The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 1

Date: February 18, 2026
Episode Theme:
A wide-ranging breakdown of current NFL quarterback dynamics—especially the rising stardom and value of Caleb Williams—plus debates around leadership in professional sports, the future of LeBron James and the Lakers, market realities in the NBA, and major moves in the NFL offseason.

Main Theme & Purpose

In this hour, Colin Cowherd dissects why new Bears quarterback Caleb Williams could already be the most valuable QB in the NFC North, if not the league. He then tackles NFL economics, quarterback costs, and how the salary cap shapes rosters. Other key topics: LeBron James’ future with the Lakers, the role of “star power” in the NBA, leadership qualities among superstar athletes, and the challenges facing franchises like the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and New York Jets.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Caleb Williams: A New Standard for Quarterbacks

• Cost & Cap Hit Matter: Colin repeatedly stresses that evaluating a QB should be “about everything, including the cost—not just stats or legacy.” Williams’ $10M/year contract is a tiny 3.5% cap hit versus Lamar Jackson’s 25% (08:00–09:00).
  • “Discussing quarterbacks without also acknowledging the cost is like doing your family budget...not counting the Maserati you bought last year.” (Colin, 05:50)
• Elite Performance Metrics:
  • “Caleb Williams has the lowest interception rate since he entered the league. Better than Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Josh Allen.” (Colin, 06:30)
  • Fastest quarterback “on clock”—quicker and more explosive than Lamar or Josh Allen.
  • Threw the league’s longest completion last season, high big-play rate.
• Roster Effects: Team affordability means “the Bears are stacked everywhere… because they can pay stars everywhere else” (07:45).
  • “There is a reason Drake Maye, Bo Nix, Caleb Williams have really good rosters and the Buffalo Bills don’t have a Pro Bowler.” (Colin, 07:10)
• Projection Over Resume: Colin is “not into past celebrations or failures — I’m into projecting 2026, Labor Day weekend: Is Caleb the best QB?” (06:50)
  • “He’s an ascending player… go look at his last seven regular season games: 14 touchdowns, two picks.” (Colin, 08:10)

- [09:40] Notable Quote from Caleb Williams

On Max Crosby’s podcast:

“I really want to become the greatest offense this year. So that’s really on my mind… I don’t think it’s crazy [to aim at Peyton Manning’s record].” (Caleb Williams, 09:40)

2. Aaron Rodgers & The Leadership Clock

• Lack of Urgency: Contrasts Rodgers’ “Hollywood” approach (casual, contemplative, noncommittal at age 42) with other legends’ urgency (Brady, Manning).
  • “Tom Brady is LFG. Aaron Rodgers is LFC — let’s effing chill.” (Colin, 17:48)
• Front Office Frustration: “If I was Mike McCarthy, trying to build a staff… I need answers, bro, like, fast. I’m building a business here.” (15:40)
• Steelers Rumor: Former GM Albert Breer advises Steelers against waiting on Rodgers, citing urgency and potential for “musical chairs” at QB.

“It works for actors… but as a 42-year-old pro athlete, you should know after a season if you want to keep going.” (Colin, 15:00)

3. Star Power & The NBA’s Identity Crisis

• Historic Importance of Stars: ABA’s legitimacy came from Dr. J; the NBA was lifted by the star power of Magic, Bird, MJ. NBA’s global rise = iconic superstars.
• NBA’s Current Weakness: Cites “lack of star power” among top international players (SGA, Jokic)—great on court, but “don’t move the needle” like past NBA titans (37:50).
• Market Size Matters:
  • “It’s always been a city league. Never a rural league. Never a medium market league.” (Colin, 42:00)
  • Lakers, Miami get stars because “you can hide here, you can become a billionaire here—you’re not going to be a billionaire in Akron.”
• LeBron’s Future:
  • Nick Wright asserts: “I do not believe LeBron James is retiring and I do not believe LeBron James will be a Laker next year…” (Nick Wright, 45:20)
  • But Colin’s sources and reports say Lakers will bring him back if he wishes—which he probably does.

4. Leadership & Accountability in Sports

• Kevin Durant Burner Account:
  • “You don’t build around KD. You build around Steph, Magic, Bird, LeBron, Kobe… KD’s a great player, not a great leader.” (Colin, 31:20)
  • If rumors about KD using burner accounts to call out teammates are true: “Guys, we always said this about KD… He’s unbelievable icing, not the cake” (32:30).
  • “You would never hear this story with Steph Curry, LeBron, Tim Duncan, Jokic, Luka, SGA.”
• Single vs Married Athlete Behavior:
  • “Married guys with kids aren’t on their phones all day… Single guys are.”

5. NFL Offseason Moves & Cap Realities

• Chiefs’ Cap Crunch
  • “Mahomes restructures for $44M, but Chiefs still $11M over the cap.” (J. Mac, 53:10)
  • “They have to nail the draft—three picks in top 70, need an edge rusher, a running back, and to shore up the O-Line.” (Colin, 54:00)
  • “Running back isn’t a luxury, not for Kansas City.” (Colin, 55:10)
• Ravens’ New OC:
  • Declan Doyle, 29 years old, now the youngest playcaller in the NFL (57:30).
  • “Age doesn’t matter. Brainpower matters. McVay was a top-8 coach, six games in.” (Colin, 59:20)

6. College Basketball Coach Controversy

• Mick Cronin Ejects His Own Player
  • After a hard (but not malicious) foul by a UCLA player down 25, Cronin ejected him.
  • “You’re embarrassing a young man in front of 15,000 people… that’s over-emotional, not discipline. Coaches should lose.” (Colin, 01:03:50)
  • “That will NOT play well at UCLA.”

7. AI, Media Crisis Narratives, and College Football’s Future [01:10:00+]

• AI Positivity:
  • “Media exaggerates everything. AI found disease four times faster than our best doctors. Not the end of the world, it’s a super-economy,” (Colin, 01:11:20)
• College Football Parity is Good:
  • “I think we’re in the golden era of parity in college football” (Urban Meyer, 01:13:00)
  • “If you love something you’ll accept its flaws—college football’s ratings and revenue are up. Not chaos, it’s fine.” (Colin, 01:14:45)

8. New York Jets: The NFL’s Most Hopeless Franchise

• Organizational Chaos:
  • “Wink Martindale interviewed and got two different defensive visions—from the head coach and the owner. Woody Johnson is meddling.” (Colin, 01:16:40)
  • “Don’t remember a team going into the season with less hope. Coach: F, QB Situation: D-, Ownership: Brutal.”
  • “Jets, just trade down for picks, draft young players, bottom out, get a new coach.”
  • “On the NFL misery meter, the Jets are a notch below Cleveland, Vegas, Arizona, Titans—a notch below hopelessness.” (Colin, 01:21:10)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• 05:50 — “Discussing quarterbacks without also acknowledging the cost is like doing your family budget... not counting the Maserati you bought last year.” — Colin
• 06:30 — “Caleb Williams has the lowest interception rate since he entered the league. Better than Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Josh Allen.” — Colin
• 09:40 — “I really want to become the greatest offense this year… I don’t think it’s crazy [to pursue greatness like Peyton Manning’s 50-TD year].” — Caleb Williams
• 17:48 — “Tom Brady is LFG. Aaron Rodgers is LFC — let’s effing chill.” — Colin
• 31:20 — “You don’t build around KD. You build around Steph, Magic, Bird, LeBron, Kobe…” — Colin
• 32:30 — “KD’s not the cake. He’s just unbelievable icing.” — Colin
• 42:00 — “It’s always been a city league. Never a rural league. Never a medium market league.” — Colin
• 45:20 — “I do not believe LeBron James is retiring and I do not believe LeBron James will be a Laker next year.” — Nick Wright
• 53:10 — “Mahomes restructure created $43.5 million in cap space. Here’s the bad news: Chiefs still are $11 million over the salary cap.” — J. Mac
• 54:00 — “They have to nail the draft… edge rusher, running back, O-line.” — Colin
• 55:10 — “Running back isn’t a luxury, not for Kansas City.” — Colin
• 59:20 — “Age doesn’t matter. Brainpower matters.” — Colin
• 01:03:50 — “You’re embarrassing a young man in front of 15,000 people… that’s over-emotional, not discipline.” — Colin
• 01:13:00 — “I think we’re in the golden era of parity in college football.” — Urban Meyer
• 01:16:40 — “Jets: Coach F, quarterback situation D-, ownership: brutal… A notch below hopelessness.” — Colin

Memorable Moments

• Colin’s family budget “Maserati” analogy for why QB cost is essential
• Quick-witted brands of leadership (“Tom Brady is LFG. Aaron Rodgers is LFC.”)
• The contrast between KD’s leadership and NBA icons like Steph or LeBron (“KD is icing, not the cake”)
• College football “parity era” optimism vs. doomsayers on media and AI
• Public coach-player discipline flare-up at UCLA

Segment Timestamps

• 00:00–05:20 – Intro/ads
• 05:20–15:00 – Caleb Williams’ value; NFL QB cap impact
• 15:00–19:00 – Rodgers’ “Hollywood” attitude and leadership urgency
• 21:00–37:00 – NBA star power, LeBron/Lakers future
• 37:00–46:00 – KD burner/leadership distinctions
• 53:10–56:00 – Chiefs/Mahomes cap and roster crunch
• 57:30–01:01:00 – Ravens’ rookie OC, youth vs. experience
• 01:03:00–01:07:00 – UCLA coach controversy
• 01:10:00–01:15:00 – AI, media exaggeration
• 01:16:00–01:21:10 – Jets’ organizational chaos

Summary Flow & Takeaways

This episode encapsulates why true NFL analysis can’t ignore contract realities, how star power still rules (or should) in the NBA, and how leadership is more than talent. As the Bears aim for offensive greatness with a superstar on a rookie deal, the rest of the league struggles with aging leaders, roster-building headaches, and issues of identity and market. Through witty analogies, direct critique, and flashes of optimism (for everything except, perhaps, the Jets), Cowherd provides a knowledge-rich and entertaining assessment of where the NFL, NBA, and college football stand today.