken.”
• Tomlin’s accountability:
  • “We all have to own it... because some of these problems are somewhat repetitive and we're not getting better fast enough.” ([10:53])

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo & the “Ohtani Effect” in Milwaukee

Key Segments:

• Giannis’ isolated brilliance and trade speculation ([11:10]-[12:20], [18:45]-[20:45])
• Parallels drawn between Ohtani’s time with the Angels and Giannis’ Milwaukee fate

Discussion Highlights:

• Colin admires Giannis but feels for his situation: “[Watching Giannis] feels like Ohtani with the Angels... wouldn't it be great if he kept playing in September late, got to a real team? Three first round exits in a row for Milwaukee... They’ve exhausted draft capital.” ([11:20])
• He asserts the Bucks, while valiant, are now “a borderline playoff team in the West... in the East, they're not viable... It’s Giannis and everything else.” ([18:45])
• Colin links the superstar on a small/non-contender team to wasted greatness:
  • “I want great on great... Mahomes, Reid. It's not a market size thing. Kevin Garnett... won MVP in Minnesota but we remember the Celtics.”
• Quotable Giannis (on NY trade rumors):
  • “I try to stay away from all that rumors… and all this. It doesn't concern me one bit. I try to involve myself and try to help my team win games.” ([20:17])

4. NFL: Contracts & Defensive Value

Key Segments:

• Aidan Hutchinson’s massive extension ([21:07]-[22:34])
• Discussion of defensive roster-building philosophies and the Miles Garrett debate ([22:34]-[26:43])

Discussion Highlights:

• Co-host (Nick Wright): “If you pay your edge rusher top dollar often, you're not really a contender. Maybe you just have to pay offense and cobble together defense.” ([22:34])
• Colin (on roster building): “You pay a quarterback and you pay a left tackle. On defense, stay young, fast and as cheap as you can because defensive players get hurt more often. But if you get a guy in the front five... pay them. There is no other Myles Garrett on the market.” ([23:13])
• A spirited debate about whether teams should ever trade an elite, game-wrecking defender like Miles Garrett, even for multiple first-round picks.

5. Bears Penalties, Ravens Outlook, and NFL Power Tiers

Key Segments:

• Bears penalty woes and hopes for upcoming matchups ([29:39]-[31:21])
• Lamar Jackson’s “must-win” mindset for Baltimore ([26:45]-[27:34])
• The NFL’s increasing top-bottom talent gaps, reminiscent of the NBA ([27:34]-[28:59])

Discussion Highlights:

• Concerns about the Bears: “Not necessarily great on third down. They don't complete many passes... Their operations are clunky with penalties.” ([30:02])
• Optimism: “…They’re good on the opening drive... offensively better than last year...[But] this team is better than last year offensively... They got to look themselves in the mirror. They're facing a team with better personnel.” ([30:02], [30:59])
• On league trends: “The NFL last year for the first time in my life felt a little like the NBA with a bottom like 6 to 7 teams unwatchable... The gap between good and not good... is starting to feel very NBA.” ([27:34])

6. Michael Jordan vs. Modern NBA – Load Management, Legacy, and Longevity

Key Segments:

• Colin’s take on load management and generational shifts ([31:27]-[38:04])
• Adam Silver and the “highlights league” ([34:35]-[35:00])
• Michael Jordan’s “play every night” ethos vs. modern careers: Jordan, LeBron, Steph Curry ([40:51]-[46:00])

Discussion Highlights:

• Colin, nostalgic but critical: “I grew up in a small town, three hours from an NBA arena... you’re driving to the arena and your stars aren't there. I can't stand load management. There is no data to prove that it works... The NBA did studies—there is no medical benefit on sitting. It’s all nonsense.” ([32:00])
• Adam Silver, candid on fan trends:
  • “This is very much a highlights based sport... Instagram, TikTok, Twitter... there's an enormous amount of content out there.” ([34:35])
• Colin defends older or 7’+ stars playing fewer games, but expects young, healthy stars to play more:
  • “Reward the home fans. If you’re going to punish anybody, punish the road fans.” ([36:50])
• Debate: “Should MJ have load managed?”
  • Co-host: “He played 13 seasons with the Bulls... Now we could argue, hey man, maybe he burned too bright. If he didn't do 82 games a year... we would have had more Michael Jordan.” ([41:24])
  • Colin: “Legends are made on greatness, not extension. They're not made on volume... Koufax, Barry Sanders retired at 30.” ([42:15], [44:36])
• Lively comparison: Jordan (brief, brightest prime) vs. LeBron (long, evolving legacy), with Sandy Koufax and Barry Sanders analogies.

7. AJ Brown, Jalen Hurts, and Team Chemistry

Key Segment:

• AJ Brown’s unique personality and fit on the Eagles ([46:01]-[49:28])

Discussion Highlights:

• Colin: “A.J. brown’s identity in this article is basically getting the football. He admits... he's a loner, struggles to make friends. His dopamine... is getting the football in his hands... Not adversaries, but never going to blend.” ([46:01])
• Nick Ceriani’s take:
  • “You can only judge things off your interactions and how they are in the building. And AJ's been great in the building... I’m always in communication.” ([47:51])
• Analogy to DK Metcalf and the lifespan of “high-maintenance” receivers with teams.

Memorable Quotes

• Colin on the Dodgers’ challenges (MLB):

  • "Freddie Freeman and Ohtani are carrying the offense. Everybody else for the Dodgers is on sabbatical with a lot of strikeouts." ([05:10])

• Dave Roberts (Dodgers Manager) on lineup struggles:

  • “We haven't found our rhythm. It sort of draws dead at certain parts of the lineup... My hope is we regroup tomorrow.” ([06:33])

• Colin on Steelers’ defense:

  • "You can't pay the most for something and get lousy production. That's how TV shows get canceled. That's the Steelers four straight year highest paid defense and they're bad." ([08:05])

• Mike Tomlin (Steelers HC) on owning the defensive struggles:

  • “We all have to own it. Certainly you start with the schematics... we're not getting better fast enough.” ([10:53])

• Giannis Antetokounmpo (on NY rumors):

  • “I try to stay away from all that rumors...It doesn't concern me one bit. I try to help my team win games.” ([20:17])

• Colin on legacy vs. longevity:

  • “Legends are made on greatness, not extension... Koufax had three unbelievable years, three other great years. Greatest Dodger legend.” ([42:15])

• Colin on load management:

  • “There is no medical benefit on sitting. It’s all nonsense...What bothers me is the highest paid stars are the ones that don’t want to play every night.” ([32:00], [36:10])

Notable Timestamps

• [02:00] – Opening analysis: Blue Jays even World Series; Dodgers offensive slumps dissected
• [05:50] – Dave Roberts on Dodgers lineup woes
• [07:05] – Steelers: high spending, low defensive production; Colin’s assessment
• [10:53] – Mike Tomlin addresses defensive breakdowns
• [11:20] – Giannis as baseball’s Ohtani; Bucks hit ceiling
• [18:45] – Bucks’ future, Giannis’ prime; comparison to MLB stars on bad teams
• [20:17] – Giannis’ reaction to trade rumors
• [22:34] – Discussion on edge rusher contracts, Miles Garrett debate
• [27:34] – NFL’s growing “NBA-ness,” top-bottom disparity
• [30:02] – Bears’ improvements and continued issues
• [31:27] – Michael Jordan, NBA load management, the fan experience
• [34:35] – Adam Silver: “We’re a highlight league”
• [41:24] – Should MJ have load managed? Debate begins
• [42:15] – Colin: legends built on great peaks, not sheer career length
• [46:01] – A.J. Brown’s loner mentality and Eagles chemistry

Tone & Style

Colin and his co-host maintain an opinionated, conversational, and sometimes contrarian outlook, blending personal philosophy about greatness, humor, and sharp analogies with facts and current stats.

For the Listener

If you missed the episode, you get:

• A real-time, personality-driven breakdown of Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series drama.
• Critical look at expensive, underperforming NFL defenses, namely Pittsburgh’s, and league-wide trends.
• NBA reflections on the superstar paradox: what happens when all-time greats are stuck on so-so teams—and do sports legends need short or long primes to be remembered?
• A nuanced, passionate debate on load management, Jordan vs. LeBron, and how fans and teams should value legacy, health, and longevity.
• Updates on NFL contract strategy debates and evolving team chemistry with player personalities.

A can’t-miss episode for fans of baseball, football, and basketball who love analysis with personality, big-picture thinking, and all the quirks of the modern sports era.